For Two Russian Women, Same Living Conditions But Levels of Different Assistance

Olga, 70, and Ilya Symone, 73, were born in Moldova to an observant Jewish family. "We lived in a Moldova shtetl," tells Olga. "I remember that we celebrated all of the Jewish holidays; but Purim with Hamentashen was the jolliest one."

When World War II started, the family was evacuated to the Caucasus Mountains, where they stayed until the Nazis were defeated. "After the War the Soviets banished us and all of our

Jewish friends to Ulan-Udeh," Olga recalls.

The sisters arrived to Ulan-Udeh, Siberia with their father Itzek. While there he made a visit to a legendary pilot and war hero, Alexander Pokrishkin, to ask him for help. "Everybody in Russia knew this name; he'd crashed innumerable German planes and never lost," says Olga. "He had come to Ulan-Udeh after the War and our father was walking door-to-door trying to find help for our family." Itzek went to Pokrishkin in the hopes that this "miracle man" would work a miracle for him, too.

"Our father was a very big and handsome man," says Olga. "When he entered the room where Pokrishkin was he suddenly burst into tears. Pokrishkin said, 'If such a big man is crying, something must be really wrong.' Soon thereafter, our family was helped."

Today, more than half a century after the Holocaust, Olga and Ilya are frequent visitors of the JDC-supported Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Ulan-Udeh, where they have gone since the day it opened in 1993. "My husband was so glad when the center opened, he was walking on air," says Olga. She recalls tearfully that JCC had a big impact on her husband's life before he passed away.

Olga also becomes emotional speaking about her present situation. She lives with her sister and daughter in a modest two room flat, and receives a monthly pension of $70, most of which is spent on medications for her heart and liver diseases. "I am a total wreck now. I haven't gone outdoors for a year. Thank G-d I have my relatives beside me and the Jewish Center helps us with medicines."

During a survey in 2003, it was observed that Olga's winter shoes were falling apart, warm blankets were sewn over hundreds of times, and her electric kettle did not function. According to Bella, the welfare service director, Olga "simply cannot afford new things. Her pension goes to medicines. But since she is a Nazi-Victim we were able to buy her shoes, a kettle and blankets." Unfortunately there are many clients suffering in the same living condition but for whom these necessary things cannot be bought. "They are not eligible for Nazi funds, and we have no free money," says Bella, regretfully.

One such client is Sosja. She lives with her daughter and granddaughter, age 20, who help her. Sosja's monthly pension is $77.

"Before 2004 I had discounts on medicine, for I am handicapped. But now the local government abolished discounts for the disabled. I don't know where I'd have been without the help from the JCC."

Sosja was born in Verhoturovo, a small village near Ulan-Udeh. "I was working since as long as I can remember myself. We all were. We did it for the Soviet power – and how did this power repay me? I don't know what to live on!" says Sosja.

Her family frequently visits the JCC: Sosja's daughter goes to a women's club and her granddaughter is one of the best dancers of the JCC studio. Unfortunately Sosja's poor health has kept her from the community center for a couple of years. "My maladies keep me inside all the time," she says.

Besides suffering from hypertonicity, liver disease and a cataract, Sosja has severe asthma. According to Bella, the welfare service director, "90% of Sosja's pension goes to medicines. She needed an expensive life-saving apparatus for her asthma: she couldn't afford it and we could not spend our SOS funds on her because she is not a Nazi victim," explains Bella. "Fortunately we found a sponsor to buy that machine. It keeps her alive," she says.

Though Olga and Sosja presently have comparable life situations in Ulan-Udeh – both are elderly, in weak health, living on minimal pensions, and fortunate to have relatives to assist them in their daily routine – they qualify for different degrees of assistance due to their War status.

"Despite their similarities, we cannot serve them equally through JDC programs. SOS funds are specified exclusively for Nazi victims and there is a difference in the medications programs: monthly medicine assistance for Nazi victims is $7 and for non-Nazi victims is a little less than $5," Bella says.

Seeking private donors to subsidize assistance to non-Nazi victims is one way that JDC attempts to compensate for the disparity in services available to them.

"This is everything we can do to ease the life of our needy clients no matter if they are Nazi or non-Nazi victims," says Bella.