Anatoli Kraemer and his family

The photo was taken at our dacha. From to left to right: the husband of my older daughter Ilona, Yari Elomaa, I, my wife Mayli, my daughters Ilona and Viola. The photograph was taken in Tallinn in 2000.

My second wife Mayli is a wonderful person. Both my daughters loved her very much. Mayli treated them like her own. She loves her grandchildren. Both my daughters are married. The elder, Ilona, lives in Switzerland with her family. Her son Oscar is 22. My younger one, Viola, married name Eek, lives in Finland with her husband and her daughter Anne. Both of them often come to our dacha 47 on vacation with their families. They are happy to see Mayli as much as to see me.

During the years of perestroika the Jewish Community of Estonia was founded. The community does a lot for us. Apart from monetary assistance, we are given food. Different festive events are also organized for us. My 80th jubilee was marked in the Jewish community. It was great. I was so moved. Every month the birthdays of all people born in that month are celebrated. It is great, as most of them have neither family nor friends. Who would congratulate them at home? They do it in a nice way in the community – a festive dinner, presents, greetings. It is very important for us old people. It is hard to feel lonely and unwanted. Jewish holidays are always arranged for us, we celebrate them in the community with a rabbi.