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Recording Content:
This recording is a continuation of a formal interview taking place in the synagogue of Berdychiv with Efim (Khayim) Grigoryevich Skobilitskii. (Part 2 of 4. See MDV 342, MDV 343, and MDV 344) He talks about his service in the Red Army during World War II. The conversation moves to his family and prewar Jewish education. He talks at length about the Jewish religious school that he attended as a child. He then talks about Jewish religious life in Berdychiv after the war. The camera then moves to another section of the synagogue where Rabbi Shlomo Breuer of Berdychiv is slaughtering chickens in accordance with Jewish ritual for the townspeople. After this interlude, the formal interview with Efim Grigoryevich Skobilitskii continues. He remembers how his family celebrated Jewish religious holidays and then he recites prayers in front of the camera.
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00:00:00
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Skobilitskii provides personal information and speaks about his family. He then speaks about his life before the war, when he was drafted into the Red Army in 1939 to train as officer. He served for two years and achieved the rank of lieutenant. Instead of being demobilized, Skobilitskii explains, the was sent to the front as commander of a battalion of tanks in an artillery division. He then describes his army service during World War II. |
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00:01:55
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Skobilitskii talks about his family. His mother was born in Chervone and his father was born Poland, near Warsaw. His father was a metalworker. Skobilitskii grew up with four brothers. He also addresses his family's fate during World War II. |
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00:05:04
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Skobilitskii speaks about his army service for ten years. He finished ten years of schooling. Skobilitskii then speaks about his childhood, as well as education at a cheder (religious school) and Yiddish school, which he attended for four years. He explains how he studied in both schools every day. Skobilitskii then addresses his religious education and prayer customs. |
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00:12:03
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Skobilitskii talks about his cheder education. He then briefly talks about prewar religious life in Berdychiv, particularly remembering cantors visiting. According to Skobilitskii, the community collected money in order to invite a cantor from Kyiv for holiday celebrations after World War II. He then speaks about the synagogue building. |
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00:14:08
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Skobilitskii discusses his cheder education, before he talks about his life and work after the war. Skobilitskii was an agronomist and worked at a warehouse for thirty-five years. He was demobilized in 1949 and return to his hometown Berdychiv. |
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00:16:16
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The camera cuts to another scene, where Rabbi Shlomo Breuer slaughters chickens for the community. |
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00:21:33
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The camera returns to Skobilitskii's interview. He provides personal information. |
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00:22:47
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Skobilitskii addresses his schooling routine before the war. He also recalls a non-Jewish friend who spoke Yiddish with him after the war. Skobilitskii then discusses Yiddish spelling. |
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00:28:25
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Skobilitskii speaks about his family's fate and local Jewish fate during World War II. He also addresses local memorialization. |
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00:31:09
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Skobilitskii recites the funeral prayer "El moley rachamim." He then talks about his Yiddish school education, including addressing Yiddish writers. He then remembers the well-known Yiddish song "Belz, mayn shtetele Belz." |
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00:34:24
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Skobilitskii addresses contemporary religious life, including Sabbath celebrations. He then returns to his Yiddish school education, including subjects. |
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00:37:34
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Skobilitskii recalls prewar holiday celebrations, particularly Hanukkah and Passover. Skobilitskii recalls snippets of the Four Questions, before he returns to his school and cheder education. Skobilitskii states that he attended a cheder and a Yiddish school every day until 1928. |
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