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I, my husband Lev Gendler and our son Arkadi. This photo was taken in Uzhhorod in 1952.
In 1945 my husband was invited to work at Zakarpatles Forestry Office in Uzhhorod. They promised to give us an apartment. My husband was appointed to the position of chief engineer at the forestry of Chinadiyevo in 50 km from Uzhhorod. Chinadiyevo was a small town. Men worked at the forestry and women were housewives. We received a small house. My husband went to work and I stayed at home with our son. I planted vegetables near the house and bought a goat and chicken. In 1948 I became an extramural student of the Pedagogical School in Mukachevo that was not far from Chinadiyevo. I finished school in 1952. I couldn't find work since there was one lower secondary school in the town and no vacancies. My husband joined the Party in Chinadiyevo. It was mandatory for managers. In 1952 my husband became chief engineer of Zakarpatles Association in Uzhhorod. We received a nice apartment with all comforts in the center of Uzhhorod. I liked Uzhhorod at once.
We didn't observe Jewish traditions in the family. In my husband's position it was not allowed to bring up our children Jewish. Of course, the children knew that they were Jews and they didn't keep it a secret, but we were not raising them Jewish. We often had guests at home. We celebrated soviet holidays: 1st May [Labor Day], 7th November [October Revolution Day] and Victory Day [9th May, a major Soviet holiday, celebrating the victory over Nazi Germany]. We also celebrated our birthdays and New Year. We had many friends. We never made friends based on national origins, however it happened so that most of them were Jews. We didn't celebrate any Jewish holidays.
