[Cz-L] In answer to both Eduard Weissmann and Hardy Breier on the subject of the 600 year celebration of Chernivtsy

Dear Czernowitzers,

I would like to thank Eduard Weissmann for writing to Mr. Kylynych
on a subject which is of importance to most of us and which we have
discussed before.

If I remember correctly, last summer, some of our group, volunteered
to be in contact with the Chernivtsy city administration on this subject.

If any attempt was made to influence the city administration to include the
Jewish Heritage of Chernivtsy in the 600 year celebration, could someone
please sum up what was done and what the results were?

I would also like to thank Hardy Breier for going to the trouble of joining
the "Gruss aus Czernowitz" chat group, in order to get to know the attitude
of the participants of this group to the Jewish heritage of Czernowitz and
our interest in it.

I have not joined this Chat group, but from my conversations last year
and on previous visits to Chernivtsy with a number of the current non-Jewish
residents of the city, I have the impression that Hardy's assessment
of the attitude of the current inhabitants is largely correct.

I would like to add to Hardy's point #7:

On my very first visit to Chernivtsy, in 2003,I was told
by Zoya Danilovich, that all of us who once owned or
inherited property in Chernivtsy could legally claim it back.
I did not look into this further, but have no reason to think
that Zoya gave me wrong information. Therefore, it is quite likely
that the current owners of our properties would not be happy
to have us and our heritage generally acknowledged.

I would also like to comment on Hardy's point #8:

Personally, on my 3 trips to Chernivtsy as well as some of the neighboring
villages I met absolutely no Anti-Semitism. In fact, in all my dealings with
the local people, who obviously knew that I was Jewish and a former
resident, I was treated correctly and in a very friendly manner.
Yet, it is probable that Anti-Semitism still exists.

Hardy asks:
> How can you you hate Jews if there are none
> around ?

There still is a Jewish presence in Chernivtsy, about 3000 people strong.
Most of them are the descendants of Jews who came to Chernivtsy at the end
and after WW2. There is a Jewish community and a formal head of the
community.

"Gmar Chatimah Tovah" to all of you,

Mimi
Received on 2007-09-20 19:16:04