Card index of the interviews
From 1995 to 2003, the staff of the Institute of Jewish Studies in Kyiv (today’s Center for Studies in History and Culture of East European Jewry) worked on the project “Ukraine’s Jewish Fates: The Twentieth Century”, which consisted in collecting oral history testimonies of Ukrainian Jews. Project manager Roman Lenchovsky and 10 interviewers, assisted by 20 volunteers (students of International Solomon University), recorded around 180 interviews with people aged from 50 to 95 on compact cassettes.
The general outline of the interview with a list of questions was developed to that end. Almost all respondents were residents of Ukrainian cities and villages (although Roman Lenchovsky recorded an interview with the human rights advocate Larisa Bogoraz in Moscow, where she lived for the most part of her life).
All interviews were transcribed, and the transcripts were printed and preserved in digital format. The archive has full e-versions of 177 interviews. The interviewers also filled out reference cards, which contain basic data about each respondent (date and place of birth, index of geographical names, institutions, and organizations mentioned in the interview, and whether the respondent or her/his family were victims/survivors of the Holocaust or Soviet repressions).
Among the respondents were both ordinary and well-known people (academics, artists, and civil activists). For example, Sharlotta Varshaver (b. 1904) was a theatre director and the first wife of the writer Oleksandr Korniychuk; Borys Medovar (b. 1916) was a scientist, metallurgist, Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, who worked at the Institute of Electric Welding together with the famous scientists Yevhen Paton and Boryn Paton; Faina Kovalevska (b. 1918) was a theatre pedagogue who trained many actors; Larisa Bogoraz (b. 1929) was a human rights advocate and the head of the Moscow Helsinki Group; Olha Rapai-Markish (b. 1929) was a ceramic sculptor and a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine.
The oral history collection is a chronicle of human destinies in the context of significant historical events of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Some of the respondents were in ghettos, Nazi and Stalinist camps. For instance, Illia Zhibkov was a prisoner of the Vorkuta camp, and Leonid Kotliar was an Ostarbeiter. Some of them survived the Holocaust, for example, Dina Dukhan (b. 1910) and Symkho Gruber (b. 1919). They told not only about what they lived through personally but also about the fates of their relatives and friends. The memories the interviewees shared can help restore quite a lot of information, which is absent in other sources.
Each oral testimony is not just a subjective depiction of the events of the past but also a kind of “confession” and a vibrant reflection of a respondent’s personality. Interviewees were of different age, social status, cultural and educational level, and it was important to preserve their individual features, which were visible in their storytelling manners. Therefore, when editing and processing the interviews, the Center’s researchers corrected only obvious grammar and syntax mistakes, trying to convey unique speech features of each person. 99% of respondents were Russian speaking and only a few spoke Ukrainian. However, some interviewees used Yiddish and Ukrainian words or even spoke so-called surzhyk, i.e., a mix of Russian and Ukrainian, which is also reflected (italicized) in the transcripts.
