From Chernivtsi to Kolomiya via Zabolotiv

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries

April 30. Our time in Chernivtsi (Czernowitz) comes to an end. We have to say Goodbye to the city and to dear friends. The second part of our journey begins. On the way back through Galicia are Zabolotiv (Zablotow) and Kolomiya our first stops.

Galician roads

Zabolotiv – town’s center

Zabolotiv – Jewish cemetery

Zabolotiv – monument for Manes Sperber

Zabolotiv – Polish cemetery

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The Lost Synagogues of Chernivtsi – A Correction

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Northern Bukovina, Synagogues

April 29. My fellow travelers and I have time to stroll through the streets of Chernivtsi (Czernowitz). As always, it is wonderful to be here. In October last year I wrote about the lost synagogues of the city. Berti Glaubach then made me aware of an error. Now I have a chance to correct my mistake.

Stangerische Shil

The green house – not a synagogue

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A trip through Bukovina

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Jewish Cemeteries, Northern Bukovina

April 28. We drive through Bukovina: Storozhynets, Davidivka, Vyzhnytsia and Vashkivtsi. We are in search of the traces of a Bukovinian celebrity – Joseph Schmidt. And of course, there is a lot along the way to see.

Storozhynets – Jewish cemetery

Davidivska

Vyzhnytsia – Jewish cemetery

Vashkivtsi – Jewish cemetery

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From Galicia to Bukovina

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Synagogues

April 26. Chortkiv is our last stop in Galicia, a former center of Hasidism. Then we travel further south, into the Bukovina and towards Chernivtsi (former Czernowitz).

Chrortkiv – Hasidic synagogue

Chrortkiv – market

Chrortkiv – synagogue next to the market

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From Berezhani to Chortkiv

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia

April 25. We travel further through Eastern Galicia. Berezhani, Pidhaitsi, Buchach, Chortkiv – remains of synagogues, cemeteries and rabbinical courts.

Berezhani – market square

Berezhani – Jewish cemetery

Berezhani – tour with the students from the local orphanage

Berezhani – Great Synagogue

Pidhaitsi – Jewish cemetery

Pidhaitsi – Jewish cemetery, mass grave

Pidhaitsi – Jewish cemetery

Pidhaitsi – synagogue

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From Brody to Berezhani

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries, Synagogues

April 24. Zigzag through Galicia: From Brody via Zolochiv, Pidhirzhi and Rohatyn to Berezhani. On the way are spectacular monuments – but also very sad places.

Brody – Joseph Roth’s Gymnasium

Pidhirzhi

Zolochiv

Rohatyn – old cemetery

Rohatyn – new cemetery

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From Lviv to Brody via Busk

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries

Our first day of travel on the roads of Galicia. We want to start things slowly. From Lviv to Brody is 80 kilometers. In between, we will make a stop in Busk. In both places we are mainly interested in the Jewish cemeteries.

Busk – Jewish cemetery

Brody – synagogue

Brody – Jewish cemetery

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Landscape after a Genocide

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia

Next to the village of Lysynychi – now a suburb of Lviv (Lwow, Lemberg) – tens of thousands of people were murdered by the SS and their helpers. No one knows how many. The numbers vary between 50,000 and 200,000. The victims were mainly Jews, but also members of the Polish resistance, Russian prisoners of war and thousands of Italian soldiers who were massacred by the Germans after the capitulation of Italy. Does something commemorate these crimes and their victims in the forest of Lysynychi? Today I was there.

Lysynychi – possible mass graves

Lysynychi – view down to the former camp

Lysynychi – asphalt factory

Lysynychi – small white flowers

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The Leather Suitcase

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Northern Bukovina

This is a poem by Tom Berman, the great-grandson of Lazar Igel, the first Rabbi of the Czernowitz Temple. Tom died a few days ago in the Galapagos islands; it was a life-long dream of him to go there. Tom survived Nazi dictatorship over huge parts of Europe through the “Kindertransport” to England. His family was erased. The poem reflects this. Tom immigrated to Israel and became an internationaly known scientist. He survived the time of persecution by 68 years.

Tomb of Lazar Igel at Czernowitz Jewish cemetery

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Travel Plans are almost complete

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Northern Bukovina

From April 21 to May 5 I go to Ukraine again. With me are two good friends, an old camera, a bunch of black and white films, a lot of travel plans and one of the most terrible books I have ever read. I hope to report from the trip while traveling. Do you have recommendations?