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This is a picture from 1932, when we were to become soldiers. The picture was taken in Sofia. I am the sixth from left; second from left is my good friend Nissim Benbasat. There are no relatives of mine in this photo. Most of the people are relatives and friends of Nissim Benbasat. Behind us is the old building of Sofia Central Railway Station. We left for Vidin, where I was released from work due to an illness and came back to work in Sofia because at that time I provided for the whole family.
While we still lived in Vratsa, I used to go to Sofia as I had practice in the textile factories. Together with that I prepared well and took the second-year exams at the textile school and in 1932, at the age of 18, I went to Sliven and later to Sofia in order to work as a textile worker.
It was a good job, a well-paid job and I took care of the whole family. When they worked, my brothers got a salary of 1000 leva, which was a very low salary at that time. Being a textile worker I got 6000 leva. Yet, I had a large family to provide for, and, to give you but one example, my friends were able to order suits for themselves at the age of 18, while I couldn’t afford it until my 25th birthday.
However, I was pleased with my situation because I had fulfilled my duty and my siblings grew up thanks to me as well. I owe very much to my mother. She supported me in everything. She was a martyr, a saint, because it was she who built our decent family.
