This is a photo of me, Matilda Melnik, nee Beniesh, Irena Cestnik and the Maier family at the wedding day of my granddaughter Stela Dimitrova, nee Yulzari. The photo was taken in 2003 in Varna.
My sister Matilda Melnik and I are sitting one opposite the other at the table. She now lives in Houston, USA. The Nissim family and Stela Maier are sitting at the other end of the table. They are Sima Yulzari's parents, my son Sinto Yulzari's wife. Behind them, standing, is my oldest granddaughter, Irena Cestnik, the daughter of my daughter Buena Cestnik, nee Yulzari. Irena works as a teacher in Ivrit at the Jewish school in Sofia.
I have two children - daughter Buena, born in 1941, and son Sinto Mois Yulzari, born in 1946. They both were born in Ruse. Buena graduated as engineer from the Higher Institute of Mechanics and Electro Mechanics in Sofia. Sinto graduated as engineer from the Higher Institute of Chemical Technologies in Sofia. Currently Buena works as a teacher in 'automated machines' at the Technical High School of Clothes and Shoes in Ruse, while Sinto is an associate professor in child pedagogy at the Veliko Tarnovo University.
My sister’s fate is interesting. She carried through her plan of studying medicine in Bulgaria, although my parents were against it because, as I mentioned before, their views on a woman’s place in society and in family were rather conservative.
Mati managed to complete her medical education in Bulgaria, and in 1949 she immigrated to Israel. She continued studying medicine there for three more years, after that she graduated as a doctor, served in the army, and then she immigrated to the USA where she lives with her family down to the present day. Now she is a widow but has an own psychiatric cabinet in Houston and is satisfied. From time to time Mati sends me some money, which helps us make both ends meet in Ruse.
