This recording is a formal interview with Iosif Volkovich Torchinsky, born in Skvyra (Yiddish: Skvire) in 1918. (Part 1 of 2. See MDV 504) He lived in Skvire until 1934, before he moved to Kyiv to live with his older sister. He discusses his family. His father Velvl passed away when he was one year old. He had two sisters. His mother Sore worked in a shop. His sister Manye, along with his mother, were murdered in Babiy Yar. The conversation then turns to his school education. He started Yiddish school in 1926, which was called Skvirer Yiddish School Number 2. He graduated in 1933. He joined the Red Army in 1938. He was sent to Odesa to study at a military school.

In March 1941, he got married. Three months later he fought in the war. Torchinsky then discusses his childhood memories in Jewish Skvire. He remembers how he went to the synagogue with his grandfather during simkhes toyre (Simchat Torah). His grandfather was literate in Hebrew, but could not read Yiddish. In 1924, his uncle Shmilik wanted to take Torchinsky to live with him in Palestine. He fled the house, so he could continue to stay with his mother. He continues to share stories from his childhood pranks. During Passover, he would throw bread into the soup. Then the conversation turns to religious education. The religious teacher (melamed) Leyb would come to Torchinsky’s home and teach him the alphabet and how to pray.

He returns to discussing his family. In particular, he proudly relates that his family in America sent them 25 dollars, so they could afford proper flour to bake matzos. The next morning, the flour was stolen. The conversation returns to his education in the Yiddish school, as well as his pranks. As a student, he drew banners for Soviet holidays. The director’s name was Fishman. He then studied at a Ukrainian commercial school. His mother traded in goods, until her shop was shut down and she decided to join the kolkhoz (collective farm) “Poyer” (Peasant), where she worked as a cook. He then reads his poems, devoted to his wife Manye, written during the 1980s. The discussion turns to religious life in Skvire and his recent encounter with Hasidim. He remembers the morning prayer “Moyde ani.” His family celebrated the Sabbath during the 1930s. Torchinsky remembers how they performed an anti-religious play during Passover at his school. The tape concludes with a discussion about Jewish cultural life before the war.