By Ilya Magid

Story of the Prosecutor

In our elderly housing building (in America) lived a former prosecutor. He told me this story; "I with my relatives went from Ukraine to Moscow when I was 13 years old. At 18 years of age I became a taxi- driver, one of the first in Moscow. That was the year 1933.

My uncle, a rabbi, sent me a letter from Ukraine. He wrote, "In the Ukraine there was starvation. Help us with food." In Moscow I lived well. I sent them products. The rabbi sent me back a letter that he blessed me in the Synagogue.

After that I was elected a deputy of the Moscow Soviet [of People's Deputies]. In 1938 the Moscow Soviet directed me to study in the All Union law academy. There I joined the party. When World War II began I went to volunteer in the army. I was a military prosecutor.

I remember the Volchov front, in the outskirts, a ring surrounding Leningrad. That was in February and temperature was 40 C* below zero (mines 40 F*). We were glad that German soldiers had more trouble than Russian soldiers, who were more accustomed to the bitter cold weather.

I met a Jew in civilian clothing: boots, not warm clothes and cap. In Russian he spoke poorly. The train with his family went to the Urals. He fell off the train. I ordered the chief of food storage (Nach Prod), also a Jew to give him felt boots, quilted jacket, winter cap and a big piece of lard. He wanted to kiss my foot.

After the war, after demobilization, I graduated from the Military law academy. I worked 20 years for the agency of justice. I occupied a very, very high position.

Maybe Hashem helped me because I did a mitzvah.


Editor Steven Siegel

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