I have very few photographs of my family members. This photograph was taken in Liozno in 1939 and shows my father Afroim Davidovich Pukshansky.

My father was born in Yanovichi in 1884. He finished only cheder. Father (like grandfather) was a very religious person. He earned his living the same way as my grandfather did: by peddling wares from village to village. But after a number of years he mastered another profession: he started buying and currying leather. Besides, he knew much about domestic animals: people always asked advice from him when purchasing cows and sheep. He also became knowledgeable in veterinary medicine. Neighbors often came running to him to ask his assistance in the difficult delivery of a cow or in the treatment of a sick horse.

My mum’s name was Genye Matesovna. Her maiden name was Levergant. She was born in the Belarus shtetl of Ostrovno in 1892. She received only primary education. The marriage of my parents was partly arranged by a matchmaker. I say partly, because after their specially arranged meeting, events developed too quickly for that sort of marriage: my future parents fell in love with each other and got married very soon. The wedding took place in Yanovichi in 1919, and the married couple lodged in the house of my father’s parents.

At home we all spoke only Yiddish. Adults started speaking Hebrew when they discussed something secretly. I was 6 when my grandfather started teaching me Hebrew. But by the time our family ceased living together, I only had had the time to learn the alphabet. So I did not manage to speak Hebrew.