This recording is a continuation of a formal interview with Motl Isaakovich Derbaremdiker. (Part 2 of 3. See MDV 507 and MDV 509) He continues to tell Peretz’s story “Three Gifts.” He talks about what happened to his Yiddish-speaking friends during the war. He only spoke Yiddish in his childhood and knew some Ukrainian from the market. He started to study Russian at the age of 15, when it was required for technical school. It took him only six months to be able to take exams in different subjects. The conversation returns to school education. He then mentions a Yiddish literary circle at the public library. He remembers how Sholem-Aleichem’s brother visited the circle. He then recites his published poem, which he dedicated to the Yiddish poet Dovid Hofshteyn and his poem “Af rusishe felder.” He recites another poem that he remembers from school textbooks, as well as discussing other Yiddish writers he remembers from prewar Yiddish textbooks.

He mentions Yiddish books that were available in the public library of prewar Berdychiv. He then talks about his encounter with the Yiddish actor Solomon Mikhoels and general performances of Yiddish theater in town. The conversation moves to a discussion of his father and Yiddish literature. Derbaremdiker shares his reading about Yoysef Kerler in the journal Sovietish Heymland and recites from his own publications in the journal Afn Shvel. Derbaremdiker then tells the legend behind the meaning of his last name. He turns to talking about prewar cultural activity in Berdychiv, like the “Klub Apikoyres” (club of the heretics) and performances of Klezmer musicians. When briefly addressing his secret bar mitzvah again, he mentions Rabbi Arn Kloper. The tape concludes with a discussion about cinemas and Yiddish films before the war in Berdychiv.