Sister, Julia Davidovna

Early childhood and schools

Julia Sister was born in 1936 in Chisinau, the capital of Bessarabia, which was then part of Romania. Chisinau later became the capital of the Moldavian SSR , and since 1991 the city has been the capital of Moldova . Yulins parents and grandfather and paternal grandmother were also born in this city. Parents of the father survived the pogrom of 1903 in Chisinau ^{[3] [6]} .

Julia's father David Iosifovich was a doctor who received a medical education at Charles University in Prague . He told his daughter about his student years, about the Bessarabian community in Prague and about his meetings with famous people. Yulina’s mother Evgenia (Bat-Sheva) Moiseevna rewrote children's poems for her, and Julia learned to read quite early. One of her first poems is “What is Good and What is Bad” by Mayakovsky ^{[6] [7]} .

Yulia's grandparents followed Jewish traditions and spoke the Yiddish language, and grandfather Joseph (Yosef) wrote poems on it. However, Julia barely remembered them. Grandfather Moses died before she was born; the father’s parents died in the Chisinau ghetto during the Holocaust , and grandmother Sarah died during the Second World War in evacuation ^{[6] [8]} .

During World War II, the USSR demanded that Romania return Bessarabia, and in June 1940 it was annexed to the Soviet Union . A year later, in July 1941, Bessarabia again became Romanian, and in August 1944 it was returned to the Soviet Union ^[9] . In her memoirs, Julia describes the day when the Red Army first entered Chisinau. She also remembers the German bombardment of the city and the air raids on the roads along which her family moved to the East during the evacuation ^[7] .

At the beginning of the war, David Sister and his family were evacuated to the left bank of the Volga , was appointed chief physician of the district hospital and a consultant to a nearby military hospital. The hospital was located in an open steppe between two villages, and on the other side of the Volga was Stalingrad . The family stayed in this place for several years. There were no other children nearby and Yulia had no one to be friends with and play with. However, she was fascinated by the local nature and was fond of watching plants and animals. The inhabitants of the hospital could hear the cannonade on the other side, which became especially powerful during the Battle of Stalingrad ^{[6] [7]} .

In 1944, the family moved to Kirovograd , where Yuli was eight years late with one year and went to first grade. A year later, the family returned to their native Chisinau. Despite the post-war restrictions and difficulties, the Sisters managed to revive their home, including a huge library. Among the guests and friends of the family were writers, actors, musicians, scientists; Julia grew up in an atmosphere of craving for knowledge ^[6] .

In the period from 1945 to 1954, Julia Sister studied at a female high school in Chisinau. Chemistry was enthusiastically taught by a teacher who loved her subject and infected many students with her enthusiasm. On the advice of the teacher, Sister took part in the work of the chemical circle for schoolchildren, which was led by Professor Anton Vasilievich Ablov at Chisinau University ^[8] .

Education and research

In the fall of 1954, Julia Sister entered the Department of Chemistry of the University of Chisinau. During an interview with applicants of the Faculty of Chemistry, Professor Yuri Sergeyevich Lyalikov asked her why she chose the Faculty of Chemistry, and Julia explained to him that thanks to the school teacher, she fell in love with chemistry. In her student years, she took an active part in the scientific and public life of the university, was the editor of the faculty newspaper “Chemist” ^[10] . From the second year of university, he becomes a member of the student scientific society and begins to study compounds called heteropoly acids ^[8] . In 1959, Julia Sister successfully defended her thesis “Sediment chromatography of heteropoly acids” and graduated with honors from the Department of Chemistry of Chisinau State University ^[2] .

Upon graduation from the university, Sister was assigned to the laboratory of analytical chemistry, which was led by Yuri Lyalikov ^[8] . The laboratory was part of the Institute of Chemistry of the Moldavian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences , which became the Academy of Sciences of the Moldavian SSR in 1961. Work in this laboratory allowed Julia, a young chemist, to use polarographic methods in her research. To carry out the analysis of organic compounds using alternating current polarography, Julia constructed a polarograph with her own hands and received the first polarograms. Sister was the first in Moldova (together with Yu.S. Lyalykov) who applied the methods of alternating current polarography and polarography on the second harmonic of alternating current for the analysis of organic compounds. Then, together with the physicist V.V.Senkevich, an automatic device was assembled, and only later in the USSR began serial production of polarographs. She published her first scientific articles in the early 1960s. Working at the Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the MSSR, Sister defended her thesis and in 1967 received a PhD degree in chemistry ^{[1] [2] [11]} .

