Siima Shkop and her friends of Maccabi rhythmic gymnastic group

This is our Maccabi rhythmic gymnastic group after our trip to Finland. There was a large stadium in Helsinki, specially built for the Olympic games and in 1939 the International Gymnastics Day was held there with the participation of 300 young boys and girls from Estonia. Our group, consisting of nine ladies from Maccabi, was also there. I am in the center, sitting on the floor. The leader of our delegation is in the last row in the center. She is wearing a black dress. The picture was taken in Helsinki in 1939. All lyceum students were members of Jewish organizations. I was a member of the children's Jewish organizations. In Tartu I was a member of Hashomer Hatzair. This organization was represented in Tallinn as well. A lot of my classmates were members of Hashomer. We took part in Estonian scout contests. In summer we went to Hashomer Hatzair scout camps. When we moved to Tallinn I entered the Jewish youth organization Maccabi. There were good gyms in that organization. I loved gymnastics. I started attending rhythmic gymnastics there. I had rhythmic gymnastics classes in Tartu, but they did not have such good facilities as in Tallinn. Our trainings took place in the university gym. I finished lyceum in 1938 at the age of 18. I wanted to go on with my education, and was dreaming of going to the arts institute. The tuition was very expensive, and I could not afford it.