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I graduated from the Jewish school in Plovdiv - elementary and junior high school, that is, until the 4th grade. In the Jewish school we studied all general subjects, such as geography, history, and also Hebrew and the Talmud, and in this way we were raised Jewish. They taught us Hebrew very well. Thanks to it I have some basic knowledge in Hebrew now, which helps me very much today. I speak in Hebrew with my sister's husband, who is an Austrian Jew.
In Plovdiv I became a member of the youth organization Hashomer Hatzair [4]. Hashomer Hatzair is a Jewish scout organization. In the Jewish school we also had a sports organization, Maccabi [5]. In the Hashomer Hatzair organization we went to summer camps, where we slept in tents and were taught how to be scouts. We learned how to give first aid in case of injuries. When we were 17 years old, we had to decide whether we wanted to go to Palestine or not. At that age we became senior scouts. Some Jews went to the agricultural school in Sadovo [a small town near Plovdiv] for six months, where they were taught farming. My brother Shelomo went to this school before he left for Israel. I didn't want to leave because I didn't want to leave my parents, who weren't in good health and didn't have much money. I wanted to stay and help them.
There was a big Jewish community in Plovdiv, comprising some 8,000 people. There were many merchants, craftsmen, clerks, workers and many poor people among them. Politically the Jews in Plovdiv were divided into three groups. They were all united by the idea of the establishment of a Jewish state, but differed in the way in which they wanted it to happen. There was a left Zionist movement, a center, and right one. The youth organization of the left Zionists was Hashomer Hatzair, and that of the right Zionists was Betar [6]. The general Zionists, the center, supported the sports organization Maccabi. The main idea of the left Zionists was working in a kibbutz, for which we were being prepared. The right Zionists advocated the establishment of a militarized Jewish state.
In Plovdiv I became a member of the youth organization Hashomer Hatzair [4]. Hashomer Hatzair is a Jewish scout organization. In the Jewish school we also had a sports organization, Maccabi [5]. In the Hashomer Hatzair organization we went to summer camps, where we slept in tents and were taught how to be scouts. We learned how to give first aid in case of injuries. When we were 17 years old, we had to decide whether we wanted to go to Palestine or not. At that age we became senior scouts. Some Jews went to the agricultural school in Sadovo [a small town near Plovdiv] for six months, where they were taught farming. My brother Shelomo went to this school before he left for Israel. I didn't want to leave because I didn't want to leave my parents, who weren't in good health and didn't have much money. I wanted to stay and help them.
There was a big Jewish community in Plovdiv, comprising some 8,000 people. There were many merchants, craftsmen, clerks, workers and many poor people among them. Politically the Jews in Plovdiv were divided into three groups. They were all united by the idea of the establishment of a Jewish state, but differed in the way in which they wanted it to happen. There was a left Zionist movement, a center, and right one. The youth organization of the left Zionists was Hashomer Hatzair, and that of the right Zionists was Betar [6]. The general Zionists, the center, supported the sports organization Maccabi. The main idea of the left Zionists was working in a kibbutz, for which we were being prepared. The right Zionists advocated the establishment of a militarized Jewish state.
Location
Bulgaria
Interview
haim molhov
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