Brukhis (Bruchis) Lev Iosifovich (1925, Mengheim, Odessa Region) — actor, administrator.

In 1935, Brukhis’ family moved to Odessa. In 1941, following the outbreak of the war, they were evacuated to Kyrgyzstan. While in evacuation, Lev Brukhis was arrested following a denunciation.

In 1942, the Special Council of the NKVD sentenced him to five years in correctional labour camps. In 1943, he was additionally sentenced by a court to eight years in correctional labour camps.

During his imprisonment, he was a member of a prison camp concert troupe.

He was released in 1950 and immediately travelled to Riga to join relatives, where he led a drama club at the House of Culture in Jelgava. In the same year, facing the threat of a new arrest, he relocated to Odessa, where he managed a club in a kolkhoz near the city.

Later, he moved to Daugavpils, where he performed as an actor at the Russian Drama Theatre and participated in the amateur Jewish drama collective of Daugavpils.

In 1956, Lev Brukhis was rehabilitated and moved to Riga, where he was appointed Director of the Riga Russian Drama Theatre.

Later, he emigrated to Israel.

Acknowledgement:

With thanks to Tatyana Mikhailovna Magidas (Riga Russian Drama Theatre) for providing the photograph to the Museum.