From Chernivtsi to Chernivtsi

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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4 thoughts on “From Chernivtsi to Chernivtsi

  1. 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.

  2. 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

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