A last Tale to tell

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Synagogues

During the last days I have reported on the recent trip to Jewish heritages sites in Ukraine and Moldova from February 28 to March 6. As it is somehow unconnected to the rest of the journey, I did so far not write about the day of my arrival, February 27, when my dear friend Katharina and I explored the remains of Zichron Josef Synagogue in Lviv.

Zichron Josef synagogue, Lviv

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Vyshnivets and Kremenets

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries, Synagogues

March 6, was the last day of our one week journey through Galicia, Podolia and Bessarabia – Ukraine and Moldova. Actually, it was only a half day as I had to be at Lviv airport at 2 pm to fly home. We got up early to visit Vyshnivets and Kremenets with its Jewish heritage sites – places that were already on our itinerary since the last trip in December 2018.

Vyshnivets – former Great synagogue

Vyshnivets – Old Jewish Cemetery

Vyshnivets – New Jewish Cemetery

Kremenets Jewish cemetery

Kremenets – former synagogue, now a bus station

Take off from Lviv airport

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All the Way back

Posted on March 11, 2019 by Christian Herrmann under Bessarabia, Jewish Cemeteries, Podolia, Synagogues

March 5, was nearly the last day of our one week trip through Ukraine and Moldova. Coming from Sharhorod, we bridged 400 kilometers at that day until we reached Ternopil in the evening – with Jewish heritage sites in Sharhorod, Luchynets and Khotyn on our way.

Sharhorod – Old Jewish Cemetery

Sharhorod – New Jewish Cemetery

Luchynets Jewish cemetery

Khotyn synagogue

Khotyn – former Great Synagogue

Khotyn – New Jewish Cemetery

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A Day of Miracles

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Christian Herrmann under Bessarabia, Jewish Cemeteries, Podolia, Synagogues

We returned from Moldova to Ukraine on March 4. It was truly a day of miracles. We saw the stunning Jewish cemeteries of Edineț, Otaci, Chernivtsi (Podolia, not Bukovina) and Mohyliv-Podilsky. We found the synagogue in Chernivtsi, left behind by Jews leaving the former Soviet Union after 1991. In Sharhorod we talked to Hryhoriy Saulko, who wants to restaurate the magnificent synagogue of his hometown and already started to do.

Edineț Jewish cemetery

Otaci Jewish cemetery

Mohyliv-Podilsky Jewish cemetery

Chernivtsi (Podolia) Jewish cemetery

Chernivtsi (Podolia), former Jewish neighbourhood

Chernivtsi (Podolia), synagogue in the former Jewish neighbourhood

Sharhorod Great Synagogue

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In the north of Moldova

Posted on March 9, 2019 by Christian Herrmann under Bessarabia, Jewish Cemeteries

After our Transnistria trip the day before, our group moved further north. We stayed over night in Bălţi and visited the local Jewish cemetery in the morning of 3 March. It is the biggest in the north of Moldova. After a detour to Alexandreni – east of Bălţi – we headed further to Lipcani and Briceni to visit the Jewish cemeteries there.

Bălţi Jewish cemetery

Alexandreni Jewish cemetery

Briceni Jewish cemetery

Lipcani Jewish cemetery

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From Chişinău to Bălţi via Transnistria

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Christian Herrmann under Bessarabia, Jewish Cemeteries, Synagogues

On 2 March our little group continued the road trip through the Republic of Moldova. We headed east, crossed the Russian checkpoint near Dubăsari, and entered the internationally not recognized break away “republic” of Transnistria – rarely visited by western travelers. On our itinerary were Dubăsari and Raşcov before we crossed the “border” again to see the Jewish cemetery of Vadul Raşcov.

Dubăsari mass killing site – Soviet memorial

Dubăsari mass killing site – new memorial

Dubăsari Jewish cemetery

Dubăsari – former synagogue

Raşcov Hasidic court – former beit midrash

Raşcov Hasidic court – ruin of the synagogue

Raşcov Hasidic court – former Kloyz

Raşcov – new Jewish cemetery

Lenin is still up in Raşcov

Raşcov – old Jewish cemetery

Vadul Raşcov Jewish cemetery

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News from Chişinău Jewish cemetery

Posted on March 2, 2019 by Christian Herrmann under Bessarabia, Jewish Cemeteries

Since Thursday, 28 February, my friends Marla, Jay, Iryna, Anna, Vasyl and I are on the road again. Our 7 days trip through Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova has begun. We spent a day in Chişinău and from there are encouraging news – the last remaining Jewish cemetery of the city is undergoing restauration works.