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Bershad'
 (09-010.06-F) -  Shelf Number: MDV 369
 IUCAT




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Date: July 18, 2002

Participants: Vygodner, Efim; Kozak, Evgeniia Abramovna; Bershad'skaya, Elizaveta Konstantinovna Leiderman, Gisia Moiseevna. Interviewed by Dov-Ber Kerler, Jeffrey Veidlinger.

Location recorded: Bershad', Vinnyts'ka Oblast', Ukraine

Language: Yiddish

Culture Group: Jews, Yiddish-speakers, Ukrainians

 Recording Content:   

The recording is the continuation of a formal interview with Evgeniia Abramovna Kozak. (Part 3 of 3. See MDV 367 and MDV 368) Efim Vygodner also talks about contemporary Jewish life in Bershad.

The second part of the tape includes a chat with Elizaveta (Leyke) Konstantinovna Bershadskaya, nee Kolman, born 1927 in Chernyatka (Yiddish: Chernyotke).

The final section of the recording is a formal interview with Gisia (Gisye) Meylikhovna Leiderman, nee Brunfman, born 1924 in Bershad. (Part 1 of 2. See MDV 370) The recording begins with a discussion of contemporary Jewish life in the region of Bershad’ with Efim Vygodner, the Director of the Jewish Community of Bershad’. Evgeniia Kozak talks about her family and shows pictures. Discussion with Kozak and Vygodner continues outside as Efim tells the interviewers about the history of the Jewish community of Bershad’ and the synagogue. Evgeniia talks about the Second World War and her family's evacuation to Central Asia. Elizaveta Bershad'skaya joins the conversation and talks about her childhood in the village of Chernyotka. They recall the Bershad’ ghetto and the hardships of the war. They talk about how Jewish the town of Bershad’ once was. The interview team then moves to the apartment of Gisia Leiderman and conducts a formal interview with Gisia about her childhood in Bershad’ before the war.

00:00:00 Vygodner talks about contemporary Jewish life in the region.
00:02:22 Kozak shows the team family photographs. Kozak raised two sons and was married in 1958.
00:05:00 The team moves outside and continues to chat with Kozak and Vygodner. They discuss contemporary Jewish life. Kozak then talks about her family. They then discuss the contemporary local community and Kozak's life today.
00:09:28 Kozak speaks about her life during World War II and describes her evacuation. She states that her family evacuated on foot for two hundred kilometers, and eventually reached Central Asia. Kozak also recalls her return to Bershad.
00:10:25 Bershadskaya joins the conversation and provides personal information. They chat about regional geography, as well as prewar religious life.
00:18:01 Bershadskaya addresses prewar Jewish life in Bershad and also talks about her family. She raised a son. She then speaks about her education and work. Bershadskaya attended a Russian secondary school and worked as teacher at a Ukrainian school. She also speaks about her life before the war.
00:19:21 Bershadskaya talks about her life during the war. She was imprisoned in the Bershad ghetto. Kozak and Bershadskaya remember violence and beatings in the ghetto.
00:21:06 The team greets Leiderman at her apartment and sets up the interview with her.
00:22:04 Leiderman talks about her life before the war. She attended a Ukrainian school. She also mentions that she spent the war years in evacuation. Leierman then provides personal information.
00:25:03 The formal interview with Leiderman begins. She provides personal information.
00:26:29 Leiderman provides personal information and speaks about her family. Her father was also born in Bershad and worked as a fur and leather worker. Leiderman grew up with one sister and one brother that lives in Israel.
00:30:27 Leiderman discusses her childhood memories of Bershad. She attended a school and studied at a technical college.
00:31:53 Leiderman addresses prewar holiday celebration at home, including Sabbath food customs. She also touches upon prewar religious life.
00:35:21 Leiderman talks about her family and addresses prewar Passover celebrations.
00:37:00 End of recording.