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Part Two: The Braverman Family 95 and political interviews. He passed the written tests in algebra and literature, as well as the oral examinations, which were equently a trap because of how subjective the grading was. Again Iosif had to struggle for his basic right to be considered for the academy on equal terms, fighting anti-Semitism at every turn. It was very competitive; there were 12 candidates for each position. First Iosif had to fight for the grade he earned on the geometry and trigonometry test. Even though he solved each of the five problems, the examiner issued him a failing grade. Then he was among 21 people with Jewish names who were ordered to report for political education. He knew that his chances for entering the academy were in deep trouble. Iosif consulted with the major, and the major now suggested that Iosif fight the discrimination. Iosif went to the KGB general to plead his case. Iosif was faced with many questions. Many of the questions centered on the circumstances under which Iosif 's father Shlomo moved om Ukraine to Moscow. At the end, the panel could not find anything to use against him. And then Iosif went on the offensive, which was unheard of for a Jew at the time. Iosif drew breathes of disbelief when he complained about his treatment, making reference to the written test. There he had the proof that he was discriminated against. Making all that noise worked—Iosif was allowed to continue with the examinations. The grades came back. He received Bs in algebra, Russian language, and literature, and an A in physics. For German, this time, Iosif took the test. "I learned my lesson om the last time," he says. Then came the oral test in trigonometry. Typically, oral tests take 20 minutes. But for Iosif, the questions kept coming and coming. And even though he kept answering the questions, the final mark was a C. But Iosif didn't care about this petty humiliation. All he cared about was the average. The passing average was 3.2 and Iosif 's grades averaged 3.9. He was accepted into the academy, and he was satisfied. The major congratulated Iosif, who sent Lyubov a cable asking her to prepare for the move to Moscow. Their lives, once again, were about to change. It was 1954. Iosif rented an apartment. The government provided a subsidy of 200 rubles per month, but the apartment cost 300 rubles. They were happy to be closer to their families. Iosif started his studies and Lyubov took care of the house and Yeva. The following year, Lyubov became pregnant again. In the hospital, Iosif waited for news of his new child. Then the nurse came out and told Iosif he was father of a baby boy. The baby was named Lev, aer Lyubov's father, Leib. The most important mitzvot in the Jewish faith is that males be circumcised when they are eight days old in a ritual called a bris. This was a real problem because ritual circumcision was illegal in Russia. It had to be done in secret. The Soviet Union made practicing religion illegal, a crime against the state. There were informers Above le: Lev Volsun in Moscow, 1963. Above right: Lev Volsun in Moscow, 1956.

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