Over 25 years of research at the Institute of Chemistry, Sister worked on a wide range of tasks. Her environmental studies included the analysis of the presence of pesticides in environmental objects, food products and biological environments. She was engaged in the study of suspensions and the analysis of new organic compounds. She made a significant contribution to the development of such methods as polarography at the second harmonic of alternating current, difference polarography with magnetic recording, and chromatopolarography. For about 20 years she was a consultant on the use of the polarography method in biology at the Department of Animal and Human Physiology of Chisinau University ^{[1] [2] [11]} .

In 1984, Julia Sister was invited to work at the Technological Design Institute, where she soon headed the laboratory of physicochemical methods. The institute operated under the research and production association in Ialoveni (formerly Kutuzov). In their studies, Julia and her laboratory used a wide variety of methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography , which was just beginning to be introduced in the country's laboratories. Sister was also a board member of the Moldavian branch of the All-Union Chemical Society. D. I. Mendeleev, first holding the position of scientific secretary, and then vice-chairman. She led the republican section “Young Chemist” ”; many of her students, former young chemists, later became scientists and business leaders ^{[2] [8]} .

New Activities

In 1990, Julia Sister with her family repatriated to Israel. In 1992-1993, she worked as a senior researcher in the Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem , then at Tel Aviv University , where she studied topics related to biochemical analysis in biological media. In these years, along with work in the field of chemistry, Sister began to show a deep interest in studying the problems of Russian-Jewish culture ^{[2] [3] [12]} .

In 1991, Sister became a freelance writer and editor of the Brief Jewish Encyclopedia (KEE). Yulina subjects cover all aspects of the history of science, she becomes the author of about 90 articles. She wrote articles “Chemistry” (together with P. Smorodinsky), “Veniamin Levich”, “Frederic Raines”, “Moiz Gaysinsky”, “Yuri Golfand” and many others ^{[2] [6] [13] [14]} .

Julia Sister began her activity in the House of Scientists and Specialists of Rehovot in 1991. As part of this association, she organizes lectures, seminars and scientific conferences. She leads the scientific seminars of the House of Scientists, which are regularly held at the Weizmann Institute ^[15] . In 2008, and then in 2014, she organized conferences on the Beel movement and the First Aliyah ^{[16] [17]} . She also maintains friendly contacts with foreign colleagues, such as members of the Club of Russian-speaking scientists of the state of Massachusetts ^[18] .

In 1997, at the initiative of Mikhail Parkhomovsky, the Russian Jewry Abroad (RHE) research center was established, which aimed to collect and publish information about Jews who emigrated from the Russian Empire , the Soviet Union or post-Soviet states and made an important contribution to development of world civilization. Mikhail Parkhomovsky became the supervisor and chief editor of the Center, and Julia Sister became the general director ^{[19] [20]} . Since 2012, the research center was renamed the "Jews of Russia in Abroad and Israel" (ERZI) ^[21] . The Director General of the Center selects new topics for collections, finds authors for them, organizes the collection, processing and publication of materials related to Russian Jewry. By 2015, the Center had published approximately 30 volumes, including books on Russian Jews in England, France, the USA, Israel, and other countries. In addition to his leadership functions, Sister is the author and editor of numerous publications in the Center’s monographs. She is the editor-compiler of volume 17 (“Come, we will rebuild the walls of Yerushalaim. Book 3”), co-editor-compiler of volume 11 (“Come, we will rebuild the walls of Yerushalayim. Book 1”), the monograph “Israel: Russian roots”, and one of the editors 10 volumes ^{[5] [8] [15]} .