These interviews can be interesting for scholars (historians, sociologists, ethnologists, linguists, psychologists, and art historians), teachers, and creative professionals (writers, journalists, theater and film directors).
The archive holds interviews with:
Family and given names, patronymic of a respondent | Year of birth | Place of birth
(according to the respondent’s words) |
Year of the interview | Place of the interview |
Averbukh Ihor Lvovych | 1923 | Zhmerynka, Vinnytsia region | 2001 | Kyiv |
Aheiev Ihor Oleksandrovych | 1937 | Kyiv | 1996 | Kyiv |
Babat Raisa Illivna | 1916 | Kyiv | 1995 | Kyiv |
Bederman Maria Pinkusivna | 1907 | No data | 1996 | Kyiv |
Belozovska Doba Semenivna | 1912 | Shchors (now Snovnsk), Chernihiv region | 1995 | Kyiv |
Berennshtein Leonid Yukhymovych | 1921 | Shpykiv, Vinnytsia region (?) | 1996 | Kyiv |
Berlin Raisa Moiseivna | 1913 | Bahnivka, Vinnytsia region | 2001 | Kyiv |
Bertein Sofia Solomonivna | 1910 | Kyiv | 1999 | Kyiv |
Besidsky Yosyp Hryhorovych | 1913 | Zhytomyr | 1995 | Kyiv |
Bielousov Kostiantyn Petrovych | 1929 | Kyiv | 1996 | Smila |
Bogolaz Larisa Iosifovna | 1929 | Kharkiv | 1996 | Moscow |
Borodianska Dina Isaivna | 1908 | Kyiv | 1996 | Lviv |
Braverman Faina Hryhorivna | 1919 | Pykiv, Vinnytsia region | 2001 | Kyiv |
Bronshtein Khana Davydivna | 1919 | Zhmerynka | 1995 | Zhmerynka |
Bunikovska Kommunella Mykhailivna | 1931 | Donetsk | 2003 | Kyiv |
Bunin Myron Yosypovych | 1929 | Nova Zoria (Dnipropetrovsk region) | 1996 | Kyiv |
Bukhin Mark Isaakovych | 1919 | Stepantsi, Kyiv region | 1995 | Kyiv |
Vainberg Udia Shliomivna | 1926 | Novoselytsia, Chernihiv region | 1998 | Novoselytsia |
Vainshtein Mykhailo (about Olha Rapai) | No data | No data | 1999 | Kyiv |
Vainshtein Musia Lvivna | 1918 | Kyiv | 1998 | Kyiv |
Vaisman Srul Davydovych | 1931 | Khotyn, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Khotyn |
Vaisman Siunia Zusiovuch | 1927 | Khmilnyk, Vinnytsia region | 1997 | Cherkasy |
Vaisman Fania Leibivna | 1931 | Khotyn, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Khotyn |
Valdman Vasyl Moiseiovych | 1930 | Ostroh, Rivne region | 1998 | Ostroh |
Varshaver Sharlotta Moiseivna | 1904 | Kyiv | 1995 | Kyiv |
Vasylieva Yevhenia Valerianivna | 1906 | Stara Khota, Chernihiv region | 2000 | Kyiv |
Vinnik Liubov Borysivna | 1925 | Vankovo, Moscow region, Russia | 1997 | Uman |
Vollerner Naum Pylypovych | 1913 | Kyiv | 1998 | Kyiv |
Vorontsova Ada Leonidivna | 1934 | Kherson | 1998 | Kyiv |
Havsiuk Sofia Solomonivna | 1908 | Kyiv | 1998 | Kyiv |
Heikhman Solomon Sruliovych | 1933 | Kyiv | 1997 | Kyiv |
Helfer Ida Moiseivna | 1918 | Vinnytsia | 1995 | Kyiv |
Henin Borys Yukhymovych | 1912 | Katerynoslav (now Dnipro) | 1995 | Kyiv |
Herman Esfir Borysivna | 1922 | Rostov-on-Don, Russia | 1997 | Kyiv |
Hertsman Mina Liberivna | 1921 | Bălți, Moldova | 1996 | Chernivtsi |
Hitterman Reizia Abramivna | 1928 | Yampil, Vinnytsia region | 1998 | Khotyn |
Hlants Halyna Yakivna | 1927 | Holoskove, Mykolaiv region | 1998 | Luhansk |
Hold Bella Lvivna | 1912 | Ukraine (no concrete data) | 1996 | Kyiv |
Holdbaum Shyfra Salivna | 1919 | Cherkasy | 1997 | Heronymivka, Cherkasy region |
Holdfrukht Fridrikh Bernhardovych | 1912 | Chernivtsi | 2000 | Kyiv |
Hontariuk Tsylia Davydivna | 1935 | Lypkanivka, Moldova | 1998 | Stara Zhadova, Chernivtsi region |
