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CHAPTER THREE The World of Work Работа
from Neshama: Inspiration for Such a Time as This: A Collection of Stories, Recipes, Poems and Other
The World of Work Работа
Fania Chechik, Doctor
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Nesse Godin, Volunteerism
George Joseph, Psychiatrist, Author
Armand Lakner, Aeronautical Engineer
Neli Melman, Doctor, Author
Maya Zbarsky, Metallurgist
Врач Фана Чечек, Holocaust survivor from Ukraine
Я Фанна Чечик, хочу рассказать о своей жизни. Я родилась на Украине, город Бердичев. В 1961 году я закончила Винницкий мединститут с красным дипломом. В этом году вышла замуж, и муж увез меня в город Хабаровск, где он работал. В Хабаровске я работала в начале участковым врачом, затем старшим ординатором в поликлинике. У меня врачевой страж 38 лет. У меня два сына и три внука.
Последние 15 лет муж работал директором завода “Дальэнергомаш”. Он был награжден орденом “Знак почета”, орден трудового красного знамени. Он был делегатом съезда партии. В 1994 году мы уехали в Америку. Мы с мужем прожили 50 лет, в 2012 году он умер. Мои дети, внуки работают и учатся. Я очень рада, что живу в Америке.
Спасибо за работу и внимание.
Doctor
My name is Fania Chechik and I am going to share with you a bit about my life. I was born in Ukraine in the city of Berdichev. In 1961, I graduated from the Vinnitsa Medical Institute with honors (a ‘Red’ diploma awarded to candidates achieving over 75% in marks of excellence). That same year, I married and accompanied my husband to the city of Khabarovsk where he worked. There I began working at the clinic as a district doctor and rose to senior resident doctor. I accumulated 38 years of medical experience. And, my husband and I have two sons and three grandchildren.
For the last 15 years that we resided in Khabarovsk, my husband worked as a director of the Dalenergomash factory that designs and manufactures industrial equipment. He was awarded the ‘Order of the Badge of Honor’ (conferred on citizens for outstanding achievement) and the ‘Order of the Red Banner of Labor’ (awarded for heroism in combat or long service in the armed forces). He also served as a delegate to the party congress.
In 1994, my husband and I emigrated to America. We were married for 50 years until his death in 2012. I am very happy to live here with my children and grandchildren, who work and study.
Thank you for your work and attention.
Life of Volunteerism
Nesse Godin, Holocaust survivor from Lithuania
Nesse Godin was born on March 23, 1928 in Shauliai, Lithuania where she lived with her parents and two brothers. At age 13, Nesse was separated from her family during the Nazi invasion of Lithuania. She is a survivor of the Shauliai, Lithuania Ghetto, the Stutthof Concentration Camp, four labor camps and a death march, and she has dedicated her adult life to teaching about and sharing memories of the Holocaust.
Nesse has appeared before a variety of audiences including the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Departments of Defense and Energy, and numerous schools, churches, synagogues, civic groups, and teacher’s conferences. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was fortunate to have her as a member of its Speaker’s Bureau.
She served as President of the Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Friends of Greater Washington and as a founding member and on the board of directors of several Holocaust survivor groups. She also served on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Jewish Community Council, to name a few. And, Nesse participated as a speaker for the Capitol Children’s Museum of Washington, D.C
Nesse’s life story has appeared in numerous publications including Washingtonian Magazine, Scholastic News, The Gazette, The Pentagram and The Washington Post. She has appeared on television and radio programs and specials such as “In Memory of Millions” with Walter Cronkite, “Beyond Hate” with Bill Moyers, A&E’s “Tolerance in America” and the History channel’s “Holocaust, The Untold Story.” Her testimony has appeared in the “Liberation Exhibit” at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (January 6, 2001).
She has received multiple awards for her volunteer work, notably on April 12, 2001 when the State of Maryland proclaimed every April 12th “Nesse Godin Day” for her dedication to teaching and sharing memories of the Holocaust in Maryland. To learn more about Nesse Godin visit: www.nessegodin.com
A PROMISE NOT FORGOTTEN In her own words, a Holocaust survivor keeps her promise to teach the world what hatred and indifference can do to humanity. “We cannot change what was, but we can change what is and what will be.”
My name is Nesse Godin and I am a survivor of the Holocaust. As a survivor, I am here for one reason only: to share memories. So that you, and others, will know the truth. Most of all, I share so that such atrocities in humanity will never happen again.
