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students how to repair and maintain the MIG- 15 aircra. Iosif had easily passed the preliminary examinations for the Moscow Air Force Engineering Academy the previous year. But then, he told Lyubov, he ran into a problem. He didn't call it anti-Semitism—he didn't have to—but that's what it was. That June, he said, he went to Moscow to take the examinations in physics, algebra, trigonometry, and geometry. There were also written tests in Russian language and literature, as well as in a second language. In Iosif 's case, this was German. Iosif passed all the mathematics tests with excellent results. The final exam was to test his facility with German. Now, the rule was that the foreign language test didn't count for the entrance score. The language test was only to place the students in the appropriate German course: beginner, intermediate, or advanced. The next day—the day of the German test—was an absolutely gorgeous day and all the students decided to skip the test and go swimming. They invited Iosif to come along. "That was a big mistake," Iosif says. "I forgot what my father told me over and over again." Shlomo had given this piece of advice many times: "If you want to succeed, my son, you have to be one head higher than non-Jews." What he meant was that in an anti-Semitic world, Jews had to be twice as good as non-Jews just to stay even. Jews could not afford to relax, even for a minute. Iosif would soon find out how correct his father was. The next day, the list of the names of the students accepted to the Moscow Aircra Military Engineering Academy was posted. Stunningly, Iosif 's name was not there. It didn't make sense. He had scored very highly in every test. One of his iends who had received a failing grade for algebra was accepted while he himself was not. Iosif went to the colonel, who told Iosif he was denied admission because he had missed the German test and therefore received a failing grade. Iosif got very angry and lost his temper. But the colonel was a good man. He admitted that anti-Semitism was very bad at the time. Wait a year, he advised Iosif, and try again. Next year he would be admitted. Aer becoming engaged, the couple hurried to Inna's house in Uhtomka, 20 kilometers om Moscow. Shlomo, Iosif 's father, was there. Iosif and Lyubov announced the big news. "Dad, I made a proposal and Lyubov has agreed to be my wife." Shlomo gave the couple his blessings. Then they went across the street to the house where Lyubov's sister Zina lived. Her mother Malka was there, as well. Lyubov announced the news. "Mother, Iosif asked me to marry him." Everyone held their breath waiting for Lyubov's next statement. "I said yes!" Everyone expressed delight, and offered the couple their blessings. Zina was happy for Lyubov, but like any big sister, she was a little cautious. She took her younger sister aside. "Do you really know him?" she asked of Iosif. But Malka would have none of it, and she stood up to defend Iosif. "I've known of the Volsuns om before the revolution. They were a famous and great family, and not just in Ukraine, but Poland, Lithuania, and Romania. This will be a good match," Malka said. This was more than enough for Zina, and she too gave the couple her blessing. Now the problem was to set the wedding date. Time was of the essence; Iosif had to report back to his instructor's job in Volsk in two weeks. The couple didn't want to postpone the wedding until the following January. It was now or never, so Shlomo got to work. The wedding could not be that weekend, so they decided on the following Thursday, January 25, 1951. Shlomo's first goal was to get a rabbi to officiate at the Jewish wedding. Zina agreed to find a suitable location for the type of big party that Russians love. "There is just one more thing," Lyubov said. "What's that?" Iosif asked. "I don't like people smoking," she said. "I don't like the smell." Like most men in Russia at the time, Iosif smoked at least a few cigarettes every day. "We will make a deal right now," Iosif said without hesitation. "The minute you arrive in Volsk, the cigarette I am smoking at that moment will be the last I ever smoke." Lyubov was happy that Iosif agreed so readily. She held out her tiny hand. "A deal is a deal," she said, and they sealed the agreement with a kiss. Iosif Gives Iosif Gives Up Smoking Up Smoking

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