Gertsberg (Portny) Khena Gershonovna (12.05.1934, Riga) — engineer. Daughter of Polish nationals Portny Gershon (1891, Poland — 1943, labour camp) and Portny Yudit (1901, Poland — 1956). In 1941, P. together with her parents and brothers, Portny Pinkhus (1930, Daugavpils) and Portny Ber (1923, Daugavpils), was exiled from Latvia: B.'s father was a major trader in bicycles and furs with an annual enterprise turnover exceeding 243,000 lats, and also the owner of a large market garden. B.'s father died in a corrective labour camp. In 1949, G. completed 7 grades at a secondary school in the village of Tinevka, Krasnoyarsk Krai. In 1949, returned to Latvia. Until 1952 — student at the polytechnic college under the USSR Ministry of Procurement. Simultaneously — worker at the Riga telephone network. In 1952, was again deported under escort to a special settlement: according to the information centre of the MVD of the Latvian SSR (registration file No. 15911), G.'s return to Latvia had been unauthorised. (G. was removed from special settlement registration in 1954.) In 1953–55 — student at the Krasnoyarsk Forestry and Technology Institute. In 1955, G. returned to Latvia. In 1958, graduated from the Latvian Agricultural Academy. In 1958 — shift supervisor at the Assotsiatsiya woodworking plant in Riga. In 1958–63 — quality inspector, engineer at the Riga Furniture Combine. In 1963–65 — senior engineer at the Woodworking Industry Department of the Latvian SSR Ministry of Agriculture. In 1965–72 — senior engineer at the Latvian SSR Ministry of Woodworking Industry. From 1972 — senior engineer at the environmental group “Soyuzgiproleskhoz-Riga.” Her marriage to Gertsberg Abram (1928, Talsy) produced daughters Gertsberg Yudita (1959, Riga) and Gertsberg Rina (1960, Riga). In 1973, G. received permission to emigrate to Israel on the invitation of her brother, Portny Ber (1923, Daugavpils).

A. Norman

Gertsberg Abram (1928, Talsy) — husband
Gertsberg Yudita (1959, Riga) — daughter
Gertsberg Rina (1960, Riga) — daughter
Portny Gershon (1891, Poland — 1943, labour camp) — father
Portny Yudit (1901, Poland — 1956) — mother
Portny Ber (1923, Daugavpils) — brother
Portny Pinkhus (1930, Daugavpils) — brother