David Elazarov with his sisters Rozalia Navon and Dora Vakarelova

David Elazarov with his sisters Rozalia Navon and Dora Vakarelova

The photo was taken in Sofia in 1925. I am in the center, my younger sister, Dora Vakarelova, nee Elazar, is to the left and my elder sister Rozalia Navon, nee Elazar, is to the right. My father, Solomon Elazar, was married twice. He had two daughters from his first marriage - my stepsisters Rozalia, born in 1908, and Dora, born in 1913. His first wife, Matilda Baruh, died of tuberculosis. I am from my father's second marriage. My mother, Vergina Elazar, nee Bohor, wasn't rich. She worked in an atelier. This was her first marriage. Because of the wars, there was a big group of women who couldn't marry. My mother was among them. She married relatively late - when she was 30 years old. And it was very fortunate for her. I was born on 30th April 1920 in Sofia. At that time my mother was 33 years old and my father was 40. My birth was a great joy for them, because only girls had been born in the family before me. They prepared a special canopy with silk curtains [for the cradle] and organized a big celebration. My family wasn't religious. My parents weren't atheists, but they didn't bring us up in a religious way or to observe the Jewish laws. My mother tongue is Ladino, which is Spanish from the 15th century, from the time of Cervantes, which has been preserved up until today. I remember that when we were children, we stood in front of the Military Club during the military parades. We were impressed by the orderly rows, the soldiers' gait. From the holidays I remember most vividly St. George's Day; we went outside, people brought food, roasted lamb and fresh water and we ate in the greenery.
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