I was born on March 28, 1928 in Shauliai, Lithuania and I had a normal childhood with my parents, two brothers and extended family. Before the Nazis invaded, Lithuania was a democracy where all people, regardless of race or religion, lived freely together. Jews had lived there since the eighth century without incident except, here and there, people said negative things about us (like everywhere else). But not in my hometown. Then the Nazis took over . . . and everything changed.
I was separated from my family when I was 13 years old by the Nazis who had invaded Lithuania. During the next four years, I survived the Shauliai, Lithuania Ghetto, the Stutthof Concentration Camp, four labor camps, and a death march.
At age 17, I was liberated. I remember that night with great clarity—some women rejoiced, some said prayers of thanks to G-d and many were crying. I cried, too, but they were not tears of joy. Rather, I cried for my family and for those who perished around me. I wondered if any of my family members had survived this hell on earth Most of all, I cried because I felt sorry for myself. Throughout the Holocaust, I lived day by day, hoping to survive. I never believed I would.
When the older women would ask us, the younger women, to promise to remember them, I did not think that I would be the one to carry out this promise. Throughout the Holocaust, no matter where we were, we always promised each other that if any of us survived, we would tell the truth about what happened in those horrific years.
Remember and tell the world what was done to our Jewish people was etched into my memory forever. I was just a little girl, and I believe I survived the Holocaust by the grace of the Lord above and by the kindness of Jewish women who gave me a bite of bread, wrapped my body in straw to keep me warm and held me up when I was hurt by the guards. They gave me hope, and they asked me to promise that if I survived, I would not let them be forgotten. I will never forget. I will always remember. I will tell the world.
What had happened to me and to millions of others occurred because evil was permitted to enter the hearts and minds of people who looked at others differently than themselves. I taught my children and my grandchildren to love all people regardless of race, creed, or religion. I have dedicated my life—the life that was spared years ago from the atrocities of the Nazis—to make sure that no child in this world suffers as I did.
I hope that whoever reads or hears my story will take ownership of my promise and will not allow hatred to permeate the world ever again. Do not see a race or a religion. See a friend. Let us learn to love again. Ensure that the United States of America, the most wonderful country in the world, serves an example for all countries. Where people, regardless how they look or how they pray or where they come from, can live in freedom together.
Psychiatrist, Author
On December 12, 1941, a ship named Struma left Romania on a journey toward the British Mandate of Palestine with estimated 800 passengers comprised of Jewish refugees and crew members. On February 24, 1942, the ship and all aboard were hit by a torpedo and sank in the black Sea. My family was supposed to be on the boat. Several of my classmates and their families perished. I grew up feeling grief and rage about this catastrophe. Phantasies of revenge colored many a days of growing up. After 50 years of work as a psychiatrist the rage and pain converted into a story of friendship and love. Flowers Grow on Ruins Too was published in 2011.
Aeronautical Engineer
As I approach the end of a long road, I believe one must sit down and reflect on the journey. Of course, one’s perspective can always be through the filter of “the cup half full” or “half empty,” but that proves futile at this point. Regardless of one’s perspective, one should take into account all the coins in the tilt and enjoy the lovely jingle. In 1943, at 21, I was sent to forced labor, as were so many of my Hungarian tribe, and shortly thereafter, “graduated” to concentration camp, in my case, Mauthausen. No one needs to be reminded of the horrors that each one of us survivors have had to live with. Those nightmares encourage every Jewish person to “Never Forget.” Happy to be alive after the horrors of the Holocaust, I arrived in America in 1950; a dream come true, with my wife, ready to literally start a new life. America was the country that saved me, and I was grateful to be alive and able to give back to the land of opportunities. Eventually, as an aeronautical engineer, I was fortunate enough to work for NASA on the Apollo missions, helping to fulfill President Kennedy’s challenge to “put a man on the moon by the end of the decade [1960s].” I consider this to be one of my greatest lifetime achievements and will always be proud of my contribution to this worthy cause. Since I went through that nightmare so long ago, today I can reflect on the blessings of being alive and am grateful for my life, my family, and all that was bestowed upon me these last 98 years. Surely, it has been a blessing. Surely, Hitler lost, and we won. Surely, it is with great pride and humility that I implore those who survive me to seek pleasure from the little things in life, appreciate what is right in front of you, not to be greedy or jealous of what others have, be kind, love those who love you, and even those who do not, and live every day to its fullest for as long as you can. Signed, Dr. Armand Aladar Lakner, 98, Rockville, Maryland.
