Erzsebet Radvaner with her mother Terez Gonczi and her brother Laszlo Gonczi

This is me, my brother and my mother in 1914 in Budapest. This photo was taken when my father went to the front. I think that's why my mother so sad. My mother had no job but tending to the home. We had the same helper for thirty years, Erzsi. She was sixteen when she came to us and she was very decent. She cleaned the house and cooked; she was an excellent cook. As long as my grandfather was alive, the household was kosher. My grandfather was observant, heart and soul. Each Friday he went to synagogue and each Saturday the same. Each morning he put on the talith and the tfilin and he prayed. My elder brother, Laszlo, was born in 1905. I was born in 1908. I went to the primary school on Nyar Street. I was the best pupil the whole time I was there. Then there was the Maria Terezia higher school for girls, on Andrassy Street, which lasted for six years. It was very difficult to get in there, as it was just for the rich. The husband of the sister of one of my aunts was the director of a publishing house and he had connections to all of Pest. My mother went to him and told him that she would like to get me into the Andrassy Street School. He said that he could get me into any school in the town, but not there: 'She would only learn to show off there. Put her into the middle school,' he suggested. That school was on Nagydiofa Street. I was the best pupil there too. Going to the synagogue on Fridays was compulsory. At the beginning my mother took us to school, but later we went on our own. There was no public transport. Laci went to the Realschule on Realtanoda Street. I used to go along with them as far as Nagydiofa Street.