My father, Yehuda Arav, was born on July 16, 1915, in Ankara, Turkey, to Ester and Aaron Arav. His other name was Leon. He had two brothers (Itzhak-Isaac and Avraham) and three sisters (Sara, Lea and Fanny).
He started working at Grandpa's store after graduating the "Jewish Elementary School".
Yehuda Arav, on the right, with friends
In 1934, my father's family adopted a new family name: Aglamaz (a word in Turkish).
New family name in Turkish: In 1934, Turkey issued the "Surnames Law". According to this law, all families had to get a family name in the Turkish language. Consequently, Jewish families too had to accept new family names, in Turkish. The surname my father's family received was AGLAMAZ.
Dad lost his mother Ester Arav in 1935.
On December 20, 1936, he married my mother, Sara Benardete. The wedding was in Ankara. They first resided in a room in the yard of my Grandpa's house, in the Jewish neighborhood in Ankara. Sometime later, my parents moved to another house in Esen Sokak (street), in the same neighborhood.
They had four children: A baby who died a few days after birth, Ester, Aaron (I) and Flora (my sister). Ester "Esterika", died at the age of two.
Dad and I at the store in Ankara
October 1, 1943: Dad, Mom and I
Dad was fond of music; he played mandolin and harmonica. He was always glad to help the cantor in singing prayers at the synagogue.
My parents made Aliyah to Israel in 1964 and settled in Ezra-Ubezaron (Ramat Eliyahu), Rishon LeZion.
Dad widowed in 1978. A year after the death of my mother he married Fanny Parlayan.
Yeuda and Fanny Aglamaz
My father passed away on April 13, 1986, at Assaf Harofeh hospital. His grave is in Rishon LeZion, Gordon cemetery.
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