RE: [Cz-L] Reunion: where?

Hi Mimi,
I don't think that we can deny the antisemitic-Austrians,- but then I
doubt that they can compete with the antisemitic Ukrainians.Is one
history much better than another? Are the Poles much better,- yet we
have "The March of the Living" there.I don't know who AJS1PRES_at_aol.com
is, but obviously you,like Mimi and others have a strong affinity for
Czernowitz, which is fine,- but I cannot say that I share it to the same
extent.Helping the Jewish community there is fine also, but I am not for
proving anything to the Ukrainians, or Romaninas, or Poles or Austrians,
or any of them!

I visited Vienna some years ago only because I heard so much about it
from my mother. It was the highlight of her youth.All her wealthy aunts
and uncles lived there but luckily escaped by '39 to the States and some
cousins to England and one to Palestine with the kinder transport.

Interestingly, on our first tour of Vienna city, a young guide pointed
to a big residence with a flag in the center of town and asked if we
know who lives there. She then said, "that's where the fellow with the
lost memory lives- Kurt Waldheim". On a German-speakig walking tour of
the city,the older guide was tackled by a couple of German tourists
about the names of the streets, like "Juden Strasse",- wanting to know
if they changed all the Jewish names back after the war,- if they
didn't,- why not! On a second trip, I was determined to go on a boat
ride on the Danube. It was Sunday afternoon and a group of people were
drinking beer at one of the tables when all of a sudden they burst into
song, clinking their glasses and started to sing "L'chaim! L'chaim! Zum
leben,... etc." the whole song in German at the top of their voices!We
were convinced that they were not Jews.

It was the year when they were also celebrating 100years since Strauss
died (or was born?), so there was a big concert in the main square in
the city. Carreras was the star soloist and Zubin Mehta was the
conductor.It was an unforgettable night! The Jewish Museum is worth
visiting. Our small hotel (The Scweitzerhoff) was at the back of the
synagogue, but we didn't realise it at first. Saturday morning I watched
in amazement as a whole lot of chassidim were walking in the street. I
followed them and found the synagogue. They wouldn't let me in 'though,-
unannounced as I was, off the street!

Personally I shall always go back to Vienna if I get the opportunity,-
but we also travelled once through Berlin and Germany with our Israeli
cousins, because my husband was determined to see where it all started,-
but I have no desire to go back there,- ever again.

It does not bother me where anyone wants to meet with anyone else,-but I
need to go to my home town Botosani, just over the border in Romania's
Moldova, if I go anywhere near Czernowitz (Ciudin as well).Israel we
visit nearly every year and I am happy to meet up with anone there at
any time. We were there last year in November, but at the moment we have
no further specific plans .
Anyway,as Cornel wrote,- those who want to meet first in Vienna will do
so,- at least we can speak the lingo! Those who want to visit Czernowitz
will do so as well or instead.
Please leave it to me for a little while longer, and I shall get back to
you aap with further suggestions.

Best regards,
Malvina Malinek
Melbourne.
Received on 2005-06-23 09:18:46