Taking the lead >from Ava Sweeney's posting of 30 Jan. 2001 re the Lithuania=20
site, I took it one step further and found:
http://www.calle.com/world/belarus/index.html
Maps of 17075 towns and cities in Belarus [not the greatest]
But -- Links to detailed info on many towns [excellent]
Here's an example:
<< Fonds of the organizations and formations taking part in the struggle=20
against occupation=20
NARB =E2=80=94 National Archives of the Republic of Belarus
Underground organizations and groups Baranovichi region
-- Patriotic underground group, the town of Baranovichi =E2=80=94 fond 4941=
, 2=20
items,=20
1971-1972=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Daneiki, Gorodishche=20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4931, 1 item, 1974-1980=20
-- Komsomol underground, Dyatlovo district =E2=80=94 fond 4905, 1 item, 194=
4-1977=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the town of Lida =E2=80=94 fond 4888, 3 item=
s,=20
1963-1981=20
-- Underground anti-fascist organization, the village of Mostytichi,=20
Gorodishche district =E2=80=94 fond 4826, 1 item, 1965=20
-- Underground anti-fascist organization, the town of Slonim =E2=80=94 fond=20=
4894, 2=20
items, 1975 =20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Traby, Yuratishki=20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4754, 2 items, 1943, 1961-1963 =20
Belostok region
-- Party-komsomol organization, the town of Grodno =E2=80=94 fond 4937, 4 it=
ems,=20
1942-1981=20
-- Underground anti-fascist organization, Skidel district =E2=80=94 fond 490=
0, 7=20
items,=20
1944-1982 =20
Brest region
-- Underground organization, the village of Grushevo, Antopol district =E2=
=80=94 fond=20
4368,=20
1 item, 1944=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Bluden, Bereza district=
=20
=E2=80=94 fond 4827, 1 item, 1965-1967=20
-- Underground anti-fascist organization, Kamenets district =E2=80=94 fond 4=
862, 5=20
items, 1971-1982=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Turnaya, Kobrin distric=
t=20
=E2=80=94 fond 4858, 2 items, 1971=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Sinkevichi, Luninets=20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4841, 3 items, 1961-1975=20
-- Komsomol-youth underground, Mir district =E2=80=94 fond 4890, 3 items, 19=
66-1975=20
-- Underground komsomol organizations, the Nizyany and Pavlovshchina=20
villages, Porozov district =E2=80=94 fond 4954, 1 item, 1980-1987=20
Puzhany district
-- Underground komsomol organization, Puzhany district =E2=80=94 fond 4956,=20=
1 item,=20
1994-1995=20
Vileika region
-- Patriotic underground group, the town of Braslav =E2=80=94 fond 4868, 2 i=
tems,=20
1970-1977=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the town of Vileika and the village of=20
Kurenets, Vileika district =E2=80=94 fond 4893, 5 items, 1966-1977=20
-- Underground komsomol group, the village of Glinnoe, Dokshitsy district=20=
=E2=80=94=20
fond 4926, 1 item, 1979-1980=20
-- Komsomol patriotic underground, the village of Lipniki, Postavy district=20=
=E2=80=94=20
fond 4887, 1 item, 1973-1974=20
Vitebsk region
-- Underground party and komsomol organizations, the village of Staiki,=20
Bogushevsk district =E2=80=94 fond 4869, 1 item, 1966-1973=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Ozerovo, Braslav distri=
ct
=E2=80=94 fond 4835, 2 items, 1967-1974=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Proshki, Verknedvinsk=20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4836, 2 items, 1959-1976=20
-- Underground komsomol group, the village of Sarya, Verkhnedvinsk district=20=
=E2=80=94=20
fond 4856, 2 items, 1968-1971=20
-- Underground party organization, the kolkhoz "Krasny artillerist" Vetrino=20
district
-- Underground patriotic group of D.P. Zemlyakova, Vitebsk region =E2=80=94=20=
fond=20
4878, 1 item, 1941-1974=20
-- Party-komsomol underground organization of the peat factory "Gorodnyansky=
=20
Mokh" in the village of Gorodnyansky Mokh, Vitebsk region =E2=80=94 fond 493=
30, 1 =20
item, 1978-1980=20
-- Underground party-komsomol group, the village of Novaya Tukhinya, Dubrovn=
o=20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4922, 2 items, 1945-1979=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, Lepel district =E2=80=94 fond 4942, 4 items,=20=
1944-1982=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the town of Orsha =E2=80=94 fond 4855, 40 ite=
ms,=20
1964-1974=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the urban village of Osveya, Verkhnedvinsk =20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4892, 2 items, 1971-1975 =20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the industrial village of Osintorf,=20
Dubrovno district =E2=80=94 fond 4886, 8 items, 1958-1977=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, Polotsk district =E2=80=94 fond 4896, 6 items=
,=20
1944-1983=20
-- Underground party-komsomol group, the village of Zaborye, Rossony distric=
t=20
=E2=80=94 fond 4842, 1 item, 1967-1970=20
-- Underground komsomol-patriotic group, the Vlasovo and Stukalino villages,=
=20
Surazh district =E2=80=94 fond 4881, 1 item, 1971-1977=20
-- Underground komsomol group, the village of Raskhodno, Senno district =E2=
=80=94=20
fond 4953, 1 item, 1985-1986=20
-- Komsomol-youth underground group, the village of Simaki, Senno district=20=
=E2=80=94=20
fond 4843, 1 item, 1969=20
-- Underground komsomol organization "Yunye mstityeli" (Young Avengers), the=
=20
village of Obol, Sirotino district =E2=80=94 fond 4895, 2 items, 1975-1981=20
-- Underground party group, Chashniki district =E2=80=94 fond 4852, 2 items,=
=20
1970-1972=20
-- Underground komsomol organization "Za Rodinu" (For Motherland), =20
Sharkovshchina district =E2=80=94 fond 4933, 1 item, 1944-1980=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the village of Rossony =E2=80=94 fond 4831, 1=
1 items,=20
1966-1977=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the village of Ushachi, Ushachi district =E2=
=80=94=20
fond 4889, 5 items, 1968-1975 >>
All this was at:
http://www.president.gov.by/gosarchives/evov/Ef18_borb.htm where there's=20
much more tantalizing information.
Try it! You'll like it!
B'shalom, Susan Koslowsky Pearlman, Northridge, California
Researching: JASKOLKA, MALETSKY, SCHEINMAN / SZEJNMAN, WISHNIATSKY