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Author
Senior fellow at the Institute of Urology and Nephrology (Kiev, Ukraine). Co-author of 11 books (manuals, monographs, reference books, etc.) Published over 150 scientific articles.
In November 1989, Neli Melman arrived in the U.S. on a refugee status, and worked in the laboratory of molecular recognition at the National Institutes of Health. She is co-author of 40 articles on topical issues in Molecular Biochemistry. On life and work, Melman reflected in books, To Know and Remember (S. Zolatarev, New York, 2000), On the Wave of Memory (A.I Kleiner, 2014), The Jews of Russia in Medicine and Biology 1750-2010 (E. Lyuboshitz, Jerusalem,2013), Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine (2017), and in Maryland newspapers.
Below provides inadvertent selection of books authored by Melman.
In Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
The book contains the facts of anti-Semitism in the way of education and science, in the lives of six generations of family, my teachers, and colleagues. Represented by the heavy historical periods: Tsarist Russia, post-revolutionary economic chaos, the Stalin era, the heyday of postwar anti-Semitism, and its continuation in subsequent years. It marked the Jewish contribution to medicine and biology. Contrasts the fate of immigrants appears in democratic countries (USA, Israel).
In Memory of My Mom Berta Melman
Short stories of emigration, their difficult way, and many aspects of life. The Soviet Union before his disintegration. Various age groups are allocated. It is told about adaptation problems, volunteers, American friends, and social indicators— the Jewish identification, religiousness, communities of the Russian Jews, and their prospects. Attention is paid to defects of society (murders, violence, stains, alcoholism, etc.). The reasons, methods of the prevention, and elimination are discussed. Their urgency and need of improvement are emphasized. Explanatory dictionary of terms and concepts, main sources of the literature are provided.
In Memory of Victims of Radiation
Questions of radiation medicine are practically absent in plans of training doctors and other health workers. We sought to meet this lack and give a wide range of readers an idea of radiation problems in general: the impact of its consequences on the health of the person, methods of prevention and treatment, and the active position of the population.
Jewish Development of Space
This book preceded information about the tragic death of Judith Resnik during the take-off of the spaceship “Challenger” on January 26, 1986. All cosmonauts are listed by name with professional and general educational level, and features of flight are underlined. From 1969 to 2010, 15 Jews made flights into space—and among them three women. Jews flew into space 43 times, including women—10 times. Absolute leaders in the number of flights are US citizens. Among them are prominent specialists in various fields of science and practice. 13 cosmonauts are US citizens, one is a citizen of the former Soviet Union, the only Jew is from the state of Israel. All of them are awarded high honors and honors. Five cosmonauts delivered symbols of the Jewish religion into space and performed the main rites there.
In Memory of My Grandparents and Uncle Killed in Babi Yar
The brochure presents the episodes of the shooting of Jews and the modern data. Listed relatives, killed in the Holocaust (Babi Yar, Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr oblast, Ukraine)
Endowments Syndrome
Having accidentally learned about the existence of a problem of the savant’s, I more than two years ago, excitedly and responsibility was accepted to its profound studying for the purpose of the general education. All my long-term scientific activities were not connected with savant’s problems at all. Soon found a lack of popular medical editions, practically their absence in the Russian language. It was the basis for the writing of the book Endowments syndrome.
People with infallible memory are one of the main signs of a savant’s. A condition at which persons with a deviation in development have the outstanding abilities in one or several fields of knowledge contrasting with the general limitation of the personality. A syndrome (phenomenon) of a savant in abbreviated form, is called savant’s. Folklore names of the syndrome—rain men, a greedy brain, mad geniuses, patients with genius, scribe, the sudden scientist, supermen, over capable, people from the island of genius, an endowments syndrome.
19.07.2020
Дорогие друзья!
Спасибо за письмо. Понимаю проблемы, с которыми вы столкнулись. Трудно изменить чтонибудь сейчас.
Хотелось бы о чем-то интересном написать, что было в жизни. Всякое было, я объездила всю Россию от Мурманска, Норильска с Казахстаном, но это все по работе, я конструктор, последнее время – металлург.
В отечественную войну отец пошел на фронт в первый день, 22 июня, брат тоже, дошел до Берлина. Отец погиб, эвакуация была долгая и тяжелая. Мы жили на северном Кавказе: поездом ( бомбили нас) , пароходом и пустыней в город Самарканд, Узбекистан. Мы с братом-близнецом даже хлопок убирали. Кстати, узбеки были очень добрые и приветливые люди, они потеснились и дали нам жилье, всячески помогали. Было голодно и об этом не пишу.