The scope of activities of the Director General of the Center also includes the organization of seminars and conferences. The following is a small sample of conferences organized by Julia Sister. In 1999, she was the coordinator of a conference dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot. Together with Professor Aron Chernyak, she wrote a detailed report on this conference, which was published in the 8th volume of the monograph series “Russian Jewry Abroad” ^{[3] [5]} . In 2003, she held a conference in Kiryat Ekron , which discussed issues of Russian Aliya and her contribution to Israeli science, culture and education ^[22] . More than 200 scientists from all over the country took part in the conference dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the SEC “Russian Jewry Abroad” in 2007 ^{[8] [23]} . The 2012 conference was dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the First Aliyah; a report on it was published by the Rehovot House of Scientists, who also took part in its organization ^[24] .

Julia Sister lives with her family in Kiryat Ekron . Her husband, Boris (Betzalel) Iosifovich Gendler, is a therapist with extensive experience as a doctor and professor of medicine. After repatriation from Chisinau, Betzalel Gendler worked as a doctor in one of the Israeli hospitals. He is the author of articles, some of which are written in collaboration with his wife.

Chemistry

Julia Sister is the author or co-author of more than 200 scientific papers.

• Sister Yu.D. et al. Polarography of 2,6-dimercapto-1,4-thiopyrone-3-carboxylic acids and thiophenols // Electrochemistry. - 1967. - T. 3 , no. 1 , No. 6 .
• Arishkevich A. M., Sister Yu. D., et al. Analytical application of dimercaptothiopyrones in alternating current polarography. // Research on the chemistry of coordination compounds and physico-chemical methods of analysis. / Ans. ed. A.V. Ablov. - Chisinau: Shtiintsa, 1969.
• Senkevich V.V., Sister Yu.D., Lyalikov Yu.S. Polarography at the second harmonic of alternating current in the analysis of organic substances. // Journal of analytical chemistry. - 1972. - T. 27 , no. 1 .
• G.S. Supin, Yu. D. Sister, I.V. Kozlova. Polarographic methods for the analysis of pesticides. // Problems of analytical chemistry. / Ans. ed. Yu. S. Lyalikov, ed. Sister Yu.D. et al. - Moscow: Nauka , 1972. - T. 2. - P. 145–155.
• Yu.S. Lyalikov, with the participation of L. G. Madan and Yu. D. Sister. Physico-chemical methods of analysis (textbook). - 5th ed. - Moscow: Chemistry , 1974.
• Senkevich V.V., Madan, L.G., Sister, Yu. D. New directions in the polarographic method. - Chisinau: Shtiintsa, 1975.
• Yu. D. Sister. The development of new varieties of polarography and their application in the analysis of organic compounds. // Polarography: Problems and prospects. / Ed. J.P. Stradyn, S.G. Mairanovsky. - Riga: Zinatne, 1977.
• Yu. D. Sister. Search for optimal conditions for the polarographic determination of treflan. // Journal of analytical chemistry. - 1981. - Issue. 1 . - No. 8 .
• HA Adamova, Yu.D. Sister et al. Definition of some surfactants by the method of alternating current polarography // Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the Moldavian SSR (Series of Biological Sciences and Chemical Sciences). - 1986.

The history of science in publications of the ERZI Center

• Julia Sister. El Naumovich Shlyakhov at the Pasteur Institute. // Russian Jews in France. Book 1. / Ed.-Comp .: M. Parkhomovsky, D. Guzevich. - Jerusalem: SIC Russian Jewry in Abroad, 2001. - T. 8. - S. 313-317. - ISBN 965-222-911-3 .
• Julia Sister. Moise (Moses) Gaisinsky. // Russian Jews in France. Book 2. / Ed .: M. Parkhomovsky, D. Guzevich. - Jerusalem: SIC Russian Jewry in Abroad, 2002. - V. 9. - S. 264–272. - ISBN 965-222-911-3 .
• Boris Zuckerblat, Julia Sister, Clara Zignia. Academician Isaac Borisovich Bersuker. // Russian Jews in America. Book 1. / Ed.-Comp .: Ernst Salzberg, M. Parkhomovsky. - Jerusalem: SIC Russian Jewry in Abroad, 2005. - V. 12. - S. 175–186. - ISBN 965-222-911-3 .
• Julia Sister. Professor E. Shifrin and his team. // Come on, rebuild the walls of Yerushalaim. Book 3. / Ed.-Comp .: Julia Sister. - Jerusalem: SIC Russian Jewry in Abroad, 2008. - V. 17. - S. 260–272. - ISBN 965-222-911-3 .
• Julia Sister. About chemists and chemistry in a country flowing with milk and honey. // Israel: Russian roots. / Ed.-Comp .: Julia Sister, Mikhail Parkhomovsky. - Jerusalem: SIC Russian Jewry in Abroad, 2011. - S. 256–290. - ISBN 978-965-90976-7-8 .

