Lazar Filderman

This is Lazar Filderman, my father, at the age of 21. The photo was taken in August 1911, as indicated on its back. I don't know where it was taken. My father was a bachelor then and was in the grain business. I don't know too much about his family or his childhood. My father, who was born in 1890, was very bright, but lazy, and it was with great pains that he completed four years of high school. He didn't want to go any further with his education. He later regretted this very much, for he was very fond of reading and listening to heavy [classical] music. He spoke French and German. While he was serving in the army, during World War I, they wanted to send him to a military academy, but he considered it pointless. When he returned from the war, he went to work for his cousin in Bacau. Then he left for Constanta, where he took up the grain trade. My father came to Focsani in the 1920s. He married my mother, Fanny Filderman, nee Finkelstein, both religiously, in front of a rabbi, and civilly. I don't know more about this, since my parents didn't talk about this period. Since the minute I saw the light of day, I remember my father being a community man. He was tall, had a stately appearance and made himself noticed everywhere. He was severe by nature and very intelligent. He cared a lot about the Jewish community and he held many offices.