The family of Pavel Sendrei's wife, Judita Sendrei
(maiden name Bruck), in their yard

This is a photo of my wife's family. Her name is Judita Sendrei (maiden name - Bruck). The photo was taken in 1931 in the garden of the Bruck family home in Subotica. (Editor's note: the text below is extracted from the interview of Pavel's wife, Judita Sendrei, who was also interviewed by Centropa.) From right to left are: Judita's father, Matija Bruck, her mother, Magda Bruck, one of the Brucks whom they called Bruksi, next to him his wife, and next to her, Judita's paternal grandmother, Janka Bruck. Judita is the little girl in front. The Bruck family lived in the house of my wife's paternal grandmother, Janka Bruck (maiden name - Kantor). There they had a big yard with a small greenery. In the building there were two separate housing units. Judita lived with her parents in one section made up of four rooms and washrooms and toilets. Her grandmother, Janka, lived in the other part. Judita's grandfather, Lipot Bruck, was employed on a homestead that he managed. Unfortunate events led him to fall off a horse and die in Subotica on May 27, 1920. The Bruck family had a permanent cook and housekeeper who lived with the family in the house. Judita's grandmother, Janka Bruck, kept a kosher kitchen. Her grandparents were not Orthodox, but they celebrated all the holidays. Judita's father, Matija Bruck, read the Hagaddah. Their family's Hagaddah was in Hebrew and Hungarian. They lit candles on Shabbat, made challah and prepared a festive meal. Judita's father, grandmother and mother each had their own seat in the Neolog synagogue. They fasted on Rosh Hashanah, and Judita remembers that their cantor sang so well that there was not enough room in the synagogue when he sang Kol Nidre. Rabbi Gersan led the service. The family lit Hannukah candles. During Passover Judita's parents hid a small piece of matzoh and the person who found it got a present. Usually it was found by Judita.