Recording Content:
The tape is a formal interview with Roza Shmulevna Klein. She briefly discusses prewar Jewish life in Starokostyantyniv with a population of approximately 30,000. After a formal introduction, Klein discusses family. Her father worked as a carpenter. During the war, he was sent to the Donbass region to contribute to the war effort. The conversation turns to her Yiddish school education. Klein attended eight grades and then switched to Russian School No. 2 in order to complete ten grades. A day after the celebration for Klein's graduation, the war broke out.
Klein then briefly addresses prewar religious life, before she returns to discussing her family. The conversation turns to childhood memories of Starokostyantyniv. They then discuss her life in evacuation, before Klein recalls food customs at home. They evacuated to Central Asia and lived there for three years, before they moved to Omsk. They then discuss Klein's prewar school education and postwar Yiddish press and poetry, as well as her postwar vocational training. Klein then remembers religious life during the 1930s, and she mentions local Yiddish poets like Avrom Ber Gotlober.
The team then asks questions about Yiddish cultural terminology and non-Jews speaking Yiddish. Klein remembers a non-Jewish neighbor speaking and praying in Yiddish. Then Klein answers more questions about cultural terminology, during which they also talk about the Ba'al Shem Tov. The conversation turns to life today, in particular about religious life in Zhytomyr. They then discuss prewar and postwar cultural life, in particular Yiddish theater; before Klein shares information about prewar Passover celebrations at home. Klein returns to talking about her Yiddish school and lists a number of Yiddish song titles. The conversation moves to Klein's family today and prewar education. The interview concludes with Klein discussing her best moments in life.
00:00:00
|
prewar Jewish life in Starokostyantyniv. |
00:01:41
|
formal introduction and family. |
00:08:42
|
education and prewar religious life. |
00:20:37
|
postwar Yiddish press and postwar work training. |
00:31:57
|
about AHEYM and dialectology/cultural terminology. |
00:36:52
|
Ba'al Shem Tov and cultural terminology. |
00:41:35
|
Yiddish cultural life before and after war. |
00:43:34
|
Passover celebration and Yiddish school. |
|