Naum Poliak’s grandfather Kalman Gabovich

Kalman Gabovich, my grandfather, my mother's father. This photograph was taken in Belaya Tserkov in about 1917.

The name of my grandfather on my mother's side was Kalman Gabovich. I can't remember when he was born. I believe, it must have been some time between 1850 and 1860. The name of my grandmother on my mother's side was Esther. She was born about the same time as my grandfather, only she was five years younger than him. Grandfather Kalman died in 1922 and my grandmother died in 1925.

Grandfather Kalman owned a mill near the church and was an independent and a well-to-do man. They had 18 children, only 9 of which survived - six daughters and three sons. He gave education to all of them. His daughters married successful businessmen. All children got Jewish education. Besides, students from Kiev gave them lessons at home. They studied all general subjects: literature, history and mathematics. Although their parents spoke Yiddish at home, the children spoke fluent Russian and Ukrainian. The sons took to business and the daughters married well-to-do Jews successfully.