Selected text
To be frank, my being a Jew, and my last name Husid had an impact on my career. I could teach at the Institute. My Jewish origin had an impact on my trips abroad. I had to submit my documents twice or three times to go abroad. They would loose my documents or delay the review or anything else – they always had enough reasons to not let me go.
Basically, I am an internationalist. You understand, it is based on my upbringing. I took to the Jewish subject 5 years ago. My wife said to me “Come on, you are Jewish, you ought to do something Jewish”. I didn’t have enough knowledge. Although I had few Jewish friends it wasn’t enough. So, my wife directed me at this subject She is very seriously involved in the Ukrainian folk art. This subject has always been exciting for her. As for me, I’ve been interested in general subjects and not national. But recently I started reading more about the Jewish issue. This inspired me to create new works. I went to Kirovograd where I was born. I went to their synagogue. I didn’t feel pangs of conscience there. In Kiev I do not go to the synagogue. I am not a religious person, and in Kiev it is only allowed to enter a synagogue to pray. My wife has never had any anti-Jewish opinions. She studied at school #79 – there were many Jewish girls and boys there. She has been among Jews all her life. She respects Jewish people and she knows their weak and strong points, like any other nation. When we got married the four of us were living in a 13 m2 room: her mother, her son, herself and me.
Basically, I am an internationalist. You understand, it is based on my upbringing. I took to the Jewish subject 5 years ago. My wife said to me “Come on, you are Jewish, you ought to do something Jewish”. I didn’t have enough knowledge. Although I had few Jewish friends it wasn’t enough. So, my wife directed me at this subject She is very seriously involved in the Ukrainian folk art. This subject has always been exciting for her. As for me, I’ve been interested in general subjects and not national. But recently I started reading more about the Jewish issue. This inspired me to create new works. I went to Kirovograd where I was born. I went to their synagogue. I didn’t feel pangs of conscience there. In Kiev I do not go to the synagogue. I am not a religious person, and in Kiev it is only allowed to enter a synagogue to pray. My wife has never had any anti-Jewish opinions. She studied at school #79 – there were many Jewish girls and boys there. She has been among Jews all her life. She respects Jewish people and she knows their weak and strong points, like any other nation. When we got married the four of us were living in a 13 m2 room: her mother, her son, herself and me.
Location
Ukraine
Interview
Grigoriy Yakovlevich Husid