Самарканд – древний город, как и Бухара. Там есть “Старый город” – огромная площадь с древними минаретами, мавзолеями. Они покрыты необыкновенной красоты плитками, мозаикой, разноцветными рисунками и узорами. Восстановить эти цвета и плиточки очень трудно, почти невозможно. К сожалению, у меня нет фотографий. Но, есть интернет – он меня выручает “Google” подробно покажет всю красоту “Старого города”, площадь Регистана и все мавзолеи даже изнутри. Например мавзолей Гур-Эмир XV века, с мозаикой, мечеть Биби-Ханум и много всего красивого. Сейчас так не строят. В мавзолее Гур-Эмир похоронен великий Тамерлан и его внук Улугбек – известный ученый-астролог. О них все там можно прочитать. Это интересно, у Тимура войска всадников были до трех тысяч, он был известным завоевателем. Мавзолей Гур-Эмира известен был тем, что нельзя открывать могилы. Была такая легенда. В Москве перед войной, ученый Михаил Герасимов, который был автором методики восстановления лица по черепу. Он был еще скульптор-антрополог. И Сталин захотел увидеть лицо Тимура. Приехали ученые, рабочие и открыли тяжелую плиту, взяли останки Тимура и Улугбека. Это было днем и ночью 21 июня 1941 года, а утром началась Великая Отечественная Война. Легенда – это серьезно! Подробно об этом читайте в интернете “Проклятие Тамерлана” , 2/3 Начало Второй Мировой Войны после вскрытия гробницы. 3/3. В интернете много подробностей. После работы над скульптурамибыстрое захоронение и победа под Сталинградом. Сталин выделил миллион рублей на восстановление Храма. Очень интересные подробности в интернете – долго перечислять.
Metallurgist
Maya Zbarsky, Holocaust survivor from Russia
7.19.2020
Dear friends!
Thank you for your letter. I understand the problems you are facing; it is hard to change anything now.
I would like to write about something interesting that happened in life. Well— a lot happened, I traveled all over Russia from Murmansk, Norilsk, to Kazakhstan, but this all was work related, I am constructor by profession – a metallurgist.
During the The Great Patriotic War ( Eastern Front of World War II ), my father and brother went to the war front on the first day, June 22. My father died and my brother made it to Berlin. For us, the evacuation was long and difficult. We lived in the North Caucasus: by train (they bombed us), by steamer and in the desert to the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. My twin brother and I even worked to pick cotton. By the way, the Uzbek people were very kind and friendly. They gave us a place to live and helped in every way. There was a hunger, but I am not writing about that.
Samarkand is an ancient city, like Bukhara. There an “Old City” district –a huge square with ancient minarets, mausoleums. They are covered with tiles of extraordinary beauty, mosaics, multi-colored designs, and patterns. It is very difficult, almost impossible, to restore these colors and tiles. Unfortunately, I have no photos.
But Internet helps me out. “Google” will show in detail all the beauty of the “Old City”, Registan Square and all the mausoleums, even from the inside. For example, the Gur-Emir mausoleum of the 15th century, with mosaics, the Bibi-Khanum mosque and many other beautiful things. Now they do not build like that.
The great Tamerlane and his grandson Ulugbek, a famous scientist-astrologer, are buried in the Gur-Emir mausoleum. You can read everything about them there. It is interesting, Timur had up to three thousand horsemen, he was a famous conqueror. The Gur-Emir mausoleum was famous for the fact that it was forbidden to open graves. There was such a legend. In Moscow before the war, the scientist Mikhail Gerasimov, who was the author of a technique for restoring the face from the skull. He was also a sculptor-anthropologist and Stalin wanted to see Timur’s face. Scientists and workers came and opened the heavy slab and took the remains of Timur and Ulugbek. It was June 21st, 1941, and the morning of the next day the Great Patriotic War began. Legend is serious! Read more about this on the Internet “Curse of Tamerlane”, 2/3 The beginning of the Second World War after the opening of the tomb. 3/3. There are many details on the Internet. After work on the sculptures, a quick burial and victory at Stalingrad. Stalin invested a million rubles for the restoration of the Temple. It would take a long time to list all the very interesting details from the Internet.
