From Bukovina to Bessarabia

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Christian Herrmann under Bessarabia, Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries, Northern Bukovina

Yesterday, we followed the traces of the Hasidic courts in Bukovina and neighbouring Galicia. We have been to the towns of Sadgora, Kuty and Vyzhnytsia – and the day before we saw how the renovation of the magnificent mortuary of Chernivtsi cemetery makes progress. Today, we went on to Bessarabia in the Republic of Moldova. Lipcani and Briceni were on our way to Bălţi, where we are right now. Now, in spring the Jewish cemeteries are beautiful enchanted gardens. Here are some photo impressions.

Mortuary at Chernivtsi Jewish cemetery

Monument for psychoanalyst and writer Manes Sperber in Zabolotiv

Kuty Jewish cemetery

Vyzhnytsia Jewish cemetery

Lipcani Jewish cemetery

Briceni Jewish cemetery

Continue reading →

Exploring Chernivtsi with Friends and Volunteers

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Christian Herrmann under Northern Bukovina, Synagogues

Both, SVIT Ukraine and Action Reconciliation for Peace have started their annual clean-up in the Jewish cemetery of Chernivtsi (Czernowitz). Despite the hot weather the volunteers bravely remove the rampant vegetation of the cemetery. Being with them is a good pretext to stroll through the beautiful city.

Cemetery clean-up in Chernivtsi (Czernowitz)

Chernivtsi (Czernowitz) – Choral Synagogue, now a gym

Chernivtsi (Czernowitz) – old Jewish quarter

Chernivtsi (Czernowitz) – synagogue in the old Jewish quarter

Chernivtsi (Czernowitz) – murals in the Groisse Shil

Chernivtsi (Czernowitz) – door decoration in the old Jewish quarter

Chernivtsi (Czernowitz) – old Jewish quarter

Mimi Taylor

Sadagora – renovated synagogue of the Hasidic court

Continue reading →

To Sadagora with the Volunteers

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Christian Herrmann under Jewish Cemeteries, Northern Bukovina, Synagogues

The volunteers of SVIT Ukraine continued their work in the Jewish cemetery in Chernivtsi (Czernowitz) today. It is hard physical work and after a five hours work-day all were exhausted. But the work-camp is not only about work; it is also about experiencing the multi-ethnic past and present of Bukovina. Today we went to Sadagora – once an important Hasidic court.

Czernowitz Jewish cemetery – volunteers at work

Czernowitz Jewish cemetery – Sylvia de Swaan and Arthur Rindner

Czernowitz Jewish cemetery – Arthur Rindner praying at the grave of his grandfather

Czernowitz Jewish cemetery

Sadagora Hasidic court

Sadagora Jewish cemetery

The volunteers with Arthur

Continue reading →

Meeting the volunteers

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Christian Herrmann under Northern Bukovina

Today I have met the volunteers of SVIT Ukraine who work in the Jewish cemetery of Chernivtsi (Czernowitz), to clear it of rampant vegetation. It is a miracle that this workcamp takes place. Many people are afraid to come to Ukraine because of the war in the east of the country. And SVIT faced big challenges. The organization has its headquarters in Artemovsk, which was temporarily occupied by “separatists”. The infrastructure had to be moved to Kharkiv, bank accounts registered in Artemovsk were temporarily closed. The by Russia stirred up war has an impact on Ukrainian civil society and on the opportunities of young people for international exchange.

Arthur Rindner with his girlfriend Rina in front of the house where he was born

At the market

With the volunteers in Sadagora

Synagogue of the Sadagora rabbi

The volunteers with Edgar Hauster

Continue reading →

A Church and a Synagogue come to Life again

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Jewish Cemeteries, Northern Bukovina

Our penultimate day in Chernivtsi (Czernowitz). I show my friends Ingo and Sabine the upper part of the city, which they do not know yet. We make interesting discoveries at the Sacred Heart Church (Herz Jesu Kirche). In the afternoon we meet with the volunteers who work at the Jewish cemetery for a trip to Sadhora (Sadagora). There are good news from Sadagora.

Czernowitz – Herz Jesu Kiche

Sadagora – Jewish cemetery – Ohel of the Friedman family

Sadagora – Jewish cemetery

Sadagora – Hasidic court

Continue reading →

Galicia and Bukovina in Black and White (2)

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Eastern Galicia, Jewish Cemeteries, Northern Bukovina, Synagogues

Here it is, the second half of the selection of black and white photos from the trip through Galicia and Bukovina in April and May 2013. The journey finally comes to an end and something new starts.

Ivano-Frankivsk – Jewish cemetery

Kalush – Jewish cemetery

Kuty – Jewish cemetery

Lysynychi – mass grave site

Nadvirna – Jewish cemetery

Pidhaitsi – synagogue

Pidhaitsi – Jewish cemetery

Rohatyn – old Jewish cemetery

Rohatyn – new Jewish cemetery

Continue reading →

Silence in the Rabbi’s Residence

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Christian Herrmann under Northern Bukovina, Synagogues

In 2006 I was for the first time in Sadagora (Sadhora in Ukrainian). Since then I have returned almost every year. The formerly independent community is now a suburb of Czernowitz (Chernivtsi) and was up to the Romanian and German occupation, the home of a Hasidic rabbinical dynasty and its followers. What remained is a cemetery, the synagogue of the rabbi of Sadagora and his residence. Do these spots of commemoration have a future?