Horen Hudia Shoilivna | 1937 | Malyntsi, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Khotyn |
Horen Motel Sruliovych | 1931 | Tyshla, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Khotyn |
Horodotska Kira Aronivna | No data | Probably Oleksandria, Kirovohrad region | 2000 | Kyiv |
Hraherov Isaak Petrovych | 1917 | Odesa | 1995 | Kyiv |
Hruber Symkho Moiseiovych | 1919 | Zelenyi Hai, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Novoselytsia, Chernivtsi region |
Huralnyk Maria Leontiivna | 1931 | [Unclear] | 1997 | |
Daiman Bella Borysivna | 1929 | Polonne, Khmelnytsky region | 1998 | Khotyn |
Dehtiar Rita Hryhorivna | 1918 | Kyiv | 2001 | Kyiv |
Demb Myron Yakovych | 1931 | Uman | 1996 | Uman |
Demonis Rakhil Moiseivna | 1914 | Kyiv | 1997 | Kyiv |
Dyvinska Faina Yosypivna | 1928 | Bila Tserkva | 1997 | Bila Tserkva |
Dubinskaya-Mansilia Maria Petrovna | 1923 | Kyiv | 2002 | Moscow |
Dubynsky Lev Petrovych | 1916 | Kyiv | 1995 | Kyiv |
Dukhan Dina Shuivna | 1910 | Bobruisk, Belarus | 1998 | Kyiv |
Yelisavetsky Ster Yakovych | 1929 | Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region | 1999 | Kyiv |
Zhybkov Yosyp Hryhorovych | 1913 | Khashchuvate, Kirovohrad region | 1999 | Kyiv |
Zats Abram Zelmanovych | 1926 | Horodivka, Vinnytsia region | 1996 | Horodkivka |
Zilberman Natalia Davydivna | 1918 | Nemyriv, Vinnytsia region | 2002 | Kyiv |
Zohot Matvii Naumovych | 1922 | Jewish colony of Zlatopil, Kirovohrad region | 1999 | Kyiv |
Zohot Tetiana Meierivna | 1923 | Novozlatopil, Kirovohrad region | 1999 | Kyiv |
Kahan Berta Shulymivna | 1924 | Ruzhyn, Zhytomyr | 1996 | Bila Tserkva |
Kahasova Luiza Abramivna | 1939 | Akhalkalaki, Georgia | 1996 | Kyiv |
Kazarovytsky Lev Yakovych | 1912 | Mala Cherniavka, Zhytomyr region | 2000 | Kyiv |
Karakis Irma Yosypivna | 1930 | Kyiv | 2001 | Kyiv |
Karamzin Abram Moiseiovych | 1900 | Medvyn, Kyiv region | 1995 | Kyiv |
Kats Borys Myronovych | 1950? | Nemyriv, Vinnytsia region | 1996 | Kyiv |
Kyder Ershel Srulevych | 1923 | Poland (no exact data) | ? | ? |
Kypnis Bela Isakivna | 1922 | Slovechne, Zhytomyr region | 1999 | Kyiv |
Klotsman Halyna Yosypivna | 1923 | Piatyhory, Kyiv region | 1998 | Smila |
Kovalevska Faina Semenivna | 1918 | Kyiv | 1999 | Kyiv |
Koifman Hanna Hryhorivna | 1922 | Kelmentsi, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Kelmentsi |
Kolchynsky Hryhorii Yakovych | 1922 | Cherkasy | 2000 | Kyiv |
Kolchynsky Semen Yakovych | 1917 | Cherkasy region | 1999 | Kyiv |
Korabelnykova Sofia Shoilivna | 1920 | Tomashpil, Vinnytsia region | 1997 | Tomashpil |
Kotliar Leonid Isakovych | 1922 | Kyiv | 2000 | Kyiv |
Kryvchenok Klara Lazarivna | 1918 | Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region | 1997 | Cherkasy |
Kryshtal Yevhenia Hryhorivna | 1922 | Iziaslav, Khmelnytskyi region | 2002 | Kyiv |
Krupnik Abram Yankelevych | 1918 | Novoselytsia, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Novoselytsia |
Kuznietsov Abram Mordukhovych | 1920 | Katerynoslav (now Dnipro) | 1996 | Kyiv |
Kuperman Oleksandr Yosypovych | 1928 | Haivoron, Odesa region | 1996 | Smila |
Kupershmyt Moishe Aron | 1913 | Bratslav | 1999 | Bratslav |
Kuryshko Matvii Ivanovych | 1927 | Karasyn, Volyn region | 1998 | Sarny, Rivne region |
Kuts Anatolii Shulymovych | 1935 | Bar, Vinnytsia region | 1996 | Bar |
Kuts Olena Hryhorivna | 1936 | Sharhorod, Vinnytsia region | 1997 | Cherkasy |