History of science in other publications

• Julia Sister. About the book "Israel in Space" and its author (neopr.) . House of scientists and specialists of Rehovot (12/09/2009). Date of treatment July 15, 2015.
• Julia Sister. Boris Emanuelovich Khesin (neopr.) . House of scientists and specialists of Rehovot (11.2010). Date of treatment July 15, 2015.
• Julia Sister. About chemists and chemistry in the country, flowing milk and honey (neopr.) . The site of the magazine "Russian literary echo" (2011). Date of treatment July 15, 2015.
• Julia Sister. Academician Yakov Kivovich Syrkin (neopr.) . House of scientists and specialists of Rehovot (11.2012). Date of treatment July 15, 2015.
• Julia Sister. In memory of Professor Wilderman (Neopr.) . Website DORLEDOR.INFO (12.23.2012). Date of treatment July 15, 2015.
• Julia Sister. Andre Lvov, Nobel laureate (neopr.) . Lib.ru (05.2012). Date of treatment July 15, 2015.
• Julia Sister. Laureate of the Palladium Medal (Alexander Frumkin) (neopr.) . NewsWe.com website (We are here No. 422 - International Journal) (10.24.2013). Date of treatment July 15, 2015.

Russian Jewry in Israel

• Let’s go and rebuild the walls of Yerushalaim. Book 1. / Ed.-Comp .: Julia Sister, Mikhail Parkhomovsky. - Jerusalem: NO center Russian Jewry in Abroad, 2005. - V. 11. - (Russian Jewry in Abroad). - ISBN 965-222-911-3 .
• Let’s go and rebuild the walls of Yerushalaim. Book 3 / Ed.-Comp .: Julia Sister. - Jerusalem: NO center Russian Jewry in Abroad, 2008. - V. 17. - (Russian Jewry in Abroad). - ISBN 965-222-911-3 .
• Israel: Russian roots. / Ed.-Comp .: Julia Sister, Mikhail Parkhomovsky. - Jerusalem: NI center Russian Jewry in Abroad, 2011. - ISBN 978-965-90976-7-8 .

Other publications

• Julia Sister, Betzalel Gendler. Bessarabian Jews in the French Resistance: Tamara Pagis. // Russian Jews in France. Book 1. / Ed.-Comp .: M. Parkhomovsky, D. Guzevich. - Jerusalem: SIC Russian Jewry in Abroad, 2001. - T. 8. - P. 68–77. - ISBN 965-222-911-3 .
• Julia Sister. The great mission of Yitzhak Schneerson. // Russian Jewry Abroad. / Ed.-Comp .: M. Parkhomovsky. - Jerusalem: SIC Russian Jewry in Abroad, 2003. - V. 10. - S. 451–458. - ISBN 965-222-911-3 .
• Julia Sister, Betzalel Gendler. From Balti to Sderot (Neopr.) . NewsWe.com website (We are here No. 278 - International Magazine) (09/28/2010). Date of treatment July 15, 2015.
• Julia Sister. The history of one search (neopr.) . NewsWe.com website (We are here No. 415 - International Magazine) (09/05/2013). Date of treatment July 15, 2015.
• So that the ray of freedom does not go out. Poems of Ukrainian poets translated into Russian by Mark Kagantsov. / Ed. count R. Künzli, B. Rishnyak, J. Sister. - Lviv: Ukrainian Technologies, 2015. - ISBN 978-966-345-294-4 .
• Julia Sister. In memory of Mikhail Aronovich Parkhomovsky (neopr.) . website www.elektron2000.com (Speech 1699 - Electronic Scientific Workshop) (10.26.2015). Date of treatment September 09, 2016.

• Research Center "Jews of Russia in Abroad and Israel" (ERZI)
• Julia Sister's Selected Publications