Taking the lead >from Ava Sweeney's posting of 30 Jan. 2001 re the Lithuania=20
site, I took it one step further and found:
http://www.calle.com/world/belarus/index.html
Maps of 17075 towns and cities in Belarus [not the greatest]
But -- Links to detailed info on many towns [excellent]
Here's an example:
<< Fonds of the organizations and formations taking part in the struggle=20
against occupation=20
NARB =E2=80=94 National Archives of the Republic of Belarus
Underground organizations and groups Baranovichi region
-- Patriotic underground group, the town of Baranovichi =E2=80=94 fond 4941=
, 2=20
items,=20
1971-1972=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Daneiki, Gorodishche=20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4931, 1 item, 1974-1980=20
-- Komsomol underground, Dyatlovo district =E2=80=94 fond 4905, 1 item, 194=
4-1977=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the town of Lida =E2=80=94 fond 4888, 3 item=
s,=20
1963-1981=20
-- Underground anti-fascist organization, the village of Mostytichi,=20
Gorodishche district =E2=80=94 fond 4826, 1 item, 1965=20
-- Underground anti-fascist organization, the town of Slonim =E2=80=94 fond=20=
4894, 2=20
items, 1975 =20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Traby, Yuratishki=20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4754, 2 items, 1943, 1961-1963 =20
Belostok region
-- Party-komsomol organization, the town of Grodno =E2=80=94 fond 4937, 4 it=
ems,=20
1942-1981=20
-- Underground anti-fascist organization, Skidel district =E2=80=94 fond 490=
0, 7=20
items,=20
1944-1982 =20
Brest region
-- Underground organization, the village of Grushevo, Antopol district =E2=
=80=94 fond=20
4368,=20
1 item, 1944=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Bluden, Bereza district=
=20
=E2=80=94 fond 4827, 1 item, 1965-1967=20
-- Underground anti-fascist organization, Kamenets district =E2=80=94 fond 4=
862, 5=20
items, 1971-1982=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Turnaya, Kobrin distric=
t=20
=E2=80=94 fond 4858, 2 items, 1971=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Sinkevichi, Luninets=20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4841, 3 items, 1961-1975=20
-- Komsomol-youth underground, Mir district =E2=80=94 fond 4890, 3 items, 19=
66-1975=20
-- Underground komsomol organizations, the Nizyany and Pavlovshchina=20
villages, Porozov district =E2=80=94 fond 4954, 1 item, 1980-1987=20
Puzhany district
-- Underground komsomol organization, Puzhany district =E2=80=94 fond 4956,=20=
1 item,=20
1994-1995=20
Vileika region
-- Patriotic underground group, the town of Braslav =E2=80=94 fond 4868, 2 i=
tems,=20
1970-1977=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the town of Vileika and the village of=20
Kurenets, Vileika district =E2=80=94 fond 4893, 5 items, 1966-1977=20
-- Underground komsomol group, the village of Glinnoe, Dokshitsy district=20=
=E2=80=94=20
fond 4926, 1 item, 1979-1980=20
-- Komsomol patriotic underground, the village of Lipniki, Postavy district=20=
=E2=80=94=20
fond 4887, 1 item, 1973-1974=20
Vitebsk region