Leventon Hdal Davydovych | 1936 | Kyiv | 1996 | Kyiv |
Levin Osyp Isakovych and Shukhat Maria Yuriivna | 1917 | Somewhere near Nizhyn, Chernihiv region | 1998 | Kyiv |
Lerner Zelda Aronivna | 1934 | Slavuta, Khmelnytsky region | 1997 | Slavuta |
Lymonnyk Khantsia Khaimivna | 1906 | Tulchyn, Vinnytsia region | 1998 | Kyiv |
Lymonova Ida Volodymyrivna | 1914 | Kharkiv | 2002 | Kyiv |
Liberman Alfred Davydovych | 1914 | Kyiv | 1998 | Kyiv |
Likhtman Zoia Yukhymivna | 1919 | Fastiv, Kyiv region | 2001 | Kyiv |
Loshak Mykhailo Tsalevych | 1918 | Vinnytsia | 1995 | Vinnytsia |
Mazlin Isaak Aronovych | 1921 | Mala Seidemynukha, Kherson region | 1999 | Kyiv |
Malkina Olena Borysivna | 19 | No data | 1999 | Kyiv |
Mansilia-Kruz Maria | 1917 | Kyiv | 2003 | Moscow |
Makhlin Mykhailo Oleksiiovych | 1907 | Kyiv | 1996 | Kyiv |
Matsiyevych Raisa Yakivna | 1920 | Kyiv | 1998 | Kyiv |
Matskina Hanna Hryhorivna | 1939 | Slavuta, Khmelnytsky region | 1997 | Slavuta |
Mashbits Yukhym Izrailovych | 1929 | Kyiv | 1996 | Kyiv |
Mednyk Zlata Usherivna | 1931 | Khotyn, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Khotyn |
Mednyk Khaim Itskovych | 1930 | Khotyn, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Khotyn |
Medovar Borys Izrailovych | 1916 | Kyiv | 1999 | Kyiv |
Mytnytsky Ovsii Osypovych | 1922 | Kyiv | 1998 | Kyiv |
Nahirner Mark Lvovych | 1934 | Yampil, Vinnytsia region | 1998 | Kyiv |
Nedashkivska Raisa Pinkhusivna | 1911 | A village next to Pavlovychi, Zhytomyr region | 2000 | Kyiv |
Nudelman Khonka | 1912 | Bershad, Vinnytsia region | 1996 | Ternivka, Vinnytsia region |
Orshtein Semen Oleksiiovych | 1921 | Annopil, Khmelnytsky region | 1997 | Slavuta, Khmelnytsky region |
Pekker Asta Hryhorivna | 1929 | Berlin, Germany | 1998 | Kyiv |
Perelmuter Zynaida Mykhailivna | 1911 | Kyiv | 2000 | Kyiv |
Pynus Klara Markivna | 1913 | Inhulets, Dnipropetrovsk region | 1998 | Kyiv |
Poberezhsky Leonid Ovsiiovych | 1914 (?) | No data | 1995 | Kyiv |
Polak Rakhil Rafailivna | 1913 | Radomyshl, Kyiv region | 2000 | Kyiv |
Portnikov Vladlen Oleksandrovych | 1943 | Kyiv | 2001 | Kyiv |
Portianska Sofia Hryhorivna | 1923 | Kamianka, Cherkasy region | 1997 | Kamianka |
Rabynovych Ada Abramivna | 1920 | A village in Dnipropetrovsk region | 1999 | Kyiv |
Rapai-Markish Olha Petrivna | 1929 | Chonhar, Zaporizhzhya region | 1998 | Kyiv |
Rozenfeld Liubov Mykhailivna | 1938 | Kyiv | 2003 | Kyiv |
Rozenfeld Mykhailo Samiilovych | 1931 | Yaltushkiv, Vinnytsia region | 1998 | Luhansk |
Rozenshtern Yakiv Shlomovych | 1925 | Malyn, Zhytomyr region | 1996 | Kyiv |
Rotner Liza Isakivna | 1932 | Khmelnytsky | 1996 | Chernivtsi |
Sadynska Iryna Davydivna | 1909 | Freiburg, Germany | 1997 | Kyiv |
Sehal Yukhym Yosypovych | 1923 | Korosten, Zhytomyr region | 1996 | Kyiv |
Syrota Yukhym Yohanovych | 1924 | Odesa | 1999 | Mariupol, Zaporizhzhya region |
Spektr Edit Mykhailivna | 1926 | Shpykiv, Vinnytsia region | 1997 | Shpykiv |
Telman Lidia Yakivna | 1920 | No data | 1995 | Kyiv |
Tenenblat Bina Yankelivna | 1928 | Kamianets-Podilsky, Khmelnytsky region | 1997 | Chernivtsi |
Teplytska Raisa Kivivna | 1927 | Ternivka, Kyiv region | 1997 | Uman, Cherkasy region |
Tkach Borys Moiseiovych | 1932 | Kopaihorod, Vinnytsia region | 1997 | Slavuta, Khmelnytsky region |
Tkach Roza Yankelivna | 1932 | Luchynets, Vinnytsia region | 1997 | Slavuta |
Tolmachova Lana Mykhailivna | 1945 | Kyiv | 1996 | Kyiv |
