Belz and Burshtyn in Black and White

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries, Synagogues

It was a short trip in early June to Galicia – only three days. But enough to explore Belz and Burshtyn and to take pictures. Today I received the scanned black-and-white films and made a first selection. Here are the results. I have not yet decided which shots I will add to the two photo exhibitions in September. What are your favorites?

Belz, Jewish cemetery

Burshtyn, Jewish cemetery

Belz synagogues

Behind the Flowered Hills

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries, Synagogues

The ride from Lviv (Lemberg, Lwow) to Burshtyn is wonderful. On the Galician hills poppy florishes blood red, our marshrutka (mini bus) passes horse-drawn carts, cows stroll on the road and over all storks are circling – writing enigmatic signs in the sky. Burshtyn, that is in Yiddish and Ukrainian amber. Two synagogues and a Jewish cemetery are preserved.

Burshtyn – synagogue

Burshtyn – Jewish cemetery

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A Galician Microcosm

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries

Today I was in Belz. The usual bumpy roads and courageous marshrutka (mini bus) drivers. That alone does not make a story. But Belz turnes out to be unusually beautiful and interesting. Although the town is so small that one can walk through it in no time, it offers many traces of the rich heritage of Galicia. Ukrainian, Polish and Jewish traces.

Belz

Belz – a strange building from the Soviet periode

Belz

Belz – Christian Cemetery

Belz – Jewish Cemetery

Belz – Jewish Cemetery

Belz – old Jewish Cemetery

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Lviv today

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia

Since I was in Ukraine in February incredibly much happened. I witnessed the revolution. When I was back home, everything changed quickly. Russia annexed Crimea, Russian fighters are terrorizing the east of the country now. Ukrainians elected a new President. Now I’m back for a short trip of four days. My first impression: In Lviv, people desire nothing more than a piece of normality. And they celebrate this normality.