-- Underground party and komsomol organizations, the village of Staiki,=20
Bogushevsk district =E2=80=94 fond 4869, 1 item, 1966-1973=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Ozerovo, Braslav distri=
ct
=E2=80=94 fond 4835, 2 items, 1967-1974=20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the village of Proshki, Verknedvinsk=20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4836, 2 items, 1959-1976=20
-- Underground komsomol group, the village of Sarya, Verkhnedvinsk district=20=
=E2=80=94=20
fond 4856, 2 items, 1968-1971=20
-- Underground party organization, the kolkhoz "Krasny artillerist" Vetrino=20
district
-- Underground patriotic group of D.P. Zemlyakova, Vitebsk region =E2=80=94=20=
fond=20
4878, 1 item, 1941-1974=20
-- Party-komsomol underground organization of the peat factory "Gorodnyansky=
=20
Mokh" in the village of Gorodnyansky Mokh, Vitebsk region =E2=80=94 fond 493=
30, 1 =20
item, 1978-1980=20
-- Underground party-komsomol group, the village of Novaya Tukhinya, Dubrovn=
o=20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4922, 2 items, 1945-1979=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, Lepel district =E2=80=94 fond 4942, 4 items,=20=
1944-1982=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the town of Orsha =E2=80=94 fond 4855, 40 ite=
ms,=20
1964-1974=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the urban village of Osveya, Verkhnedvinsk =20
district =E2=80=94 fond 4892, 2 items, 1971-1975 =20
-- Underground komsomol organization, the industrial village of Osintorf,=20
Dubrovno district =E2=80=94 fond 4886, 8 items, 1958-1977=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, Polotsk district =E2=80=94 fond 4896, 6 items=
,=20
1944-1983=20
-- Underground party-komsomol group, the village of Zaborye, Rossony distric=
t=20
=E2=80=94 fond 4842, 1 item, 1967-1970=20
-- Underground komsomol-patriotic group, the Vlasovo and Stukalino villages,=
=20
Surazh district =E2=80=94 fond 4881, 1 item, 1971-1977=20
-- Underground komsomol group, the village of Raskhodno, Senno district =E2=
=80=94=20
fond 4953, 1 item, 1985-1986=20
-- Komsomol-youth underground group, the village of Simaki, Senno district=20=
=E2=80=94=20
fond 4843, 1 item, 1969=20
-- Underground komsomol organization "Yunye mstityeli" (Young Avengers), the=
=20
village of Obol, Sirotino district =E2=80=94 fond 4895, 2 items, 1975-1981=20
-- Underground party group, Chashniki district =E2=80=94 fond 4852, 2 items,=
=20
1970-1972=20
-- Underground komsomol organization "Za Rodinu" (For Motherland), =20
Sharkovshchina district =E2=80=94 fond 4933, 1 item, 1944-1980=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the village of Rossony =E2=80=94 fond 4831, 1=
1 items,=20
1966-1977=20
-- Party-komsomol underground, the village of Ushachi, Ushachi district =E2=
=80=94=20
fond 4889, 5 items, 1968-1975 >>
All this was at:
http://www.president.gov.by/gosarchives/evov/Ef18_borb.htm where there's=20
much more tantalizing information.
Try it! You'll like it!
B'shalom, Susan Koslowsky Pearlman, Northridge, California
Researching: JASKOLKA, MALETSKY, SCHEINMAN / SZEJNMAN, WISHNIATSKY

