RE: [Cz-L] Land of Bakshish.

Hardy...I do not know what Natalya Shevchenko said...but I do know that in
Romania currently they refer to Traian Popovici as "the Romanian Schindler".
Cornel

-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-5753766-8441035_at_list.cornell.edu
[mailto:bounce-5753766-8441035_at_list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of HARDY BREIER
Sent: 08 May 2010 06:20
To: CZERNOWITZ-L
Subject: [Cz-L] Land of Bakshish.

Natalya Shevchenko declaration on Traian Popovici inclusion into the
Czernowitz Jewish History museum :

"Then we have Traian Popovici, in whom you are all so interested," Natalya
continued. "What are we supposed to do with him? Was he a Wallenberg or
a Schindler? I think he sold the permits to stay in the city for a lot of
money.
I suspect he was a pragmatist, not a humanitarian. "

 To this I say:
 In order to "sell" the permits he had to get them first.
 For this ,it is rumored, he went to Bucharest and met Queen Mother Elena
  and recruited her for his action. Was she also part of the "plot"?
  Then he went to the Mitropolit of Bucharest and Mr. Filderman the
  Jewish magnat , to influence Antonescu to change his mind.
   Were all of them in the know ? Did all of them get their share ?
    Popovici must have been a master mind.
       Selling 20,000 permits he must have made a lot of money !

      Or, strange as it seems, was he just a humanitarian of Rumanian origin

?

    Of course there was money involved in the permit issuing operation.
     Dont forget Bukovina lies in the East and the Bakshish (bribe) belongs
      to the local tradition.
        Brought by the Turks it caught roots and prevails until now.
     Every petty official had to be bribed .
        Even today at the border crossing you stash some money in your
    passport to enhance swift handling.
        If you dont you will wait.

           Hardy

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Received on 2010-05-08 20:37:52