Continuation of formal interview with Abram (Arkadii, Abrashe) Khaimovich Vaisman. (Part 3 of 4. See MDV 654, MDV 656, and Accession # 09-010.58-F MDV 776) In this part of the interview, Vaisman discusses the ghetto set up in Sharhorod during the war. His sister used to credit Ukrainians with helping the Jews, as one woman in particular helped his family by bringing them food and other supplies, but he himself does not remember the war. When the Romanians came to Sharhorod, Vaisman relates, they did not kill any Jews. Rather, the Romanians brought their own Jews to the town, thousands of whom died of hunger and were subsequently buried in the Sharhorod Jewish cemetery.

Vaisman also tells a Hershele Ostropolyer story, and shares his memories of Passover, when his mother would bake matzo kugels and bagels. He relates how one bakery would receive official permission to bake matzos for the whole town. Vaisman answers a series of dialectological and linguistic questions on the Yiddish language. Vaisman’s daughter, Klava, shows photos of her Jewish childhood friends who spoke Yiddish, most of whom have now emigrated. Vaisman also shares his opinions about the contemporary state of Yiddish and life in Israel.