My recent note had no address, so I would like to post it again:

He / She, who wrote that subject, and is searching TIKOCHINSKI:
I lost your e-mail and have no details, please contact me privately, since
I think that I can contact you to a possible cousin of yours.

Best regards. Udi Cain.
chaikin@...

and I have learned that the M here stood for some form of
Mattus (or Mattis) I am not sure of the spelling, just the pronunciation.

This is a diminuitive of Matisyahu - which is the source of the name
Matthew.

Israel Pickholtz

and I have learned that the M here stood for some form of
Mattus (or Mattis) I am not sure of the spelling, just the pronunciation.

This is a diminuitive of Matisyahu - which is the source of the name
Matthew.

Israel Pickholtz

My recent note had no address, so I would like to post it again:

He / She, who wrote that subject, and is searching TIKOCHINSKI:
I lost your e-mail and have no details, please contact me privately, since
I think that I can contact you to a possible cousin of yours.

Best regards. Udi Cain.
chaikin@...

In the 2/23/01 Digest Joseph Simpson asks about the name Mattis. One good
possibility would be Mattityahu which would have been pronounced Matissyahu
in the Litvak Yiddish spoken in Belarus. A diminutive form could have been
Mattis.
Adar Belinkoff
Claremont, CA

In the 2/23/01 Digest Joseph Simpson asks about the name Mattis. One good
possibility would be Mattityahu which would have been pronounced Matissyahu
in the Litvak Yiddish spoken in Belarus. A diminutive form could have been
Mattis.
Adar Belinkoff
Claremont, CA

I have recently learned that one of my uncles made a return visit to Russia
shortly after immigrating. He immigrated in Jan., 1904 and was back in
Gomel, Belarus in the fall of 1905 and returned to the US probably in 1906.
Does anyone know if that was easy to do? What kind of documents would he be
travelling under? Would he have had any trouble re-entering Russia? When he
returned to the US would he have had to go through Ellis Island again? How
common was it to return to Europe for a visit? How could I find evidence of
his return to the US? Thanks for your help.
Adar Belinkoff
Claremont, CA
Researching: BELINKOFF >from Gomel, Israel, Youngstown and Los Angeles;
CHARNAK >from Gomel, Ukraine, Youngstown and Philadelphia;
MAGIDSON >from Gomel, Youngstown and New York;
KLEINERT or Klein >from Gomel(?)
PINTCHUK >from Tomaszov Mazieowecki, Youngstown & Cleveland;
NUMBERG >from Lomza and Chicago;
GOLDER (GOLDFARB) >from Ostrolenka and Chicago.

I have recently learned that one of my uncles made a return visit to Russia
shortly after immigrating. He immigrated in Jan., 1904 and was back in
Gomel, Belarus in the fall of 1905 and returned to the US probably in 1906.
Does anyone know if that was easy to do? What kind of documents would he be
travelling under? Would he have had any trouble re-entering Russia? When he
returned to the US would he have had to go through Ellis Island again? How
common was it to return to Europe for a visit? How could I find evidence of
his return to the US? Thanks for your help.
Adar Belinkoff
Claremont, CA
Researching: BELINKOFF >from Gomel, Israel, Youngstown and Los Angeles;
CHARNAK >from Gomel, Ukraine, Youngstown and Philadelphia;
MAGIDSON >from Gomel, Youngstown and New York;
KLEINERT or Klein >from Gomel(?)
PINTCHUK >from Tomaszov Mazieowecki, Youngstown & Cleveland;
NUMBERG >from Lomza and Chicago;
GOLDER (GOLDFARB) >from Ostrolenka and Chicago.

looking for any information regarding the surname CUSHARA..
There was an Isaiah CUSHARA who lived in the province of Pennsylvania
when it was an English colony(which is now part of USA) during the
early 18th century..Presume it to be sephardic....Cannot find
any information on this name anywhere...any information would be
appreciated and sent to minkman@...

