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My mother’s parents – grandfather Joseph and grandmother Bluma – had a big house in Rafalovka. It had five rooms and a kitchen with a stove in it. All [toilets] were outside, of course. There was an orchard around the house and there was also a vegetable garden where my grandmother grew all kinds of things. They had a cow, and there was a cowshed next to the house, which was also used as a storage room.
My grandparents had three children. My mother, Toba-Rivka, was the oldest. She was born in1882 in Rafalovka. Their oldest son Haim was born in 1884. He was killed during the civil war, some time in 1921. Their middle son Usher was born in 1892. He was killed during a pogrom in 1921. He had four children, but I don’t know where they are or what happened to them. Haim and his wife didn’t have any children and lived in my grandparents’ house.
My grandparents spoke Yiddish at home. My grandfather was a plumpish man with a beard, but my grandmother was very thin. She was called Liebe and my grandfather was called Iosia. They worked non-stop – it was their way of life. Their biggest happiness in the world was when their grandchildren visited them. My grandmother loved us children. She used to make a strudel with apples and nuts when we came, and also kihlah (ground matzo with raisins, nuts and poppy seeds formed into small balls and fried).
My grandmother made butter and sour cream. Her day started at three in the morning. She had to milk the cow and cook, prepare “tsyber” (which was the Yiddish term for fodder for the cow), etc. Each Monday she baked bread for the following week.
My grandfather was also a boot maker. He was a masterful boot maker. He used to make boots even for landlords, their wives and children. He hired some young men, who worked and lived in his shop, sleeping on the floor and having their meals there. They also wanted to learn the boot making business. Their work day started at sunrise and ended when it got dark.
There was no money circulation then, people bartered food for goods at the fair. And when they bought food in stores, it was logged in a register. Then, when they got some money, they paid their debts.
My grandparents had three children. My mother, Toba-Rivka, was the oldest. She was born in1882 in Rafalovka. Their oldest son Haim was born in 1884. He was killed during the civil war, some time in 1921. Their middle son Usher was born in 1892. He was killed during a pogrom in 1921. He had four children, but I don’t know where they are or what happened to them. Haim and his wife didn’t have any children and lived in my grandparents’ house.
My grandparents spoke Yiddish at home. My grandfather was a plumpish man with a beard, but my grandmother was very thin. She was called Liebe and my grandfather was called Iosia. They worked non-stop – it was their way of life. Their biggest happiness in the world was when their grandchildren visited them. My grandmother loved us children. She used to make a strudel with apples and nuts when we came, and also kihlah (ground matzo with raisins, nuts and poppy seeds formed into small balls and fried).
My grandmother made butter and sour cream. Her day started at three in the morning. She had to milk the cow and cook, prepare “tsyber” (which was the Yiddish term for fodder for the cow), etc. Each Monday she baked bread for the following week.
My grandfather was also a boot maker. He was a masterful boot maker. He used to make boots even for landlords, their wives and children. He hired some young men, who worked and lived in his shop, sleeping on the floor and having their meals there. They also wanted to learn the boot making business. Their work day started at sunrise and ended when it got dark.
There was no money circulation then, people bartered food for goods at the fair. And when they bought food in stores, it was logged in a register. Then, when they got some money, they paid their debts.
Location
Ukraine
Interview
Yevsey Kotkov