Gershen Bogdanov

This is my paternal grandfather Gershen Bogdanov.

The picture was taken in the village of Parichi of Minsk province, then Russia, in 1910.

My grandfather and his family lived in the village of Parichi, near Babruysk. My grandparents were born in Parichi. Many generations were born in that village. Grandfather was a peasant.

He rented land from a landlord and tilled it by himself. He grew wheat, corn and potatoes. The money he got for the harvest was enough to get by till the next fall.

Grandmother Nekhama was a housewife, which was customary for Jewish families. There were three children in the family: the first-born, Folia, then the middle one, Noson, and my father Jacob.

My grandparents were religious. Father told me that Jewish traditions were kept at home. Grandfather went to the synagogue during Sabbath and on religious holidays; Grandmother only on holidays.

When the sons grew up and started cheder, Grandfather took them to the synagogue with him. Everybody marked Sabbath and religious holidays. The kashrut was observed.

I never met my grandmother; she passed away in 1927. I knew my grandfather though. He always wore a hat. He had a long beard and plaits.

In 1934 Grandfather Gershen passed away in Parichi. My parents went to his funeral.

Grandfather was buried in accordance with the Jewish rite in the Jewish cemetery in Parichi. From then on my father recited the kaddish annually on the day of grandfather's death.