Riva Pizman with her husband Aron Pizman and grandson Pavel

This is me and my husband Aron. My son Mikhail took this photograph before our wedding anniversary. This photo was taken in Mogilyov-Podolskiy in 2003.

Our first son Igor was born in 1952. Aron didn't want me to go to work. He believed that a married woman had to take care of the household and the husband had to provide for the family. I had to quit my job, when my son Igor was born. At that time the maternity leave was one month before and one month after the birth. I had to choose between my son and my job and I made my choice. I have devoted all my life to my family.

In 1955 Aron went to work at the plant named after Kirov in Mogilyov-Podolskiy manufacturing equipment for food industry where he worked 46 years, starting as a laborer, then he became a tinsmith and then a mechanic. In 1958 he joined the party. Aron made a very good husband and father.

We didn't observe Jewish traditions, but we celebrated Soviet holidays at home: 1 May, 7 November, Soviet army Day, Victory Day, 8 March [Women's Day], New Year. We also celebrated birthdays: we had guests and made presents. We had friends, acquaintances here, people respected us and we didn't have any conflicts. We were content with the life we had.

There is a Jewish community in Mogilyov-Podolskiy, and the Jewish life has revived. There are various events and concerts of Jewish music and dancing. My husband and I used to attend Jewish concerts some time before, but then he fell ill and hardly ever leaves home. I do not want to leave him alone. The community celebrates Jewish holidays. My husband and I went there twice, but we don't like it. We have been atheists and religion is far from us. The community and the Hesed provide assistance to older people, and this is a real support. Old people receive food packages and have hot meals delivered to them at home. This is very good and they need it a lot. There are many Jewish publications. We subscribe to newspapers "Yevreyskie vesty" [Jewish news], 'Vek" [Century] and we read them with interest. However, this is done for the leaving generation while young people hardly need it: they have different interests.

I've lived my life, but if I met a magician and she asked me what I would like for my children and grandchildren and all people of the Earth, I would ask her for decent life to all, so that each could find a suitable job. For each to live where one wants, so that a person didn't have to leave his country for the fear of starving to death. And I would ask for health and peaceful life for all, so that nobody had to go through the horrors of the war that my generation had.