Part Two: The Braverman Family 99
was at the maximum, he was tired, he wanted
an easier job, and he wanted to spend more
time at home. He said his mind was made up.
Reluctantly, his commanding officer accepted
Iosif 's resignation in 1974. For the first time
since 1942, aer 32 years of serving the Air
Force, Iosif was a private citizen.
Things suddenly began to move quickly. The
understanding was that aer their son Lev
obtained a university degree and worked in
his field for a couple of years, he would go to
Israel, and then Iosif and Lyubov would join
him. Lev had attended a top magnet school
for math in Moscow (Magnet School #91) aer
seventh grade. He had graduated in 1972 at
age 17 and began university right away to study
mathematics. Iosif had advised his son to get
Above: Yeva, Lyubov, and Lev skiing
at Silver Park, Moscow, 1964. Yeva's
wheelchair has been equipt with skis.
a degree in a technical skill, such as radio or
television engineering, electrical engineering,
or computing, that would give Lev the best
chances for employment. "These are the skills
that will help you get a job, wherever you are
in the world," Iosif had counseled, already
contemplating the skills that Lev would need
to make a living outside the Soviet Union. But
like many children, Lev had his own ideas and
pursued a degree in mathematics. "Math is not
a profession," Iosif had insisted, and the two
had many disagreements about Lev's education.
But Lev had his mind made up: he studied
mathematics and applied mathematics and
graduated in 1977. To his father's credit, Iosif
quickly accepted that his son's judgment was
better than his own. "Lev proved me wrong,"
Iosif says. "Right away, he got a good job.
Aer two years, he had the experience
he needed to be successful in Israel or in
