Jakov Kalef in Turkey in army uniform

This is my grandfather uncle Jakov Kalef while he was serving in the military in Carigrad, Turkey. I don't know who the other men are. The photo was taken in 1918.

My grandmother Matilda Kalef was the pillar of the family. She rented out the family apartments and maintained the stores. Her older brother, Granduncle Jakov, helped her. We lived right next to each other, number three and number five Gospodar Jovanova. He took care of her and our family. It was as if he was our grandfather. Granduncle Jakov was on the board of the Jewish community. He was a cantor in the synagogue. Granduncle was involved in Jewish communal life and he kept my father and grandmother informed about everything. Because we were like one family and he was the head of the family. In fact, Jakov and Grandmother were the heads.

Photos from this interviewee