Re: [Cz-L] Chernivtsi, Ukraine

Dear Bruce and Maita,

I fully agree with this concept of having some recognition of the very
important Jewish
presence in Czernowitz shown as part of the 600th Anniversary celebrations
next year.

In Sejny, Suwalki gubernia of northern Poland, there exists the
Borderland/Pogranicze
Foundation, founded in 1990. It recognizes the large percentage of Jews
that inhabited
the surrounding region before WWII, as well as all the other ethnic groups
who lived there.
It serves as a museum and learning center, with classes for young students,
an art gallery
and studio, a library and a yearly Klezmer concert, even featuring New York
Klezmer musicians.
Sejny's population is 5,000, considerably smaller than that of Czernowitz.

In short - if they can do this, then something can and should be done in
Czernowitz, albeit
on a smaller scale. It's definitely worth planning for and making it
happen.

Best regards,
Merle Kastner
Montreal



----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Reisch" <bir1_at_nysaes.cornell.edu>
To: <Czernowitz-L_at_cornell.edu>
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Cz-L] Chernivtsi, Ukraine


> Dear Maita:
>
> As I've written directly to you, I'm very glad you found us and that we've
> found you. I'm sure our group will be most interested in helping you.
> We've discussed our interest in having some recognition of the Jewish
> contribution to the history of the city during the 600th Anniversary
> celebrations next year. Some group members have been in direct contact
> with City Councilor Volodymyr Kylynych on this subject. We have been
> doubtful that the city would do much to recognize it's place as a center
> of multiculturalism and tolerance in the past, with very significant
> Jewish contributions at all levels, but your email gives us hope.
>
> I don't pretend to speak for everyone in the group, but when you ask
> whether our group is interested in the German speaking Jews, or Yiddish
> speaking Jews, I would say "all Jews", many of whom spoke multiple
> languages. There were many who moved from Galicia to Bukovina, and other
> parts of Romania into Bukovina. There were/are Russian/Ukrainian speaking
> Jews. To me, our interest is in ALL Jews, no matter what language they
> spoke. There was a Jewish presence in Czernowitz from hundreds of years
> ago, and this presence dramatically increased during the Austrian period.
> A Jewish exhibit focusing on relics of the past, and even tying them to
> the holocaust through the present, would be a wonderful contribution to
> the 600th Anniversary celebration. I'm sure other ethnic groups
> (Romanians, Germans, Hutsuls, Gypsies, Ruthenians etc.) would warrant
> appropriate levels of attention as well, since Czernowitz was truly once a
> multicultural community.
>
> Thank you again for your interest,
>
> Bruce
>
 - snip -
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Received on 2007-11-30 00:38:35