“The word ‘Jew’ was written on the first page of my passport.”

“I was told that for a small sum I can replace my nationality to Russian” Tamara told me during a recent visit.

“But I refused.”

“My father, Moshe, was killed by the Nazis. My mother, Chaya, died shortly after from a heart attack.”

“I was only four years old. And I had to be adopted.“

“My Jewish identity was all I had left to remember my parents.”

“When the time came to replace my old passport, I was told that nationality is no longer listed on the new one.“

“That’s when I decided I would save my old passport forever.”

Over 30 years have passed since then, and this is still my most prized possession.

“I was born a Jew, and I will die a Jew.”

- Although Tamara has no biological relatives, we are all her family.