Reut's+I+Face

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= RATIONALE = ​ My grandmother was one of the founders of an organization called the "35's", named after 35 women who were 35 years old when the organization started. They worked to release "prisoners of Zion". Sylva was one of the prisoners from the "Leningrad trial". She was one of the Jews that tried to steal an airplane to escape from Russia. My grandmother helped to release her. They met in Israel after Sylva finally was released and become very good friends. I chose Sylva because she is a very brave woman with a fascinating story, and she is very close to our family.



= PROFILE - SILVA ZALMANSON =

I choose to do my interview on Silva Zalmanson because she is a special woman, with an incredible story. She is a very close friend of are family.

In 1943 Silva Zalmanson mother decided to leave Riga, because of her fear of the war. Her intuition told her it was time to leave, so that's what she did: she took her son, who was two years old, and jumped on one of the Russian tanks was leaving, and headed back to there base. Her husband saw her and ran after her. They got to the train station, where it was very hard to get on the train due to the fact that lots of people were trying to leave Riga. Her mother pushed herself on, and her father gave her the boy through the window. Her mother moved to Siberia to live with her mother who was in the Gulag. Silva's father joined the Soviet army where he got hurt in one of the missions and had his arm amputated. When he got out of the army he moved to Siberia to be with his wife and son.

Silva was born in the Gulag in 1944. When her family led a traditional Jewish life. When the war ended, they moved back to Riga, the only Jews from Riga who survived, were the ones who left before the Germans invaded. In 1949 Silva's twin brothers were born. In those days a salary was barely enough for one and could not feed a family of six. Therefore, her father started to work in the "black market". He was caught by the Russians, and put in jail. But because they didn't have enough evidence of his activities, they had to release him.

Her mother, who was sickly didn't work. She passed away when she was 49 years old, Silva was then 25 and newly married. All throughout her childhood Silva's mother, who was very artistic and creative, taught her daughter all she needed to know about running a home.

All the Jewish schools in their neighborhood had closed down in Riga after the war, so her family moved to another town. Here Silva learned in a non-Jewish school, though her family was very Jewish orientated, and most of her class was Jewish.

Eduard, who later became her husband, was 6 years older than Silva. He was a philosophy student, a writer and an editor of a Jewish newspaper, when they met through mutual friends. They both wanted to leave for Israel, but after the "Six Day War" the Russians closed the "iron curtain" and didn't let the Jews leave the country. Whoever tried to leave and was caught by the Russians, got into big trouble. They always thought about the sentence: "Next Year in Jerusalem". They came to the conclusion that if they don't do something quickly, they would be stuck in Russia for a very long time.

Bootman was then the leader of the underground Jewish organization. He came to Silva to tell her about the plan he had of how they were going to leave: he said that they were going to hijack an airplane. Silva thought that the idea was the craziest thing she had ever heard.

When they went to convince people to join them they said that there was a 50% chance that they would be stopped before the hijacking would take place or a 50% chance that the airplane would be taken down in the middle of the flight.

Silva, Eduard, her two brothers, and 12 more people joined in. All of them thought that the existing situation was unbearable and a change needed to take place.

They knew that their plan was doomed from the beginning, and they were going on a suicide mission, but they decided to go through with it, in order for the world to hear their voices screaming for help. They decided to write a will, where it would say that they were jealous of all the people who live in Israel, and the freedom they have and take for granted. They want to live in Israel with all the Jews, but if it will not take place, the Jews should build their houses in memory of the people who sacrificed their lives for Israel. Everyone signed except Silva They decided that if they would get caught they would say that Silva didn't know anything about the idea and would therefore get away.

They were divided into two groups: \ One group (the strong people) was in charge of entering the airplane and catching the pilots, who would be replaced by their own pilot, Dimshiz. \ The second group was in charge of waiting for the plane with sleeping bags in order to put the pilots inside. When they left at midnight, they noticed the Russians were following them. They tried to escape but when they saw that they did not have a chance they sat on the grass, made a fire and ate. They knew that that this would be their last day of freedom. At three a.m the Russians managed catch them, using informers and wiretapped phones.

