From Chernivtsi to Chernivtsi

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Christian Herrmann under Jewish Cemeteries, Podolia

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.

Mohyliv-Podilskyi – synagogue

Mohyliv-Podilskyi – market

Mohyliv-Podilskyi – Jewish cemetery

Sylvia de Swaan

Mohyliv-Podilskyi – Jewish cemetery

Chernivtsi (Podolia) – Jewish cemetery

Chernivtsi (Podolia) – abandoned house

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In Transnistria

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Christian Herrmann under Jewish Cemeteries, Podolia, Synagogues

Transnistria was a Romanian deportation zone for Jews and Gypsies during the war. Thousands died of typhus, inhuman working conditions, of hunger or were shot. My fellow traveler Sylvia was here more than 70 years ago when she was a little girl. Today we explored some places in Transnistria – now part of Podolia in Ukraine.

Nemiriv – mass grave

Bratslav synagogue

Bratslav Jewish cemetery

Tulchyn Jewish cemetery

Tulchyn – former ghetto

Cariera de Piatra

Mykhailivka – site of former concentration camp

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Into Podolia

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries, Podolia

Vasyl, our great driver, brought Sylvia and me to Vinnytsia in Podolia today. On the way we have taken a look on the Jewish cemetery of Ternopil and have visited Medzhybizh – the place where the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism, was buried. A magic place.

Ternopil Jewish cemetery

Medzhybizh Castle

Medzhybizh – reconstructed Beit Midrash of the Baal Shem Tov

Medzhybizh – Jewish cemetery – tomb of the Baal Shem Tov

Medzhybizh – Jewish cemetery

Medzhybizh – Jewish cemetery – tomb of the Baal Shem Tov

Medzhybizh – Jewish cemetery

Medzhybizh – Jewish cemetery – tomb of the Baal Shem Tov

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Plans For June

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Christian Herrmann under Podolia

From June 5 to 15 I will travel in Ukraine again. Together with my friend Sylvia de Swaan I will thereby explore an area that is unknown to most people. However, those who have heard of Transnistria, think of the place with horror.

Travel locations in Transnistria

1. Bratslav, 2. Tulchyn, 3. Cariera de Piatra, 4. Mykhailivka, 5. Chernivtsi, 6. Mohyliv-Podilskyi

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A Journey in Black and White

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries, Northern Bukovina, Podolia, Synagogues

My journey in February through Western Ukraine – through Galicia, Bukovina and Podolia – was another opportunity to take more photos for two exhibitions in autumn. Here is a first selection, including images from Lviv (Lemberg, Lwow), Sokal, Velyki Mosty, Zhovkva, Staryi Sambir, Ternopil, Sataniv and Chernivtsi (Czernowitz). What are your favorites?

Sokal, synagogue

Velyki Mosty, synagogue

Sokal, remains of the Jewish cemetery

Staryi Sambir, Jewish cemetery

Staryi Sambir, synagogue

Zhovkva, trace of a mezuzah

Lviv (Lemberg, Lwow), remains of the Jewish cemetery

Ternopil (Tarnopol), Jewish cemetery

Sataniv, Jewish cemetery

Chernivtsi (Czernowitz), Jewish cemetery

A first trip to Podolia

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Jewish Cemeteries, Podolia, Synagogues

Writing is difficult for me today. More than 20 people have been killed in Kiev yesterday, the special police forces continue to besiege Maidan, the center of protests. It is impossible to ignore. Unfortunately I can not do more than express my solidarity with the brave Ukrainians, who are fighting against a corrupt and criminal government, and to report on what I see and experience. That’s why I hold on to my travel plans. Today I was in Sataniv.