[Cz-L] Regarding cemetery restoration/preservation

Dear Czernowitzers:

In a private email to Mimi Taylor, I started to give some more
thought to the subject of Czernowitz cemetery restoration and repair.
Mimi suggested that I share some of these thoughts with you, so here
goes:

*****

Melita Fuhrman Vickter started organizing an effort to restore the
Cz. cemetery in 2004 utilizing the services of the non profit
organization, the Heritage Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish
Cemeteries. Sufficient funds couldn't be raised, and in a nutshell,
she turned her efforts over to the Bukowina Jews World Union where
Mr. Andy Rosengarten <andy100_at_bezeqint.net> is charged with the
effort. Seems like he should be the first point of contact. Perhaps
someone can contact him for an update and let us know where his
efforts stand?

Another suggestion is to contact Sam Gruber of the International
Survey of Jewish Monuments not far from me in Syracuse, NY.
http://www.isjm.org/ Sam's family hails from Radauti and his sister
Ruth Ellen Gruber wrote the book "Jewish Heritage Travel" years ago,
featuring a few pages about Radauti. He can advise on techniques for
preservation and is getting involved with Bondy Stenzler and Alex
Rath who are working with a team from around the world to repair and
restore the Radauti Jewish Cemetery. Sam is extremely knowledgeable
regarding preservation issues, and, for instance, tells us that
weeding too well around a monument can loosen the soil, and destroy
the roots that are stabilizing the area, causing stones to lean and
topple. Sam can be contacted here: <sdgruber_at_syr.edu>. He is also
a cousin of our list member Rae Barent. Perhaps Sam could advise us
how to get international organizations to fund this effort, as it is
rare to find such an untouched cemetery of such size.

*****

Well, that's my two cents for the moment!

Bruce Reisch
Geneva, New York
Received on 2005-08-27 14:28:32