Code,913047
Subject,Eugenia Vainberg
Date,10/25/16
Interviewer,Molly Schnoke
Abstract,"Eugenia Vainberg, originally from Kiev, Ukraine, arrived in Cleveland as a Russian Jewish refugee in 1977. She starts by explaining the persecution she and other Jews had to face while living in communist Russia. For Vainberg, mathematical and scientific achievements were the common threads that wove throughout her life. Once she arrived in Cleveland, Vainberg explains that the Jewish community was strong and supportive. She and her family found great success in Cleveland and elsewhere in the United States. "
Tags,"Russian KGB, anti-Semitism, Ukraine, immigration, Cleveland businesses, Cleveland Heights, Case Western Reserve University, Musicians Tower, Park Synagogue, Temple Tifereth Israel, Cleveland Jewish community"
Special Notes,The sound quality is excellent. Interviewee has a pronounced Ukrainian accent. 
minutes:,
0,"Introductions are made and the interview starts. Vainberg came to Cleveland from Kiev, Ukraine. Her first impressions of Cleveland was the city's small size. "
1,Vainberg continues to describe her first impressions of Cleveland when she arrived in 1977. Vainberg explains why she came to Cleveland and also notes which members of her family that she traveled with. 
2,Vainberg left Ukraine because the state propagated anti-Semitism and racism. She mentions the difficulties the people faced as they attempted to leave Russia due to the Iron Curtain. 
3,Vainberg comments on a fearless band of people that fought and then hijacked an airplane to arouse a change in public opinion of the terrible Soviet Union situation. 
4,Vainberg continues to describe the hijacking as she remembers the incident. 
5,She acknowledges the impact the hijackers' stand had on the global public opinion. She also mentions two United States congressmen who suggested restricting trade with Russia. 
6,She continues to explain the United States Congress restrictive trade sanctions with Russia.  
7,Vainberg refused to leave Ukraine with her husband because she wanted to stay with her father. Due to her father's position the KGB made it nearly impossible for him to leave. 
8,"Vainberg continues to describe her father's accolades, which she suggests prevented him from being able to leave Russia. "
9,Vainberg explains the ramifications if she were to have left Russia with her husband. 
10,She recounts a time when her father hired a young mathematician after he had been fired from a previous job for being Jewish. 
11,Vainberg continues to tell the story of her father and the young mathematician. She recounts that shortly after being hired the young man expressed his interest in immigrating. 
12,She remembers her father begged the young man to quit and find another job before committing to the process of immigration. 
13,Vainberg's story continues reporting that unfortunately the young man did apply for immigration. This spurred the involvement into his life by the state as he was now considered an enemy of the state.  
14,The young man went to meetings which discussed his character. He had to prove his allegience to the state and that he had not betrayed Russia. 
15,"Vainberg ends the story stating that the young man left and upon leaving expressed how free he felt just by applying for his immigration visa. Unfortunately, after the young man left her father lost all of his positions and he was also ailing. "
16,Vainberg notes that her ailing father was diagnosed with cancer. 
17,"Unfortunately, following the operation to remove the cancerous tumor, her father suffered a heart attack and passed away. "
18,"Vainberg describes how difficult it was to lose her father, but also notes that her family was now free to leave without the fear of negative repercussions from the government. "
19,She discusses her daughter's employment opportunities at her father's previous place of employment. 
20,"She and her family decided to leave Russia. She was very sick at this time and her daughter took on the household responsibilities, as well as went to the KGB to get the family's immigration visas. "
21,"She explains how her family left Kiev and ended up in the United States. She arrived in Cleveland on September 11, 1977. She mentions the support she received from the Cleveland Jewish community. "
22,Vainberg also notes that the KGB stipulated that she and her husband divorce before he could leave in 1973.
23,"Vainberg recollects the steps taken to protect her family, once her ex-husband decided to immigrate. Vainberg lists her daughter's academic achievements.  "
24,Vainberg continues to list the achievements of her eldest daughter. She then moves on to list the achievements of her daughter's eldest son. 
25,She lists the achievements of her daughter's other two sons. 
26,"For Vainberg, America was a dream that she had read and learned about her whole life. "
27,"She mentions, however, that what she had learned, read, and heard about America was one thing, but when she got to the United States the social climate was very tense. "
28,Vainberg continues that due to her past experiences she is very attuned to social tension. She adds her attitude towards the social tensions that existed and still persists in the United States. 
29,"Shortly after arriving in Cleveland, Vainberg comments she went to Case Western Reserve to fulfill a dream of publishing her father's work in structural mechanics. "
30,She discovered that publishing her father's work would be welcomed but was unrealistic because it was in Russian. 
31,"Vainberg describes how she happened upon her first job in Cleveland, at a prediction and forecast company, focusing on information technology. "
32,"Vainberg continues to recount a brief history of the company where she first applied, and she further discusses the interview process."
33,She then acknowledges her dedication to learning English. 
34,Vainberg continues to describe the interview and hiring process for her first job at Predicast. She continues to recount her experiences and the difficulties she faced while employed with this company. 
35,"Vainberg describes the difficulties, fears, and experiences she had while working at Predicast. "
36,Vainberg outlines the types of projects she worked on at Predicasts. Overwhelmingly the work consisted of information technology and forecasting. 
37,She also mentions the location of the company along with the numerous branches located in Cleveland. She also lists the daughter's accomplishments of the founders. 
38,When she was 64 she decided to retire from the company and explains why.   
39,Vainberg lived in Cleveland Heights and then downsized to Musicians Tower.  
40,Vainberg continues to describe the people she encountered in the low-income high-rise apartment building. 
41,She mentions how instrumental she was in bringing music programs to the apartment complex. Schnoke interjects and asks Vainberg to speak about the Ukrainian population she encountered in Cleveland. 
42,"Vainberg explains that there was a large, supportive Jewish community in Cleveland. "
43,She continues to describe the strength of the Jewish community. She also notes how she was able to contribute to the strengthening that community.
44,Vainberg shares a memory of two men from NASA that spoke at a wedding at her Temple. These men were integral in assisting Russian Jews in finding refuge in Cleveland. 
45,She mentions the number of special Jewish celebrations at Judson recently. 
46,She explains that the bar mitzvah and bat mitzvahs performed were for the residents at Judson who were unable to openly celebrate their Jewish heritage growing up. 
47,"She revisits her time in Russia after the communist revolution and how all the religious leaders, establishments and symbols were destroyed. "
48,Vainberg divulges her feelings on religious leaders today and their lack of sincerity. 
49,First she started at Park Synagogue and later transferred to the Temple Tifereth Israel.  
50,"Discussion ensues on Rabbi Roger C. Kline, a rabbi at Temple Tifereth Israel. "
51,"Vainberg redirects the interview by mentioning that a friend of hers from Musicians Tower, also interviews Jewish individuals that were in concentration camps or in the ghettos. "
52,Vainberg's friend published a book from the interviews he collected. Vainberg's father's story is included in the piece. The interview ends. 
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