This recording is a formal interview with Beyle Mindel, nee Reinsdorf, and Isaak Iosipovich Vaisman. (Part 1 of 2. See MDV 355) They discuss Jewish life before and after the war. Then the conversation turns to Jewish cultural life before the war, in particular Jewish weddings. According to Isaak, eighteen percent of non-Jews spoke Yiddish in Berdychiv before the war. Then Isaak discusses life during World War II. According to Isaak, a number of wealthy Jews from Berdychiv did not leave when the war started, because the Germans had not persecuted Jews during World War I. Hence, the Jews thought they would also be able to use money for protection during World War II. The conversation then turns to the celebration of Jewish holidays at home. Then they talk about Jewish religious life after the war. In particular, they talk about how they were making Matzos in the synagogue. The tape concludes with the Vaismans presenting Russian and Yiddish letters, as well as family photographs and talking about life today.