Most Jewish women will never see the inside of a prison, but Alla A. spends her days and nights inside a jail cell in Kishinev, Moldova. A repeat offender, she spends more of her life inside prison than out. A terrible tragedy…
Most Jewish women will never see the outside of a prison, but Alla A. spends her days and nights inside a jail cell in Kishinev, Moldova. A repeat offender, she spends more of her life inside prison than out. A terrible tragedy… but the horror is compounded by the fact that Alla is the mother of five small children. The youngest, Zhorzhetta, who is three years old was born in prison, and has lived there ever since. Zhorzhetta, who is known as Tanya is fortunate though, because since Rebbeztin Leah Abelsky heard of the little girl’s terrible situation, Tanya has received a new lease on life. Rebettzin Leah, who has earned a reputation in Kishinev for her unstinting kindness to every poor and needy person she finds was told of the unfortunate little girl, and took matters into her own hands. “I couldn’t rest until something was done to save this innocent little growing up in prison,” Mrs. Abelsky explained.
Her first step was to contact the prison to request permission to visit the mother and daughter. With the help and cooperation of the inspector of women’s prisons, Rebettzin Leah was given permission to visit them.
Meeting little Tanya was quite an experience. Not surprisingly the little girl combined the innocence and bright-eyed intelligence of a young child and the outrageous, foul behavior and vocabulary she learned in her home environment – a jail!
“How awful it was,” recalls Rebettzin Leah, “I knew the child’s life had to be saved.” She immediately initiated procedures to remove the little girl from the prison. While the paperwork was in progress, Rebettzin Leah became a frequent visitor and friend to the mother and daughter. She also used the opportunity to reach out and help other inmates, bringing them food, clothing and medicines and taking messages to and from family members.
The thrust of Rebettzin Leah’s efforts was to remove Tanya from the prison and place her in a good children’s home in central Kishinev. Arrangements were made for the girl’s acceptance into the home and into the Abelsky’s kindergarten, where staff members were prepared to meet the child’s unique needs.
The whole Jewish community has opened their hearts to Tanya and is heaping their affection on her and giving the support and love she needs to help her adjust to her new life and to the separation from her mother. Through her involvement with the child, Rebettzin Leah became very close to her and the feelings of love are mutual. Tanya’s attachment to Mrs. Abelsky grew even stronger when Tanya and six other children from the children’s home wound up in the hospital with the chicken pox. “Did Rebettzin Leah cry when she found out I was sick?” Tanya demanded of the nurses. She was not alone in hospital. Members of the community were daily visitors. Since in Moldova medical supplies and even basic food have to be brought in by family members, members of the Jewish community took up that role and brought thermometers and even bread and milk for the children.
Tanya’s introduction into Jewish life is being undertaken with great care and sensitivity so as not to overwhelm her. The tremendous outpouring of love and affection Tanya received from the teachers and staff members of the Kishinev community school succeeded in warming the little girl’s heart. In only two months she had forgotten the prison vocabulary and was on her way to becoming a real member of her class.
New people, strange customs, and a new environment are a lot to get used to for anyone, especially a small child separated from her mother. Of course, it was a necessity to remove a three-year old Jewish child from a Moldovan prison, but contact with her mother is important, and Rebettzin Leah arranged a first meeting between the mother and daughter, which was recently held. Despite deep concerns about how it would go, the meeting went well and the two will continue to see each other on a regular basis. Alla and Tanya were overjoyed to see one another and the prison staff was touched at the sight of the child, now beginning a new, promising life.
