Iosef Leibovici as a young boy
This is my husband, Iosef Leibovici, when he was 16, I suppose. The photograph was taken in Botosani.
My husband's name was Iosef Leibovici. He was born in Botosani in 1924. We met at a youth party. People organized balls, reunions. We met through a third party and we liked each other. The balls were very nice, with Wienese waltzes - the waltzes of Johann Strauss -, tangos, with 'damen waltz' - meaning a waltz like all others, but it was the women who invited the men to dance. There was a cinema, which was called Lux [Luxury], where balls were organized, and also at the Casa Armatei [House of the Army] - there were several ballrooms there. I don't remember separate parties to be organized for the Jewish youth - these balls were for all who wanted to attend. On Purim it was a different matter. A ball was organized on Purim. There was a hall, Sala Meseriasi [the Handicraftsmen's Hall], which belonged to the community and where weddings and parties were organized. I think many handicraftsmen used to meet at this club, in the Handicraftsmen's Hall.
