Wedding photo of Mina and Tomas Neustadt

This is a photo of our daughter Minka's (Mina's) wedding with Tomas Neustadt, in Dortmund in 1969. While still in Bratislava, Minka met this one decent local Jewish boy. They went out for three years, until as a university student he went to Dortmund for summer work experience. Finally he decided to stay there and study, with the agreement of the appropriate officials here. A very clever and good student, he continued his studies in natural sciences at the university there. In 1968 Minka went to Israel. She was also there with the agreement of our pertinent officials for a half year, and she liked it there very much. She worked in kibbutzim and people grew very fond of her. She played various musical instruments like the accordion, piano, organ and flute. She was able to make sure that people had fun and in a good mood. Finally she and her boyfriend agreed that she'd travel to Germany to be with him and that they'd study there together. Of course, I wanted her to come home, to return. Well, her destiny was apparently there. She moved to Germany, where they got married. Her husband is named Tominko [Tomas] Neustadt. He's two years older than Minka. I was very, very unhappy when Minka emigrated despite being summoned by our officials to return. I took it very hard. I was more than just sad. My wife was also so unhappy because of it that she fell ill, but I have to honestly admit, that though she wasn't any less unhappy than I, she weighed it realistically. I saw that my love, my firstborn, is leaving me. Is this possible? And it was possible, but that's life. Luckily they were both well-liked and one of Tomas's professors at university helped them immensely. Minka's principal, who called her 'Sonnenschein' [Sunshine], also helped them. They gave them various options and advice, so that they could make something of themselves.