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Bershad'
 (09-010.06-F) -  Shelf Number: MDV 384
 IUCAT



No streaming derivative is available.

Date: January 7, 2009

Participants: Sklyarskiy, Semyon Moiseyevich. Interviewed by Dov-Ber Kerler and 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 Semyon Moiseyevich Sklyarskiy. (Part 2 of 2. See MDV 383) Semyon Sklyarskiy continues his story of how he survived World War II, focusing on his time as a partisan. He then discusses his life after the war and Jewish life in Bershad’ after the war. He shows the team his documents and some letters.

00:00:00 Sklyarskiy explains his military awards and honors, before he describes his work at a field hospital from 1944 to 1945.
00:03:12 Sklyarskiy speaks about his first injury, shot by the Ukrainian police officer in Zhornyshche. He then returns to his dream in the fields, as well as describes the help he received from Ukrainian locals.
00:11:01 Sklyarskiy addresses Jewish life in the Bershad ghetto during the war. Sklyarskiy then returns to his and his family's life at the beginning of the war in May 1941. He was a forced laborer and built roads.
00:16:24 Sklyarskiy speaks about his life, including work, after World War II. He took courses on accountancy in Vinnytsya for six months and worked in several towns, including Bershad.
00:18:56 Sklyarskiy recalls his best moments during his life after the war. He also addresses his family and remembers the moment when his daughter passed away.
00:23:38 Sklyarskiy addresses postwar Jewish life in Bershad. He recalls synagogue services. Sklyarskiy then mentions his traditional wedding in Bershad in 1951. He then returns to his family.
00:27:36 Sklyarskiy shows family letters.
00:30:20 Sklyarskiy describes the local geography and life today. He then talks about his family and shows letters.
00:36:57 Sklyarskiy speaks about his family, before he returns to his dream.
00:40:49 The team finishes the official part of the interview with Sklyarskiy and he speaks about contemporary, including Jewish, life. Sklyarskiy also speaks about life during the postwar Soviet period, as well as local geography.
00:50:21 Sklyarskiy talks about his family, before the team concludes the interview with him.
00:51:53 End of recording.