"Chanukah" at 90 is Still Warmed by Her Memories of Jewish Celebrations

Born in 1912 in the Kiev region into a prolific and warm Jewish family, Olia observed all of the holidays and traditions from a young age. "There were eleven children in our family," Olia recalls. Proudly, she added, "I was born on the very day of a Chanukah celebration, and my parents dearly called me 'Chanukah'. For other people, my name was Olia."

Little Olia was four years old when her mother passed away. The young girl was taken to the local orphanage, while some of her brothers and sisters were adopted by relatives.

By the time World War II began, Olia was already married and had a daughter. All of her family was evacuated to the Urals region together with the foundry plant where Olia’s husband was employed. "During the entire war my husband and I worked at the military plant for the sake of our motherland and those people fighting at the front," she explains. In reply to some youngsters’ request to tell them about her life during the War, Olia says, "I do not want you to know about those horrible days. I do not wish you to learn of the nightmare we experienced."

After the War, the family moved to Odessa. Olia earned a degree in engineering from the local university and then worked at the Railway Vocational School until her retirement. She now lives alone and receives a minimal monthly pension of $52 from the government.

Since 1995 Olia has been receiving vital assistance from the JDC-sponsored Gmilus Hesed social welfare center in Odessa, including food, medications, medical consultations and winter relief to help clients endure the coldest season.

Sitting in her tiny apartment gazing out a small window, Olia shares that she is always hoping that someone will drop in and share a warm word with her, give her attention. "I don’t need money or anything else. I need more — to feel that I am not isolated from the world."