[Cz-L] The 2007 reunion

Miriam (Mimi) Taylor <mirtaylo_at_indiana.edu>

In reply to both Charles Rosner and Danny Alon's message about
the 2007 Reunion, I feel that I must make some comments on the course
of events.
To begin with, let me say that I got to know both Charles and Danny
at the 2006 Czernowitz Reunion, during which we spent 7 days together.
I have great respect for both of them and consider both of them my friends.

The idea to have another reunion, so soon after the previous one, arose
within the Cz.-List and was intended for the benefit of:

A. Those who would have liked to participate in the 2006 reunion, but for
   various reasons, could not do so, and
B. For those who wanted to have the opportunity to meet with other
   Czernowitzers to socialize, reminisce and discuss matters of common
   interest, some of which we had not had time to discuss at the
   2006 reunion.

The reason for having the reunion in Israel, was that more Czernowitzers
and their descendants live in Israel, than in any other country.
In addition, some of us who do not live in Israel, habitually go to Israel,
once a year.

The Cz.-List, is just an Email list, it is not an organization with stated
purpose, elected officials or defined rules. Bruce Reisch as owner of the
list, has devoted much time and energy to keep the list as a forum for the
exchange of knowledge and ideas amongst mostly Jewish former Bukowiners and
their descendants. But since the list is not a formal organization with
elected officials, I took it upon myself, to canvas opinions about the
proposed 2007 reunion.

I had no special right or authority to do so and because I think that such
a reunion has no point unless we meet as friends interested to talk and
listen to each other, I wanted to find out what most people would like this
reunion to be about. I soon determined that there was sufficient interest in
having a reunion, then asked for suggestions about topics to be included in
the program, date and duration of the reunion, location and volunteers to be
on the organizing committee. I nominated an organizing committee based on
the messages I received from members of the Cz.-List volunteering to help
organize the reunion. The committee members were:

Danny Alon
Lea Haber
Nathan Gross
Mimi Taylor
Yitzhak Rosner

All seemed to go smoothly, when someone suggested that this be not only a
Czernowitzer meeting, but a Bukowina meeting. There seemed to be general
agreement to widen the scope to include the whole Bukowina in the reunion,
so I announced that this would be a Czernowitz and Bukowina reunion. I also
stressed that the reunion was not meant to replace or infringe on the
meetings organized by the "World organization of Bukovina Jews.

Soon afterwards, I was asked by a close friend, who is a member of the
Cz.-List and also a friend of some of the organizers of the WOBJ, to write
to the organizers of the WOBJ, pay them homage, smooth their ruffled
feathers, involve them in the reunion, etc. I wrote them polite and truthful
letters, stating that I welcomed their suggestions, had no intention of
usurping their positions but intended to abide by the decisions regarding
the reunion which had been reached by vote within the Cz.-List.

Within the Cz.-List we voted on the topics which should be included in the
program of the reunion and the committee voted and reached a decision about
the time table and schedule of the program, which I duly announced to the
list.

While we were planning the program for the reunion, Danny Alon, kindly
volunteered to contact the various hotels and conference centers in which
we might hold the reunion. With no blame or fault attached to Danny, it
belatedly became known that we could not hold the reunion in any hotel
on the dates we had decided on, March 26 - 29. Apparently by order of the
chief rabbinate, the hotels have to prepare for Passover during this time.

At the same time, there arose within the committee, disagreements about the
program. I felt that my ideas conflicted with the ideas of most of the other
committee members and therefore resigned from the committee.
 
To the best of my knowledge, Danny did his best to keep the reunion plans
on track as voted on by the Cz.-List and we ought "not to kill the
messenger of the bad news". In this case, Danny is the messenger and not
the author of the news. I have no knowledge as to how and by whom the
decisions regarding the date, location and program of the reunion
have been decided on, but we owe Danny thanks, for his willingness
to be on the committee and have the non-enviable task of informing us
of decisions reached by others.

I too, will not participate in the 2007 reunion as currently planned.
I already have tickets for flying to Israel in March and will
not exchange them.

But I sincerely wish that the reunion be a great success
and that members of this list continue to correspond amicably
on a variety of topics concerning Jewish Czernowitzers and Bukowiners
and their descendants.

Best regards,

Mimi
Received on 2007-01-15 10:18:19