[Cz-L] The 600 years Chernivtsi celebration

Hi Folks!
I have a few additional information that might be of
interest.
1) While in Cz last May, I gave a lecture in French at
the University about my uncle Edy Wagner: I was
invited by the university professor for French,
heading the language section and also acting as
director of the local would be <Alliance Francaise>
So, I was there as a Frenchman born in Cz. He told me
that he tried to interest the French Ambassador (who
visited Cz a few weeks earlier) into the 600 years
celebration, but with little success. The problem is
that the city has/gets little public money for all the
refurbishment and preparation needed for the
celebration. By the way, I know this Ambassador from
my time in Cameroon: he won't do anything, unless it
doesn't cost him any money and he can get some
personal glory out of it. Clearly, the real issue
there is MONEY and attracting tourists from abroad.
2) The main synagogue in Kiev used to be a "puppet
theatre" during the soviet time. in 1999, some Jewish
organisation (I don't know which one, maybe the
Lubavich?), together with some rich ukrainian Jews,
took over the building and restored it. But they also
promised they would build a new <home> for the <puppet
theatre>: this has been done. Today, the synagogue is
again operational, there is a small kosher foodshop on
its right side and a luxurious kosher restaurant in
the back of the building, giving on another street.
Not far from the synagogue is a statue of Sholem
Aleihem, that used to be on another roundabout in
1999. And finally, the new and nice puppet theatre has
been built in a big garden about two metro stations
from there.
3) I know, from hear say, that quite a few <oligarks>
in Ukraine are from Jewish ascendance and do not hide
it anymore. Besides, many of them have strong
commercial/business relations with Israeli (and also
US) businessmen and politicians.
With these elements in mind, I consider that:
1) It doesn't harm to allow them, via our webmaster,
to let them do some (limited and correct) publicity on
the 600 years celebration. But we won't get much in
return, because we are the past, they are the present!
Our only argument is that the cemetery - which they
should normally keep clean - the synagogue, etc. are
important parts of Cz's history. But museums and
history do not earn a living, especially in a country
that is still having big economical (and political)
problems...
2) What could maybe help is to take up contact with
some cz-er or buk-ner who has connections with Isreali
or US businessmen or politicians, who themselves know
the Jewish oligarks I mentioned above. I don't know
any. Another possibility could be, as Mimi said, the
UNESCO... but who of us has contacts there?
Regards to all,
Charles

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Received on 2006-07-15 07:47:40