Chernivtsi exists twice in Ukraine: in Podolia and Bukovina. There is the mundane Bukovinian provincial capital and the traditional Podolian town. Both are worth to visit.
We stayed overnight in Mohyliv-Podilskyi, a substantial town at the border with Moldova. The Jewish cemetery is quite large and in good condition. The small synagogue is located in a busy market district. We talked a bit with an elderly lady, learned about the daily concerns and needs of the community. Especially the older people are in need of assistance.
We drove a few kilometers eastward, to Chernivtsi. Who has suspected the city west of Mohyliv-Podilskyi, is also right. There are two Chernivtsi – the capital of Bukovina and a pretty little town in Podolia. The Podolian Chernivtsi had a large Jewish community, the size of the cemetery is a surprise. In the center are a couple of abandoned houses – once the home of Jewish families.
In the afternoon we were back on the road. Vasyl brought us to Czernowitz (Chernivtsi) in Bukovina – leaving Transnistria behind. Sylvia and I were a bit sentimental when we said good by to Vasyl – our driver and friend did a great job. Now we still have a few days left for Czernowitz.
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Somewhere in the Mogilev-Podolski cemetery lies my mom’s great-grandmother, who died young (her husband brought his motherless kids to Philadelphia, where a daughter died shortly after their arrival). It looks like there is a huge number of stones jumbled together. Are there any plans to transcribe them?
Thank you Jeanne Swack for you comment and for sharing your memories. I can’t say if there are any plans to transcribe the inscriptions of the gravestones. But they all have a number and obviously have been indexed.
Hi Christian
Quick question. I am in Vinnitsya at the minute and have found your post very helpful. Tomorrow I am going to Chernivtsi (Podolia) to find the graves of my family. I am trying to find out the exact location of the jewish cemetery so I can tell the driver where to go. Would you happen to know where it is? From google satellite imagery, I can tell there is on the south east and one on the south west. Any ideas?
Thanks so much!
Patricio
Patricio, I’m quite sure it is the one in the south east. We came via a small road from the town’s center and the cemetery was right hand from this road. Good luck with your search!