Miriam (Mimi) Taylor <mirtaylo_at_indiana.edu>
To all who have written about the inquiry from the Chernivtsi mayor
or one of his councilmen,
We should let them post information about the 600 year celebration
on the Cz.-List website. It will not do any harm, does not compromise
any of our principles and may help to establish cordial relationships.
As to hopes and demands that they do something in return, for the
cemetery, the Temple, renaming of streets and such, forget it.
During my recent visit to Chernivtsi, as well as on previous visits,
I met and had dealings with local people, who by all standards, were
decent, honest, friendly and showed sympathy. On no occasion did I
experience any behavior indicating Anti-Semitism. I could tell you
of a number of particularly friendly encounters.
But we are not high on the list of priorities of the local people or
the city government and my dealings were with ordinary people, not
with government officials and I was not making any special demands.
Hardy writes: "This is our town just as much as it is theirs
(if not more)", Yes, BUT they live in it and we do not.
What incentive do they have to do what we would like? Who are we,
what power do we exercise and what reward do we offer? Do not
waste your hopes and energies. If someone is to exert pressure and
achieve results, it has to be UNESCO Preservation of World Heritage
or some other very large and powerful organization. Possibly an
organization which deals with the restitution of Jewish properties.
I do not have the time to do the necessary research, to find out
under what circumstances any of these organizations would plead
our case and get involved.
Is there anyone who would undertake to do this?
Mimi
-snip-
Received on 2006-07-14 12:18:41
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.2.0 : 2007-01-25 09:41:35 PST