Lev’s grandfather and mother

My mother Rachil Yagupolskaya and her father Samuel Fabricant in the Crimea.

My mother Rachil Shmulevna Yagupolskaya (nee Fabricant) was born in a very respected Jewish family in Uman in 1895. She studied at school for 7 years. For its time it was a very good education for a girl. Their family was religious and my mother observed traditions and holidays, honored the Shabbath and followed the kashrut. She was a housewife her whole life raising her children. She dedicated herself to her family. She shared my father's joys and sorrows and supported him in the evacuation in Orsk. She returned to Kiev in 1946 and lived with my sister's family for the rest of her life. She died in Kiev in 1991 when she was 96 yeas old.

They spoke Yiddish in my grandfather's family, their correspondence was in Yiddish and the pictures were signed in Yiddish.

My grandfather (my mother's ather) Shmul (Samuel) Fabricant was born in Balabanovka village in 1855. He was a senior man at the Jewish community in Balabanovka village, but he lived in Uman mainly. There were many Jews in Balabanovka, and my grandfather was responsible from any official issuance of documents to recruitment to the tzarist army. He knew all traditions, laws and was a very intelligent and educated man. He was very fair and people always came to ask his advice. My grandfather had an apartment somewhere, but I don't remember it.

The family celebrated holidays according to the Jewish traditions and rituals. I remember my grandfather teaching me to say my prayer at Pesah, and I pronounced it quite clearly and everything was according to the rules. I remember discussions with my grandfather. He was a very smart man and knew all religious details well. He spoke Russian to me, but he was teaching me some words in Hebrew before the holidays. The rules required having a drink at Pesah. I remember small silver wineglasses with wine. My grandfather's daughters, my mother and her sister Eva were responsible for laying the table on holidays.