Berman Mia Abramovna (1923)

Berman (Shlesinger) Mia Abramovna (10.08.1923, Riga) — bookkeeper. Born into the family of merchant Shlesinger Abram Zelikovich (1890, Kārsava, Latvia — died 1942 in custody, Solikamsk, Perm Oblast) and employee Shlesinger (Davidson) Khaya Mendelevna (1892, Riga). Completed 10 grades (1930–1941). Since her father opened his own shoe shop in 1929, as a member of a major merchant's family she was deported together with her mother and sister in 1941 to a special settlement in the Irbeisk District, Krasnoyarsk Krai. Mia did general work at the local state farm's dairy-and-meat farm No. 2 (1941–42); worked at a bakery (1942, village of Irbei); in 1942 the family was moved to the Far North, to the village of Dorofeyevka, where she worked at the Ashmarinsky fish plant as a fisherwoman (1942–43). Then another move — to the settlement of Kheta in the Khatangsky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai, where Mia worked at the local fish plant, as a worker in logging, as a storekeeper, and as a bookkeeper (1943–46). The family was moved to Kansk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, where Mia worked as a bookkeeper — at Spetstorg (1946–47), at a leather plant (1947–52), and as a planner at the City Food Trade organisation (1952–56). In 1947, she was awarded the medal “For Valiant Labour during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.” In 1956, she was removed from the special settlement register and returned to Riga, where she worked as a bookkeeper at Clothing Factory No. 1 (1956–57), as a merchandise expert at the Jūrmala Industrial Combine (1957–58), and as a worker at a multi-sector combine (1958–59). She was convicted by the Supreme Court of the Latvian SSR for misappropriation of socialist property (in the case of the Jūrmala Industrial Combine) and sentenced to three years' imprisonment (suspended). She worked as bookkeeper, senior bookkeeper, finance officer and head of financial settlement operations at the Proletarsky Pishchetorg of Riga (1959–71).

Her marriage to Berman Robert Davidovich (1927, Riga) produced a son Berman David Robertovich (1954, Kansk, Krasnoyarsk Krai).

In 1971, she received permission to emigrate to Israel, where since 1938 her brother, Shlesinger Gershon Abramovich (1924, Vilnius), had been living.

Note: In 1927, the asthmatic Gershon was sent by his parents to his uncle, Shlesinger Iosif, in what was then Czechoslovakia. In 1938, the uncle and nephew left for Palestine.

N. Voronova

Shlesinger Abram Zelikovich (1890–1942) — father
Shlesinger (Davidson) Khaya Mendelevna (1892) — mother
Beilina (Shlesinger) Raisa Abramovna (1921, Riga) — sister
Shlesinger Gershon Abramovich (1924) — brother
Berman Robert Davidovich (1927) — husband
Berman David Robertovich (1954) — son