Trakhtenberg Mendl Idelovych | 1926 | Novoselytsia, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Novoselytsia |
Turovsky Mykhailo Saulovych and Turovska Sofia | 1933 | Kyiv | 2001 | Kyiv |
Ukrainets Maria Nykyforivna | 1914 | Myrutyn, Khmelnytsky region | 1997 | Slavuta, Khmelnytsky region |
Usherenko Yelyzaveta Moiseivna | 1922 | Kyiv | 2002 | Kyiv |
Fainzilberg Liubov Yukhymivna | 1925 | Uman, Cherkasy region | 1997 | Uman |
Fasdman Asis Shuilikivna | 1923 | Jewish colony of Kamianka, Dnipropetrovsk region | 1999 | Kyiv |
Feinblium Rozalia Yosypivna | 1917 | Kyiv | 1996 | Kyiv |
Feller Marten Davydovych | 1933 | Yalta, Crimea | 2004 | Kyiv |
Feldman Srul Shoilovych | 1935 | Malyntsi, Chernivtsi region | 1998 | Khotyn, Chernivtsi region |
Ferdman Yukhym Mykolaiiovych | 1930 | Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region | 1996 | Chernivtsi |
Finberg Lilia Davydivna | 1926 | Kyiv | 1998 | Kyiv |
Finkelshtein Petro Natanovych | 1924 | Kyiv | 1995 | Kyiv |
Finkelshtein Ronia Abramivna | 1920 | Poltava | 1996 / 2002 | Kyiv |
Fishman Yelyzaveta Yakivna | 1937 | A village near Chișinău, Moldova | 1998 | Novoselytsia, Chernivtsi region |
Fonariova Roza Romanivna | 1921 | Skvyra, Kyiv region | 1996 | Kyiv |
Fraiberh Iiulia Borysivna | 1932 | Kobeletske, Vinnytsia region | 1997 | Cherkasy |
Khazanov Karl Lazarovych | 1926 | Haradok, Vitebsk region, Belarus | ? | ? |
Khatset Frida Isakivna | 1919 | Kyiv | 2002 | Kyiv |
Khoder Delia Moiseivna | 1915 | Paris, France | 2001 | Kyiv |
Khodorovska Yeva Lazarivna | 1918 | Kyiv | 1995 | Kyiv |
Khomko Bella Moiseivna | 1932 | Kryzhopil, Vinnytsia region | 1998 | Hlynytsia, Chernivtsi region |
Khusid Larysa Ioanivna | 1924 | Odesa | 1996 | Kyiv |
Khutorianska-Sandler Raisa Hryhorivna | 1923 | Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region | 1997 | Bila Tserkva |
Chernyshova Maria Dmytrivna | 1928 | Kyiv | 1996 | Kyiv |
Chernova Yelyzaveta Yukhimivna | 1909 | Kyiv | 1998 | Kyiv |
Chekhova Natalia Volodymyrivna | 1926 | Kyiv | 1997 | Kyiv |
Chopovsky Myron Illich | 1909 | Kyiv | 2000 | Kyiv |
Chytsman Petro Hryhorovych | 1906 | Univ, Lviv region | 1996 | Chernivtsi |
Shabaltina Yevhenia Hryhorivna | 1909 | Kyiv | 1999 | Kyiv |
Shaikin Yosyp Meierovych | 1924 | Kyiv | 1996 | Kyiv |
Shafershtein Viliam Mordkovych | 1931 | Kamianets-Podilsky, Khmelnytsky region | 1996 | Chernivtsi |
Shvartsman Fania Aron-Itskivna | 1918 | Kyiv | 1995 | Kyiv |
Shkolnyk Mykhailo Yankelovych | 1927 | Khotyn, Chernivtsi region | 1999 | Khotyn |
Shkolnyk Sheiva Itskivna | 1929 | Khotyn | 1998 | Khotyn |
Shkoliarenko Olena Kostiantynivna | 1930 | Kyiv | 1996 | Kyiv |
Shnadshtein Liubov Solomonivna | 1918 | Yelysavethrad (now Kropyvnytskyi) | 1996 | Kyiv |
Shneider Hersh Moshkovich | 1925 | Khotyn, Chernivtsi region | 1999 | Khotyn |
Shor Anatolii Petrovych | 1922 | Bershad, Vinnytsia region | 1996 | Kyiv |
Shraiman Lev Moiseiovych | 1923 | Shkuraty, Poltava region | 1996 | Kyiv |
Shtrikman Ida Srulivna | 1933 | Edineț, Moldova | 1999 | Khotyn |
Shtrikman Favish Froimovych | 1931 | Khotyn, Chernivtsi region | 1999 | Khotyn |
Shchetinkova Vira Khaimivna | 1931 | Korost, Rivne region | 1999 | Kyiv |
Ekinhorf Illia Isaiovych | No data | No data | 1966 | Kyiv |
Erlikhman Sarra Abramivna | 1912 | Kyiv | 1996 | Kyiv |
Yukhymchuk Donia Isakivna | 1914 | Chornivka, Vinnytsia region | 1997 | Uman |
Yampilsky Samuil Aronovych | 1913 | Kyiv | 1995 | Kyiv |