Dina was diagnosed with a mental disease when she already graduated from a college. Her living conditions in childhood most probably provoked contraction of the disease: her mother was imprisoned and returned back when Dina was 15. She used to live all her life with her dad and stepmother.

Both his parents have died of drug abusement. His mother gave birth to many children but never took care of any of them. Some of her known children are at children’s homes, some were adopted. Dima happened to be the luckiest of all: he was taken by his granny who is strong, caring and loving.

Dina was diagnosed with a mental disease when she already graduated from a college. Her living conditions in childhood most probably provoked contraction of the disease: her mother was imprisoned and returned back when Dina was 15. She used to live all her life with her dad and stepmother.

Inna is holding her own portrait which dates back to her last years of normal healthy life. She laughs at me when I ask if she can really walk out and tells a horrible story of what’s thought of as a malpractice. When she was giving a birth in 1970 a midwife broke her pubic articulation. A bracket was installed but after 35 years it became completely loose.

Lesha underwent 4 cardiac surgeries during the first month of his life. After one of the surgeries he was prescripted with strong antibiotics which made him deaf

Upon giving birth to Yulia her mother was attacked by hospital personnel and by her own parents who were trying to convince her to abandon the baby with severe cerebral palsy. For Yulia’s mother it was completely unacceptable: "How would I eat, sleep, enjoy my life knowing that my poor sick child is somewhere with strangers?"

A year ago X. had an attempted suicide episode and now busy "doing nothing" as he defines it himself. All the family, regardless of his gruffness, treats him warmly, with a great love, especially Z. who all the time hangs on him like a little monkey.

The family consists of 2 disabled persons, father and daughter. On this picture a "Menora’ curator paying visit to her clients is shown

Frida’s deep depression lasts for 7 years so far since her son passed away. Frida’s nowadays life is filled with nothing else but remembering her son. He was a known composer and musician, widely acknowledged in the region

A year ago X. had an attempted suicide episode and now busy "doing nothing" as he defines it himself. All the family, regardless of his gruffness, treats him warmly, with a great love

One of T’s sons used to be an infant prodigy. When he grew up he tried to kill himself by jumping off a roof. He fractured his spine and will stay bed-bound till the end of his days. T’s husband is bed-bound as well. She has another son but doesn’t even want to tell about him, just mentioning that "he is problematic." T. has no relatives besides the sons and spouse.

One of T’s sons used to be an infant prodigy. When he grew up he tried to kill himself by jumping off a roof. He fractured his spine and will stay bed-bound till the end of his days. T’s husband is bed-bound as well. She has another son but doesn’t even want to tell about him, just mentioning that "he is problematic." T. has no relatives besides the sons and spouse.

"As someone said, a rich man is the one who has enough, and not the one who has a lot," pronounces Igor’s mother as we stand in the middle of a kitchen besides an almost empty fridge.

Edward got back from a hospital just one day prior to my visit. He was diagnosed with cancer

Frida’s deep depression lasts for 7 years so far since her son passed away. Frida’s nowadays life is filled with nothing else but remembering her son. He was a known composer and musician, widely acknowledged in the region

Little Polina resides with her parents in a falling apart house. Local authorities planned to demolish it back in 1980s but it never happened

This family resides in a falling apart house. Local authorities planned to demolish it back in 1980s but it never happened