What Are the Birch Trees Whispering?
Further and further from us there are disappearing those heroic, and also at the same time, tragic years, when tbe Soviet people, united by the feelings of one socialist Motherland, defeated the world vampire — Hitler’s fascism. The whole life of Soviet people at that time was in ascendancy, devotion and dedication. Even though they did not want heroism, this was their life and dedication. One such heroic act was accomplished by a collective farm family from the village of Yasnaya Polyana, Zhitomir region of Ukraine, Onufry Khalimovsky and his wife Lizaveta Danilovna. Risking their life, this couple saved the life of a young Jewish girl Poliana Sojfer. After the war years, she lived in Odessa and, when her saviours were still living, they corresponded. Remembering the goodness and kindness of grandfather Onufy and Grandmother Lizaveta, they are remembered by their grandchildren and friends. People of this calibre should be remembered not only by their close relatives in Yasna Polyana,
