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My mama died in 1984. We buried her in the Jewish cemetery, but arranged a secular funeral for her. Mama remained an atheist to the last days of her life.
In the late 1980s Mikhail Gorbachev 35 initiated perestroika 36 in the USSR. At first I had hopes that our life would improved. I respected Gorbachev, but later I understood that he was a babbler and lost interest in what was going on. The breakup of the USSR], that crowned the perestroika was a tragedy for me. I still feel sorry for the time, when we lived in the USSR, when we had everything: free medical care, free education, there was no unemployment and poverty. Of course, there were negative things in the USSR, but there was much good. There will never be this good again. I don’t see anything good in this current independence of the former Soviet republics. At least for the time being. The society separated into very rich people and beggars, who cannot leave on their salary. Many people have to leave their country only because they cannot feed their families. His could not happen in the USSR. My older son, his wife and children moved to Israel recently. Now they live in Haifa. My son works in a shop, his wife hasn’t found a job as yet. My older grandson Pavel has recently returned home after his military service. He will probably go to study to become a doctor. My granddaughter finished school, and now she serves in the army. I even fear to think about this undeclared war in Israel, when my dear people are in danger. I don’t5 think that my son would have had to leave his Motherland, if it hadn’t been for the breakup of the USSR.
In the late 1980s Mikhail Gorbachev 35 initiated perestroika 36 in the USSR. At first I had hopes that our life would improved. I respected Gorbachev, but later I understood that he was a babbler and lost interest in what was going on. The breakup of the USSR], that crowned the perestroika was a tragedy for me. I still feel sorry for the time, when we lived in the USSR, when we had everything: free medical care, free education, there was no unemployment and poverty. Of course, there were negative things in the USSR, but there was much good. There will never be this good again. I don’t see anything good in this current independence of the former Soviet republics. At least for the time being. The society separated into very rich people and beggars, who cannot leave on their salary. Many people have to leave their country only because they cannot feed their families. His could not happen in the USSR. My older son, his wife and children moved to Israel recently. Now they live in Haifa. My son works in a shop, his wife hasn’t found a job as yet. My older grandson Pavel has recently returned home after his military service. He will probably go to study to become a doctor. My granddaughter finished school, and now she serves in the army. I even fear to think about this undeclared war in Israel, when my dear people are in danger. I don’t5 think that my son would have had to leave his Motherland, if it hadn’t been for the breakup of the USSR.
Location
Ukraine
Interview
Riva Pizman Biography