Bluma Lepiku with her sister Mena and mother Luba Shumiacher

This photo was taken by a street photographer during a stroll in the park. Sitting on the bench: I am on the left, and my sister Mena Shumiacher is on my right. Our mother Luba Shumiacher, nee Gore, is sitting on the back of the bench. This photo was taken in Tallinn in 1929. My older sister Mena was born in January 1922. I was born in October 1926. I was given the name of Bluma. Our father was not involved in raising the children or any household duties. My mother was responsible for raising the children and keeping the house. My father brought money home, and it was my mother's part to take good care of it. My mother was raised to strictly observe Jewish traditions. My father was not particularly religious, though his mother was a very religious woman. We followed the kashrut at home. My mother did the cooking herself, and all food was kosher. We never had pork at home: we only ate beef, veal and poultry. My father did not take part in raising his children, but we obeyed him implicitly. He could shush us just frowning or looking at us with a definite expression. We were never beaten or told out. The most severe punishment for me and my sister was when our father told us to stand in the corner. Our parents treated us with strictness. I remember that I liked dangling my legs, when sitting at the table. When my father noticed this, he made me go to stand in the corner. When everybody else had finished eating, I was allowed to sit at the table to eat. It would have never occurred to my sister or me to disobey our parents, snarl at them or demonstrate disrespect. Things like that never happened.