Sarrah Muller’s grandchildren: Yuriy Gotlib, Vladimir Gotlib and Maxim Lesovoy

Sarrah Muller’s grandchildren: Yuriy Gotlib, Vladimir Gotlib and Maxim Lesovoy

My grandchildren: from left to right - Alla's sons Yuriy and Vladimir Gotlibs, Inna's son Maxim Lesovoy is on the right. This photo was taken in the studio before Alla and her family's departure to Israel, in Kiev in 1990.

We raised wonderful daughters. Inna, the older one, showed talents since childhood. Inna married Arnold Lesovoy, a Jewish guy, in 1974. He was born in Chernovtsy in 1946. Arnold is a brilliant mathematician. They've had a happy life together for many years. In 1976 Inna's son Maxim was born. Maxim got fond of Judaism after he went to a Jewish camp in his teens. This became the essence of his life. Maxim is a religious Orthodox Jew, one of the leaders of the religious community in Kiev. His Jewish name given to him at the brit milah ritual conducted in his adulthood is Moshe Elizeer. Maxim is married and has a daughter. His family follow kashrut strictly, celebrates Sabbath and observes all Jewish religious traditions. I live with my daughter and son-in-law. We celebrate all Jewish holidays and try to observe Sabbath. In 1999 my grandson insisted that Inna and Arnold stood under the chuppah at the Brodskiy synagogue on their 'silver wedding'. This was very moving and ceremonious.

My daughter Alla dedicated herself to music. She failed to enter the Conservatory in Kiev and went to Gorkiy where there are no prejudiced attitudes to Jews. She finished the conservatory there and became a pianist. Alla married a Jewish guy. Her husband Victor Gotlib, born in 1948, became a scientist in mathematic and chemistry. She was thinking of returning to Kiev for many years, but when Chernobyl occurred we convinced her that they should stay away from here. Alla has two sons: Yuriy, born in 1979, and Vladimir, born in 1986. In the early 1990s they moved to Israel where they live in Ashdod. Alla's sons had a circumcision ritual in Israel. Now their names are Uri (Yuriy) and Zeev (Vladimir).

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