Frida Shatkhina with her family

This is our family photo. From left to right: my sister Betia Solomon with her granddaughter, my husband Isaac Brisman, me, Isaac's daughter Maria. This photo was taken in Mogilyov-Podolskiy in 1980.

My sister Betia and her husband moved to Vinnitsa after the war. She went to work as an accountant in the State Bank department in Vinnitsa. In 1946 Betia’s daughter Rita was born and in 1949 – her second daughter Maria was born.

My husband, Isaac Brisman, and I grew up in a religious family. After the war Jews didn’t observe Jewish traditions so strictly. My husband and I didn’t go to the synagogue. After the war the synagogues in Chernevtsy and Mogilyov-Podolskiy were closed, but there were prayer houses operating instead. Isaac and I didn’t go to prayer houses either, but we celebrated Jewish holidays at home and tried to follow all rules.

On Pesach I bought matzah, and later I bought it. I cooked traditional food that Mama used to make: chicken broth with dumplings from matzah, gefilte fish and puddings. Isaac had a prayer book and he prayed at home. On Yom Kippur we fasted 24 hours. Even now I fast on Yom Kippur despite my age.

My husband and I celebrated Soviet holidays at work. At home we only celebrated the Victory Day, 9 May.