The Russians began to fight among themselves over who would take them to the police station, since they all knew that if you catch a Jew trying to escape you get reward and a lot of respect. Only at this time did her father hear about what they did. He took it very hard that she did not tell him, but he still helped them by delivering letters, visiting them, and bringing supplies to prison.

Silva received 10 years in Siberia. Their pilot and her husband received the death sentence. They didn't ask for amnesty from the Russians because they believed that when the time would come they would live safely in Israel. But lots of pressure was put on the Russians, from the entire world about the death sentence, the Soviets changed the verdict to 15 years in Siberia.

They were divided into two camps: One camp for the men, where the work was physical. The other was for the women where the work was less physically strenuous. The girls sewed work gloves for the Russians. There was a fence around the entire camp, but they were let out to walk in the yard. Only someone who was healthy was able to survive the terrible conditions in the work camp. At one time Silva was sent to solitary confinement for six months because she hit a Christian. Silva felt herself representing the Jews. The respect of the Jewish people was on her shoulders. She wouldn't let people criticize Jewish values. She felt that she had to protect the Jewish name and the only way to do this was to beat up the Christian woman who badmouthed Jews. She sat in a very small cell where in the middle of the winter there was no heating. It was freezing, and she was only allowed to wear a cotton dress. Every two days she got food. All she could do was to jump all day, to keep herself warm.

The Russians let family visit only twice a year. Sometimes they seemed to be nice and let them visit at times which were unscheduled, however many times when they arrived, the Russians would not admit then and they would have to turn around and go home, no matter how far they traveled in order to get there. When her father came to visit her, he would tell her about all the organizations that fought for the release of all the prisoners of Zion. There was especially a group called the "35's",who were 35 women aged 35 in England. One of the founders was my grandmother. Silva was sent lots of letters from all over the world, but only a few reached her. After four years the Russians released her in exchange for some spies. She moved to Moscow, where she was reunited with her father. Silva demanded to meet her husband before she left Russia for Israel. The Russians could not resist because of all the publicity.

On the 10 of September 1974, Silva immigrated to Israel. Her first year in Israel she spent in Ulpan. After four years her younger brother was released, and a year later her husband and her big brother were released too and immigrated to Israel. Eduard and Silva met again and lived together for a few years, but the marriage failed and they separated.

Silva continued her hobby that she began when she was a young girl - to paint. Her motifs are of people related to her, and animals. It all began when she was sitting in class drawing all kinds of small drawing in her notebook. Today she is a well-known painter and artist who has had numerous exhibitions.



Silva says that what kept her spirit up in jail was that she knew she was not sitting there because of personal ideals, she sat in prison because she was representing all the Jews. She still feels satisfaction of everything she has gone through, which has brought her to the Land of Israel. "Some people think all the time of the consequences of their actions, but I am happy that I did not miss the moment, no matter what happened", Silva said, at the end of our talk.

Today her big brother lives in Israel. One of the twins came to Israel but didn't make it here so he moved to America. The second twin remained in Russia with his wife and their father. Silva's ex husband left to another town in Israel and is living there with his new wife.  The sentence that followed her all through the difficult times was: "אם אשכח ירושלים תשכח ימיני " Silva blesses every day that she is finally living in Israel. Her message for the next generation is - "each and every one of us needs to hear hero's stories to really appreciate everything we take for granted.

= BACKGROUND RESEARCH = Riza Pelatnic worked in the library in Odessa. In 1970 two very strong men stopped there, they introduced themselves as police officers they accused her of stealing from the school near her house. They took her home, went through her belonging to check if they would find something that would prove her guilty.

They left with a typewriter, press articles in Hebrew about the state of Jews of the Soviet Union, a poem by Natan Alterman, an article on human rights in the Soviet Union, a Jewish protest letter from Moscow, an article about Einstein's Zionist ideas, interviews with Golda Meir and periodicals by Ephraim Kishon. Riza was taken to an interrogation. No matter how much the Russians abused her, her spirit didn't break: she kept silent. They tried to make Riza tell them more about all the active Zionists. All her family was also interrogated.

Riza fought against the Russians. Riza claimed that they were accusing her because she was checking what was behind the events in the Soviet Union. She demanded that they bring back her "magen david" chain. She called them names. She said that since she doesn’t talk Hebrew, she would answer in Yiddish, and an interpreter translate it into Russian.

