Re: The Massacre of Kyseliv on 07.07.1941 + Zastavna + Kitsman

Dear Edgar,

Warm thanks for visiting these sites, and for looking into what happened =
with the Kyseliv/Borivtsy monument, and also for the photos.=20

I have a few questions:

Did you have a chance to try to reach my main contact in the villages, =
Vasilena Ihorina Andrietz?
Did anyone with whom you spoke suggest who might have vandalized the =
monument, and why?=20
Do we know anything about the reaction of the village administration or =
the village priest, to this vandalism?
Did the pieces of the vandalized plates re-appear during your visit or =
beforehand?=20
Do you have any idea as to when, and by whom, the pieces of the =
vandalized plates were placed back on the stone?

Of course I agree with your observation regarding the importance of =
including villagers and local decision-makers in building and =
maintaining such monuments. I thought that I had such support from the =
village mayor who helped find the large red-stained stone for the =
monument, and from the villagers who came out to participate in the =
dedication in August 2001!=20

I would like to communicate with Ivan Solonenko, Orisa Kusniryuk, and =
Viktoriya Palagnyuk. However, at this stage, I have mixed feelings about =
reconstructing this personal monument. My inclination is to advocate for =
a larger-scale response, which would engage Jewish organizations, the =
German government and Ukrainian authorities - in Kyiv and at the =
regional and local levels - in a project to mark, consecrate and protect =
thousands of such mass grave sites across Ukraine. We Jews have an =
obligation to properly bury our dead. For contemporary Ukraine, this =
would be a much needed step in coming to terms with a painful past. The =
task and the challenges are great, but as stated in Pirkei Avot: "It is =
not incumbent upon you to finish the task. Yet, you are not free to =
desist from it."

Edgar, I am very grateful to you for undertaking this journey and much =
appreciate the reports on your blog. Are you considering writing a book =
on your experiences?

With very best regards,

Alti

On 2011-05-17, at 3:33 AM, Edgar Hauster wrote:

> Czernowitzers...
>=20
> Yesterday, during my ongoing motorcycle journey through Galicia and =
Bukovina, I visited Kyseliv, Zastavna and Kitsman. I'd like to draw your =
attention to three new posts, now online available at:
>=20
> http://hauster.blogspot.com/
>=20
> KYSELIV - Based on Jerome's posting of Alti Rodal's heart-touching =
report on the Massacre of Kyseliv on 07.07.1941, the erection of a =
monument and its subsequent destruction, apparently by local villagers
>=20
> =
http://hauster.blogspot.com/2011/05/das-massaker-von-kyseliv-am-7-juli-194=
1.html
>=20
> I visited Kyseliv in order to find out the actual status. The code =
word "Jewish Monument" evokes a conspiracy of silence. =46rom about 20 - =
mainly elderly - villagers, just one or maximum two of them were willing =
or able to comment on the monument. No doubt about, the monument is =
considered to be an alien element in this rural Ukrainian area.
>=20
> But finally, the amicable discussion, which I had with the General =
Secretary of Kyseliv, Ivan Solonenko and Orisa Kusniryuk, excellently =
assisted by Viktoriya Palagnyuk, the teacher of German, changed the =
first nagative impression. (Alti, I'll let you know Ivan's and =
Viktoriya's contact data by separate mail.) We ventilated the possible =
reconstruction of the monument, followed by a common visit to the site. =
And, as if by an invisible hand, some pieces of the vandalized plates =
reappeared!? That's a little bit encouraging, however, without including =
the villagers and the local decision makers, a sustainable =
reconstruction of the monument will fail.
>=20
> ZASTAVNA - Sorry, Dana, your assumption proves to be true. No traces =
to the Jewish tradition remained, except 1 (in words: ONE) single =
headstone resepectively memorial stone on the Jewish cemetery! Viktoriya =
Palagnyuk from Kyseliv may be the right person for you, to assist you in =
your researches. I'll ask her about her willingness in principle and let =
you know.
>=20
> KITSMAN - Prefabricated apartment block with children's playground and =
Jewish cemetery!
>=20
> Warmest wishes from Czernowitz!
>=20
> P.S. to all, who contacted me individually by mail: Please have a =
little bit patience, I'll come back to you as soon as possible, but it =
will take some time!
>=20
> Edgar Hauster
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Received on 2011-05-17 12:57:53