Thank you.

Stu Minkman

I posted a picture of great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather that
was probably taken in Pittsburgh around 1910. They are posed in front of
some type of instrument or equipment, and I'd like to find out what it
is. The picture is located at:

http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/toview136.html

If anyone can help, I'd greatly appreciate it. Please send responses
directly to me (after removing the nospam >from my address).

Lara

I was sent 9 naturalization Index cards for Pauline Goodman, all in
Brooklyn,NY. I was fortunate that one of them was for my grandmother.
I have the 8 additional cards so if you are looking for naturalization
records for Pauline Goodman please email me privately and I'll be happy to
share the information.

Marian Levine
New York
mariancsw@...

Researching: GUTMAN, GOODMAN - Bobruysk, Minsk gub.
FREIDEN, FREIDIN - Nikopol, Ekaterinoslav
AYVIN, LEVINE - Tulchin, Tiraspol, Odessa
NIKOLSBURG, NICHOLSBURG (or similar spelling) - Nemirov, Podolia

Hi All
I am trying to find the origin of the names ZALMANOV, FRAYERMAN,
FREIERMAN, FREIMAN, >from Mogilva Belarus. This was the maiden name
ZALMANOV of my maturnal grandmother Massia, who married Osher. Her
family owned a grocery store in Mogilva. I have as yet not been able to
find out anything. Any help would be appreciated.

Also if any one could do a look up for me in NYC, they came in 1905 & 6
for their naturalization papers I would be forever grateful.
shalom
Renee Marcus

looking for any information regarding the surname CUSHARA..
There was an Isaiah CUSHARA who lived in the province of Pennsylvania
when it was an English colony(which is now part of USA) during the
early 18th century..Presume it to be sephardic....Cannot find
any information on this name anywhere...any information would be
appreciated and sent to minkman@...

Thank you.

Stu Minkman

I posted a picture of great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather that
was probably taken in Pittsburgh around 1910. They are posed in front of
some type of instrument or equipment, and I'd like to find out what it
is. The picture is located at:

http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/toview136.html

If anyone can help, I'd greatly appreciate it. Please send responses
directly to me (after removing the nospam >from my address).

Lara

I was sent 9 naturalization Index cards for Pauline Goodman, all in
Brooklyn,NY. I was fortunate that one of them was for my grandmother.
I have the 8 additional cards so if you are looking for naturalization
records for Pauline Goodman please email me privately and I'll be happy to
share the information.

Marian Levine
New York
mariancsw@...

Researching: GUTMAN, GOODMAN - Bobruysk, Minsk gub.
FREIDEN, FREIDIN - Nikopol, Ekaterinoslav
AYVIN, LEVINE - Tulchin, Tiraspol, Odessa
NIKOLSBURG, NICHOLSBURG (or similar spelling) - Nemirov, Podolia

Hi All
I am trying to find the origin of the names ZALMANOV, FRAYERMAN,
FREIERMAN, FREIMAN, >from Mogilva Belarus. This was the maiden name
ZALMANOV of my maturnal grandmother Massia, who married Osher. Her
family owned a grocery store in Mogilva. I have as yet not been able to
find out anything. Any help would be appreciated.

Also if any one could do a look up for me in NYC, they came in 1905 & 6
for their naturalization papers I would be forever grateful.
shalom
Renee Marcus

Relative to the exchange of messages between Chuck Weinstein and Eve
Greenfield, I am pleased to share the following with the group:

The shock & dismay over the truth of the Babi Yar massacre goes beyond that
which Eve experienced. The Soviet monument IS NOT at the scene of the
massacre. The massacre actually took place approx. 3/4 of a mile away,
behind what was then the Jewish cemetery. I have photos of the Soviet
monument and the Jewish monument, located near the edge of the
ravine where the massacre was carried out, and would be happy to share them.

