Israel reunites old friends

The night before 15-year-old Polyachok made aliya, he and Gendelman promised that they would serve as best men at each other’s weddings. Gendelman fully expected to never see his friend again.

By JOSHUA SHUMAN
Polyachok served as Gendelman’s best man. (photo credit: Courtesy)
Polyachok served as Gendelman’s best man.
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Back in the mid-80s, it wasn’t easy being Jewish in Kharkov, Ukraine. Vladimir Gendelman remembers that his grandfather bought blackmarket matza to celebrate Passover.
His best friend, Sergey Polyachok, was practically a brother to Gendelman and the two spent their free time together, both participated in a local archeological group.
“If you can believe it,” Polyachok laughs, “Vladimir was there during my first date with the girl I eventually married.”
But Polyachok was troubled by the treatment of Jews, and in January 1989, urged his mother to leave for Israel. When Gendelman learned that his friend was leaving, he worked on his parents to leave Kharkov, too.
Unfortunately for the friends, in February 1989, Gendelman’s parents decided to move, but to Detroit, where they knew people.
The night before 15-year-old Polyachok made aliya, he and Gendelman promised that they would serve as best men at each other’s weddings. Gendelman fully expected to never see his friend again.
Though separated by distance, Gendelman and Polyachok remained in contact through letters and brief phone conversations on their birthdays – typically not much longer than a fleeting “Happy birthday,” since they couldn’t afford long international calls.
Yet, in March 2001, Polyachok called Gendelman to be his best man. Without hesitation, Gendelman, founder and CEO of Company Folders, Inc., an online folder printer in Detroit, flew to Israel – where, for the first time in 12 years, the best friends reunited.
It was as if they’d never been separated; Gendelman and Polyachok spent the entire first night talking, reliving childhood memories. Polyachok, now a Haifa-based tour guide, gave Gendelman dimir a special tour of Israel’s sights and landmarks.
Four years later, Polyachok served as Gendelman’s best man in Detroit, completing the promise they made in their teens.
Today, Polyachok and Gendelman maintain regular contact.
Recently, Gendelman carried the Torah at Polyachok’s son Daniel’s bar mitzva in Israel.
“I feel so fortunate,” said Gendelman. “It’s very fitting, because Daniel is nearly the age that Polyachok and I were when we left Ukraine. In a way, this friendship has come full circle.”