Lazar Massarsky

Lazar Massarsky was born on March 27, 1914 in Polotsk, Belarus. His father Ruvim was a skilled furniture maker. In 1914 Ruvim was drafted to the Zsar's army to fight in World War I. In 1919 he died from wounds when Lazar was only 5 years old. Early in his childhood Lazar was a witness of horrific events during Russian Civil War 1918-1921. He was the youngest child and the only son in his family and he adored and respected his mother and his three sisters throughout his entire life. His native language was Yiddish but he learned Russian very fast and became proficient in it. In 1926 his entire family moved to Leningrad, the beloved city of his youth, where he worked and went to college and in 1940 was drafted to the Red Army.

For the next 6 years he was heroically defending his motherland fighting the Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in WWII. He was twice severely wounded in battle, almost lost his leg, but recovered and returned from the war and was awarded medals for valor and bravery. In 1946 he returned from the War and was presented a surprise by his mother. She found him a bride. He dated his future wife Rakhil for only 10 days and made a proposal. They lived happily ever after for 66 years! Rakhil gave him two wonderful sons Yefim and Lev. For the next 35 years he worked as manufacturing engineer at a plant that fabricated parts for aircraft.

In 1981, at the age of 67, he with his family emmigrated to the United States. He admired "my new homeland" as he often called the United States of America. He spoke English and enjoyed the freedoms that America offered to him. The last 6 years he and his wife Rakhil were living with their son Yefim's family and was surrounded with love and care from Lev and Yefim, their wives and their children - his grandchildren.

Lazar loved to read . This love started in his early childhood and continued to the age of 98 until he could no longer see the lines . He was a very educated and intelligent man. In his memoirs he credits two men that instilled in him this thirst for knowledge and the love of reading. The first was his brother in-law Solomon, who was killed by NKVD (predecessor of KGB) in 1937. The second was his neighbor, a very educated Russian Orthodox Priest father Afanasiy. A Christian himself, father Afanasiy encouraged Lazar to study and to love Jewish faith.

Lazar Massarsky was an extraordinary person. His motto in life was "Rush to do good deeds!" He celebrated every occasion when he could help anyone in need. During the war he saved many people's lives often risking his own.

Through his entire life he was proud to be a Jew. He defended his Jewish dignity despite overwhelming threats. His present cause was researching more and more historical facts showing Jewish bravery and ability to defend themselves throughout the thousands of years of Jewish history. Lazar was a great friend of State of Israel and admired its people's wit, intelligence, bravery and human kindness.

Lazar was a great "Mench" and with his departure humankind has lost a wonderful human being.

To learn more about Lazar's life story, please visit www.lazarmassarsky.com