The Russians took her to a mental hospital, but the psychiatrists said she was fine, and they had to release her. The Russians brought her back to jail, and had a trial in June 1971. When she appeared in court, they all noticed that she was badly bruised. Riza maintained that she was in prison only because she wanted to immigrate to Israel. She was sentenced to two years in prison. All her friends stood up and shouted "לשנה הבאה לירושלים": and"עם ישראל חי".

The trial was published throughout the world. A model named Barbara Oberman was invited to a ball that the Russians organized in London. In the middle of the event she stood up and asked loudly: "why are you hurting Riza Pelatnic?"

Her call made such a bug impression in the newspapers, right away lots of woman joined in. They started a new organization called "35", it was called like that because of the age of Riza when she was in prison. Cyril Stein, a rich Jewish man who lives in London, volunteered to pay all the costs to help Riza. David Ployd writer in the newspaper, published all what they did. In "35"s first months they opened lots of branches all around the U.S. they organized: demonstrations to help rescue Riza, and They went to Russia to meet with Riza's friends. They brought with them Jewish literature. They met lots of Jews there. Where ever the Russians went they met members of the "35".

After two years, Riza was let out and moved to Israel. The group saw that what they did was very successful. They decided to keep on with the demonstrations and work for all the prisoners of Zion. One of the people they helped out was Silva Zalmanson.

Most of the woman in the group also immigrated to Israel.

= LITERARY CONECTION =

השמש תידום בין עזה לרפיח ירח ילבין על פסגת החרמון פרחים בקנה ובנות בצריח ישובו לעיר חיילים בהמון

כמה טוב שבאת הביתה עשית אמבטיה, השכבת את הילד לישון הוא חיכה לך, שאל איפה אבא לא ידע שהלכת להביא את השלום שמש בגבעון דום וירח בעמק איילון חולם על המקום הזה ביום שנפסיק בו ללחום ונתחיל בו לנשום מהר כמעיין המתגבר ומשתחרר גורר יחס גורר יחס גורר שמחה וחיוך אהבה ותמימות שחרור שני עמים מעבדות לחירות בנות על הצריח במקום חיילים פרחים בקנים במקום פגזים חלמתי על היום התעוררתי בדמעות תקשיבו ואתן לכם לראות

השמש תידום בין עזה לרפיח...

די לבכות אחות קטנה, נגבי את העיניים אני תומך לצידך, מחזיק לך ת'ידיים כולם בסוף מתים, חשוב לי שתדעי שלמרות שהוא נפל חלל נשאר בליבי שוב אחים נופלים כמו עלים בשלכת והכי זה קל זה לקום לעזוב ללכת הרי אומרים שנה מקום שנה מזל אך אין להסתתר מיד הגורל אז נשארנו לנו כאן ובנינו לנו בית האמנו ביונה בשלום עלה של זית ועמדנו בהמנון ושירתנו בצבא וקברנו חיילים ובכינו בשבעה נפלנו לברכיים ושוב על הרגליים כשאזלו הכדורים נלחמנו בידיים די נשבר לנו הזין לחכות לשלום אני אפסיק על זה לחלום עד שליבי יידום

אחרי חמישים ושש שנים של הגנה על הבית כמעט ואבדה התקווה ליונה ובפיה עלה של זית אבל אנחנו כאן להזכיר לכולם שאסור לוותר על היום צריך לשלב יד ביד וביחד נהפוך למציאות את החלום

פרחים בקנה ובנות בצריח ישובו לעיר חיילים בהמון

השמש תידום בין עזה לרפיח ...

The sun sets between Gaza and Rafah " the moon whitens mount Hermon Flower in the barrel and girls in the turret Soldiers return to the city crowd you had a bath, and laid the child to sleep hw waited for you, asking where the father is did not know you were going to bring peace sun stand at Givon and moon halt in the Valley of Ayalon dreaming about this place the day we stop fighting and start breathing is quick like the spring happy smile of love abd innocence release of two people  salvery to freedom Girls on the turret instead of soldiers  Flowers nests in shells I I dreamed about the day I woke up in tears Listen and let you see

Sun sets between Gaza and Rafah.  Pretty little sister cry, wipe your eyes I support your side, holding you the hands All die in the end, it is important for me to know That though he fell,he left a space in my heart again brothers are like follow leaves in Autumn it's ease to get up and leave to go it's said that changing your place, changes your like But do not hide behind fate So we stayed here and built us a house We believed in peace dovewith an olive branch we stood and sang the hymn, and we served in the army we buried soldiers We fell to our knees and got up We ran out of ammunition we fought with our hands After fifty-six protecting our home we have almost lost hopein the dove the dove with an olive branch But we are here to remind everyone not to give up  we have to hold hand and make the dream come true.

