Vydoshnya, Ukraine… November, 1941 – During the Nazi liquidation of the village of Vydoshnya, Faina Berstein and her daughter, Sonya, were hidden by Aleksandra Melnik and her children, Taisiya, Victor, and Galina. Aleksandra and her children hid Faina and Sonya for more than three years.  As Sonya wrote, “In such a terrible time these people surrounded us with kindness and care.  We lived like one family. Their nobleness, kindness, and humanity cannot be described.”

The Melniks helped other Jews as well, including Faina’s sister, Polya Kreizman, and her three children, who had escaped the massacre in Zinkov.

Taisiya Melnik died years ago.