Sultana Yulzari with her family

This is a picture of the Yulzari family. It was taken in Ruse shortly after 9th September 1944, the day of the communist takeover in Bulgaria.

From below upwards, from right to left, one can see my father Sinto Beniesh, my daughter Buena Yulzari, my mother Rashel Beniesh, my husband Mois Yulzari, me, my sister Matilda Beniesh, and my brother Samuel Beniesh, who was not yet married then.

The brightest day in my life was 9th September 1944. Yet in 1944 I applied and was accepted as a member of the communist party. I have maintained my leftist views ever since and even now I keep them by paying my membership dues regularly.

As a matter of fact 9th September 1944 is also the reason for our decision not to immigrate. Because my husband and I thought that after this bright date good times for Jews, for Bulgarians and for all people had to come by all means. As it turned out we weren’t disappointed in our hopes. We remained in Ruse, together with three or four more families that completely shared our views, such as the Beracha family, for example.

I had promised to myself that my children wouldn’t live in poverty as I did once. I remember it clearly that we didn’t have money for clothing when I was to finish high school and when I was a school-leaver. At that time my dad asked one of my cousins, who was better-off than we were, to sеw for me new clothes. And finally I had to go to her and thank her. And it was a severe slap on my human dignity. I wanted my children never to feel such lack and humiliation.