[Cz-L] Specific suggestions for the 600 year anniversary celebration

Dear Czernowitzers,

I would like to pass on some suggestions regarding the 600 year celebrations
which were sent to me by Andrew Halmay. Andy himself is currently very busy
and unable to devote much time to this issue.

Here are his arguments and suggestions:

1. If we want the Chernivtsi city administration to give credit and
   recognition for contributions to the town by our ancestors,
   we need to be careful how we approach them, in order not to make this
   into an adversarial situation.

2. We need to see this from their point of view. How will they benefit
   from acknowledging the Jewish contribution to the development and
   character of the town?
   (My own answer to this is: increased tourism and beneficial publicity.
   Possibly international assistance in restoring and maintaining historical
   buildings and monuments.)

3. Since they are likely to be both ill-informed and less interested in
   the contributions of the Jewish former residents, we need to give them
   a list of specifics the city can boast about.

4. It is a fact that Czernowitz had more of an ethnic mix and better
   relations between them all than most other towns of Eastern Europe
   and that alone is cause for celebration - and celebration by a large
   diversity of Europeans, North and South Americans, etc., who have roots
   in the town. While the current city administration might balk at
   singling out the Jewish contribution, they certainly would see the
   advantage of making this a celebration which would attract the
   descendants of the various ethnic groups which once made up
   the population of Czernowitz.

   There is a German American club of descendants of Germans from Bukovina.
   whom we could ask to join us in asking the city administration to
   acknowledge the minorities who once made up the population of Czernowitz.
   (Never mind that at one time we were a majority.)

   Similarly we can ask Polish genealogical societies, Romanians and
   Hungarians, whether Jewish or Catholic, Romanian or Russian Orthodox
   to join us.
 
I think Andy's reasoning, conclusions and suggestions are very valid.
Please respond to this e-mail by writing to the Cz.-List with your own
consent or disagreement and further specific suggestions.

Hag Sameach,

Mimi
Received on 2007-09-26 19:32:50