Me and my colleagues from design institute 'Energoset'project' at a parade on October revolution Day. I am the third on the left. This is an amateur photo taken in Kiev, 1953.
Since 1953 I worked in design institute 'Energosetproject'. I was chief of high-voltage power line design department. In 1970s my nationality issue had an impact on my career. There was a vacancy of chief engineer in my institute. I was an incumbent for this position, but the district Party committee did not approve me for this position due to my Jewish identity. [Editor's note: in this case rather Jewish origin.] Chief of department was the highest position for a Jew. A Jew could not become director or chief engineer - such was the state policy. However, my wife and I had a good life. We earned well. We went to the cinema and theater and spent our summer vacations at the seashore. We didn't celebrate any holidays specifically, but we liked to invite friends for a party on Soviet holidays and birthdays and we also visited our friends. Occasionally we went to the theater or cinema, or went for a walk on weekends, but most often we stayed at home enjoying quiet family reunions. We usually spent vacations in the Crimea or Caucasus where we went with the family. My daughter Lilia liked going to parades when she was small. She went with Elena or me on 1 May or 7 November. In 1950s going to parades was mandatory. My colleagues carried Lilia on their shoulders and gave her candy and balloons. There was dancing and singing around and she enjoyed it a lot.
My friends were trying to convince me to move to Israel in 1970s. My argumentation to them was that I had a Russian wife and half-Russian daughters. I also told them that I didn't know the language. I had a good job here and a good family and I thought that my place was here. My daughters and grandchildren say now that they wish we moved. In 1984 I retired, but at times I worked at Energosetproject under an employment agreement before 1993.
