Irina Lopko’s aunt Malka Polosina

My mother's sister Malka Polosina, nee Silin. This photo was made in Moscow in 1926 and sent to me for the memory.

My maternal grandfather Isroel Silin's family had many children like all other Jewish families. My grandfather was born in 1881. He owned a small haberdashery store in the center of the town. He worked alone purchasing and selling his goods. My grandfather was an educated man. The family observed all traditions and my mother knew about all holidays. My grandfather died at the age of 44 (in 1925), leaving his widow with six children. After he died the family did not observe traditions any longer, but my grandmother remained religious for the rest of her life. After my grandfather died most of the children moved to Moscow looking for a better life and they took my grandmother there. My grandfather and grandmother Silin had seven children. The children were born every year and a half.

My mother’s sister Malka, the last one, born in 1915, followed her sisters to Moscow. She worked as technician at a big plant. She met her husband Polosin at the plant where he was an engineer. He was Russian. The Silin family were very proud of Malka. She was a champion of Moscow in swimming. Malka died in 2002.

The sisters were very close. They spoke Yiddish, cooked for holidays, always celebrated holidays together and supported each other. Although they moved to Moscow when they were young they kept their identity of provincial Jews from Nezhin.