Khaskel and Shaya Margolin

Khaskel and Shaya Margolin

This is a picture of my father ,Khaskel Margolin, on the left, and his younger brother Shaya. The photo was taken in Borispol, Kiev region, in 1900. My father had six siblings. They were all born in Borispol. I don't even know my father's correct date of birth. His documents say he was born in 1894, but my father once told me that he was significantly older than what was written in his documents. This had something to do with recruitment to the army, but I don't know any details. My father hardly ever spoke to me about his childhood. I have no information about his family life or religiosity either. I cannot tell how my father's brothers and sister lived before the Revolution of 1917. I only know that during World War I my grandfather sent my father's younger brother to the USA to save him from the army. I don't know how my father began to work. The Revolution of 1917 brought changes into the life of my father's family. Borispol isn't far from Kiev. The Civil War following the Revolution came to Borispol. The power in Kiev switched from one group to another. There were gangs coming to town. Once a gang came to Borispol in 1918. I don't know any details. All I know is that the family failed to hide away. Bandits came to their house demanding food and money. Before they left they shot grandfather and my father's younger brother, Shaya. My grandfather and Shaya were buried in the Jewish cemetery in Borispol.
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