Re: [Cz-L] My Report

Dear Arthur,

Your report has brought back sad memories of my own return to
Czernowitz, to the village of Milie looking for my grandfather's
grave, and to Bershad/ Transnistria in 1988, where my parents and
brother perished. I described all the details in the last chapter of
my book, "Ruth's Journey."

Although you don't mention the emotional toll this return to "hell"
took on you (most men don't)I am sure it was heart breaking and
depressing.

I hope it brought some closure.

Best,

Ruth

Ruth Glasberg Gold

20191 E Country Club Dr, #1802

Aventura, FL 33180 USA

T 305.936.9494

F 305.936.9992

email: glasgold_at_bellsouth.net

From: Arthur von Czernowitz <vonczernowitz_at_yahoo.com>
To: Czernowitz List <Czernowitz-L_at_cornell.edu>
Sent: Sat, August 28, 2010 11:54:14 AM
Subject: [Cz-L] My Report

I have just returned home from Czernowitz, via Bucharest and Frankfurt.

I was the first to arrive at the Magnat Lux, Mimi and Christian
arrived the second day, Cornel and his wife arrived on my last day in
Czernowitz.

http://picasaweb.google.com/vonczernowitz2/CzernowitzAugust2010#

Searching for my grandfather's grave.
I hired Leonid, who came highly recommended to find my grandfathers grave.
I gave Leonid the picture of the headstone and the map where the
grave is located. He told me that the price would be $120.00 for
just finding the grave, the clearing of the vegetation would be
extra. As I gave him the map and a picture of the grave, all that he
had to do was to clear the area.
I called him every evening for 6 days and every time he had a
different excuse for why he was not looking for my grandfather's
grave. Finally I asked him to return my papers. The next day he
brought the papers and later I meet Dr. Bursuk, who told me that he
is going to help me and to meet him the next day at the cemetery. He
arrived at the cemetery the next day with a worker and his wife, but
when they saw area 25 where my grandfather's grave is located, he
told me that this area will be cleared next and they left.
Later the girls from SVIT volunteers arrived and they decided to help
me. I went over to area 25 with Katerina and Susana from Czech
Republic she had a sickle and was cutting and bending the vegetation,
so I could go through. I was walking behind them bend over and
looking at old headstones, which are in a very bad condition covered
with vines and creepers. Area 25 had headstones from the year 1909,
the year when my grandfather passed away, but I just could not find
his. It was very hot; I had scratches all over my arms and burns
from nettles. Finally I had to give up waiting for Dr. Bursuk to
clear the area.

Advise: do not hire Leonid, he is bad news, there are other people in
cemetery who are more honest.

The volunteers from SVIT were terrific, enthusiastic and helpful.
Check out the Picasa web:
http://picasaweb.google.com/vonczernowitz2/SVITVolunteers#

Transnistria.
I was finally able to close the circle.
I hired a car and driver ($250.00) to take me to the place where we
were deported, the place is called BUDY. The car took 7 hours to get
there, but during the deportation we walked and it took us 2 months.
We stayed there until the spring of 1942.
I was looking for a mass grave and a cowshed where we spend the first
winter. We shared this cowshed with many people, and I remember the
hunger and the cold.
There I remember losing my mother, who was 30 years old while I was 4.
I WILL NOT FORGIVE.

I started to search for old people who remembered the war and the
Jews who were deported there. I was told that in the field there is
an old woman with a cow who could tell me the place where we lived.
I walked over to the field, no woman and no cow. Again I asked
people, they told to go over to the local park and there I would find
an old man who usually sits under a tree and smokes, I walked over
there, no old man but lots of cigarettes buts. After about an hour I
found a young man who took me to the place. As soon as I saw the
cowshed I knew that I was in right place. The young man told me that
a few years ago; people came from Israel and placed a memorial stone
over the mass grave. The stone since then had disappeared. Standing
near the mass grave, I was finally able to say Kadish for my mother.

http://picasaweb.google.com/vonczernowitz2/BUDY#

Arthur

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Received on 2010-08-30 12:32:14