Flower in the barrel and girl's in theturret Soldiers return to the city crowd

Sun sets between Gaza and Rafah ...

The song symbolizes for me our country, a land full of soldier's blood who sacrificed their lives for this country. A dream of every boy and girl is to live in peaceful country with all the loving and supportive family, without feeling sad that some members of the family, that we didn't have tine to say goodbye, and won't see them any more, because they gave their lives to the country.

The song is about the past, as a land full of wars, how we fought against so many enemies, some wars we have lost, and some we have won, but with a lot of death, even when we were without ammunition people fought to their deaths without lifting an eyelid, without thinking, and get even with people. Despite their desire to stay alive, they remained in the country to prove to everybody that Israel is not giving up, even the in the most difficult situations. The song describes us the future, how everything will be better. Without wars, with peace. Instead of shells - flowers, and instead of soldiers - girls. That is how I see our country future בעז"ה.

The song is connected to Silva Zalmanson. She also fought the Soviets that she would be able to leave, she had to sit in prison for four years. But still in the end she immigrated to Israel. She fulfilled her dream. The happy end for Silva already arrived, but we still waiting for the miracle from God. When we will live peacefully between each other in Israel.

=CREATIVE CONNECTION =

I collected a few pictures that my family have taken in many areas in Israel. I chose these pictures because I like to discover new places that you cannot see every day. I chose to use pictures because I have the memories from these specific places. Photography is the best way for us to remember special experience, and keep them close to our hearts. I divided up the pictures into two parts: \ The first part is places with water.

\ The second part is nature's flowers, and special places.

I think that these photos show us the country, from the view point of a traveler. We can see what interests him, and how he shows it to us.

Silva also had a dream, of coming to live in Israel, to take walks here, to swim in the springs which we have all over the country. Her dream came true after many years. She also kept pictures from her past to remember what she went through to get here. She didn't forget to take new pictures for new memories, and stories to tell the people she loves. just like everybody else.

=REFLECTION= In the beginning of the project, when I looked for a person to interview, I asked my family for some ideas. They gave me all kinds of people, but I wanted to find the right person, the one with the best story. My sister told me she knows a woman named Silva Zalmanson and she has the best story for my project. I thought about it, but it did not look right, she lives far away from here, and if it is worth while. But then my parents came with an idea to help me, they would take me there. At the end we went all my family to hear her story. We got to here house sat down in her living room, with lots of painting she painted. When she started the story I knew that is the best story I can wish for. We sat opposite her and we were shocked - that brave woman had past all that thing you can't even imagine just to live in Israel. To us its seem so obvious. All along my project I learned new stuff about the history of Russia and what had happened to Silva, and most of all learned about myself. I learned that you can not sit at home and wait for something good to happen, you need to make it come faster and in the best way. You shouldn’t listen to people that try to ruin your spirit. I want to thank Silva that she let me into her personal life, I know it's not always easy, and for that I'm grateful. I learned so much. I wish that there are more people like Silva that will do almost anything they believe in.

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=BIBLIOGRAPHY = __ Googletranslat __, 2010, 4/16/10 < [|http://translate.google.co.il/?hl=iw&tab=wT#] > __ Matach. __ 2009, 3/27/10 []

__ Morfix. __ 2000-2010, 2/12/10 < [] > Plane hijacking case (פרשת חטיפת המטוס). ( 8 March 2010, 18:51, ). In // Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia //.< []> __ Sironet, __ 2009, 4/26/10 http://www.shiron.net/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=749&wrkid=11604>

__ Toldot. __ 2010, 3/26/10 < [] >

__ Pictures: __ Riza Pelatnic: []

Silva Zalmanson: [] [] []