Cinema Operator Saves Gintare’s Life Twice, First by Hiding her from the Nazis, and then by Introducing her to Hesed

When she was old enough to work, Gintare was sent to one of the Odessa plants to earn money. There she met a young man who she married.

At the onset of World War II, Gintare’s husband was called up to the army, and tragically was killed just a few months into his service. Gintare was pregnant at the time, but her mother-in-law — who did not want to have Jewish grandchildren — prevented her from having the baby. Gintare never had children.

When Nazi troops entered Odessa, Gintare found herself on a list of people who were slated to be killed. Together with thousands of other Jews, she was marched to a ghetto not far from Odessa. "I was beaten up so hard with a rifle that I didn’t think that I would survive," she said.

Fortunately, Gintare managed to escape. On her way she hid herself in different places: for seven days she camouflaged herself by standing in a body of water in a deserted area, then for eight months she was hidden in the cellar of the Odessa cinema. A movie operator who worked in the theater brought her some food and water. When it became too dangerous to remain there, Gintare went to live at the cemetery.

Throughout the War Gintare had to move from one "sanctuary" to another until the Soviet army liberated Odessa in April 1944. "When the Soviet troops came, I didn’t resemble a human being," she recalls, sadly. "I was like a scarecrow. Nobody recognized me." Then a young woman, Gintare was not allowed to move back to her own apartment because she did not have any documents to prove ownership.

Some time later Gintare managed to occupy a small, dilapidated room in a communal apartment. Though it was hardly home, it was survival. She worked in an optical workshop until retirement, when she began to receive a monthly pension of $52.

Gintare learned about the work of the local JDC-sponsored Hesed social welfare center in 1995 from the cinema operator who saved her during the occupation (she had kept in touch with him). Since that time she has been receiving assistance from Hesed in the form of fresh food sets, medications, medical consultations, winter relief, and housing repairs through the Moked program. "I have never been afraid to speak about my Jewishness," she said. "And now I feel very proud to be part of this big family."

Gintare feels particularly close to JDC not only because of the assistance that she receives, but because they both recently shared their 90th birthdays. In celebration of the JDC’s 90th, Gintare received a visit from Hesed. "I love to have company!" she exclaimed.

Communities throughout the FSU celebrated the 90th anniversary of JDC for months. In South Ukraine, where Gintare lives, activities included the annual OFEK Jewish book festival, the second International Conference "Odessa and Jewish Civilization," Days of Jewish Culture, and an International Conference on Agro-Joint — the JDC-sponsored initiative that served to rehabilitate the Jewish community devastated by World War I, the 1917 Revolution, and ensuing pogroms principally by establishing collective farms in Crimea. But among the most meaningful local gestures honoring JDC's important history were visits made to homebound and bedridden elderly Hesed clients in Odessa.

"We felt it was important to include personal, moving components into the celebrations," explained one of the case workers at Gmilus Hesed. She and others created a list of their clients who are 90 years of age or older, mostly homebound and bedridden. Then teams of JDC office workers accompanied by the Hesed case workers made special visits to them.

For most of the elderly, who have not been able to leave their apartment for years, receiving these guests was a special event. The visitors brought with them chocolate and fruits and told them about some of JDC's work, history, and visions for the future. The clients shared with the JDC coordinators their personal stories — including memories of evacuation, ghetto and front lines — and showed war medals and awards. "We appreciate all of the assistance provided by the Hesed and Joint," said one of the clients who received a delegation at her home. "Not only life assistance like food packages and medications, but also personal care, celebrations for the holidays and birthdays," she said.