Very often, in the twilight of the life, people come to realizing their place in it, they feel a need to learn about their ancestors, their origin.

Thus, recently in one of the TV shows, which explores the genealogical tree of celebrities, the world-famous Hollywood actor Dustin Hoffman learned that his father's relatives were of Ukrainian origin. However, this issue never has been raised in the actor’s family, and it is understandable because the events that forced his family to come to America were tragic.

Hoffman’s grandparents (Frank and Esther), resided in Bila Tserkva, and emigrated in the US before the revolutionary events of 1917. After the anti-Jewish bashings, it was decided to move abroad Frank’s parents. For this purpose, he returned to his motherland, where he together with his parents was arrested by the officers of All-Russian Extraordinary Commission. Later Frank and Samuel - grandfather and great-grandfather of Hoffman - were shot by the Bolshevik regime, and Lieb spent five years in the camps. Despite the loss of her hand, her advanced age, and very poor health, Lieb was able to break away from the totalitarian USSR system, having escaped to Argentina. Later, she moved to the United States where she settled with her daughter-in-law.

"I – am a Jew", today is pronounced by Mr. Hoffman with a great pride, realizing, by what tremendous efforts the life and the freedom was granted to him.