I travelled to Ukraine last May with nine other members of Temple Shalom,
Succasunna (Morris County) NJ. We brought a Torah to a reform congregation
in Zvenigorodka. We also visited Korsun, Cherkassy and Kiev. Aleks
Dukhovny, the only Progessive (Reform) rabbi in Ukraine is headquarted in
Kiev, but covers 34 other congregations throughout the country.

Aleks, a former electrical engineer and tour guide took us to the Russian
monument and then on to the actual site of the massacre. While it does sit
beside a ravine, the Russian monument is nowhere near the massacre. I don't
know whether the topography is natural or contrived. Babi Yar ran behind
the Jewish cemetery, approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile away >from the
Russian monument. Jews were ordered to assemble there, then marched >from
the street to the ravine (approx. 1/8 a mile) where they were slaughtered.

During the Soviet era, the gov't announced that they planned to build a TV
station on the grounds of the cemetery. They offered to relocate the
bodies. Think about it, how many people were willing to come forward and
identify themselves as Jews during the communist era. Not many! The station
was constructed over the graves that were not relocated. It station stands
to the left of the path that leads >from the Jewish monument back to the
street. As we were leaving, we came upon workmen digging a trench who were
visibly agitated. They had dug up bones, not those of masscre victims but
rather those of Jews whose graves had not been relocated. Joel Soffin. our
rabbi, and Aleks, explaining to the workmen that we wished to give the bones
a proper
burial, took charge of the bones. We then brought them back to a site
maintained by the US Commission For Jewish Monuments Overseas, which
contains about 10 - 15 relocated graves, placed them in a void under a slab
and said Kaddish (having just finished saying Kaddish at the edge of the
ravine). Suffice it to say, it was one of the most moving experiences of my
life.

We are coordinating with the congregation in Zvenigorodka and have raised
funds to: refurbish the temple; provide aid to elderly
pensioners; provide transportation so that children >from surrounding
communities can comes study (we participated in a B'nai
Mitzvah ceremony for 17 children and one adult the day we presented the
torah); and,. refurbish the Jewish cemetery. We are
returning this July!

Again, I would be happy to share photos upon request.

Gary Platt

Relative to the exchange of messages between Chuck Weinstein and Eve
Greenfield, I am pleased to share the following with the group:

The shock & dismay over the truth of the Babi Yar massacre goes beyond that
which Eve experienced. The Soviet monument IS NOT at the scene of the
massacre. The massacre actually took place approx. 3/4 of a mile away,
behind what was then the Jewish cemetery. I have photos of the Soviet
monument and the Jewish monument, located near the edge of the
ravine where the massacre was carried out, and would be happy to share them.

I travelled to Ukraine last May with nine other members of Temple Shalom,
Succasunna (Morris County) NJ. We brought a Torah to a reform congregation
in Zvenigorodka. We also visited Korsun, Cherkassy and Kiev. Aleks
Dukhovny, the only Progessive (Reform) rabbi in Ukraine is headquarted in
Kiev, but covers 34 other congregations throughout the country.

Aleks, a former electrical engineer and tour guide took us to the Russian
monument and then on to the actual site of the massacre. While it does sit
beside a ravine, the Russian monument is nowhere near the massacre. I don't
know whether the topography is natural or contrived. Babi Yar ran behind
the Jewish cemetery, approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile away >from the
Russian monument. Jews were ordered to assemble there, then marched >from
the street to the ravine (approx. 1/8 a mile) where they were slaughtered.

During the Soviet era, the gov't announced that they planned to build a TV
station on the grounds of the cemetery. They offered to relocate the
bodies. Think about it, how many people were willing to come forward and
identify themselves as Jews during the communist era. Not many! The station
was constructed over the graves that were not relocated. It station stands
to the left of the path that leads >from the Jewish monument back to the
street. As we were leaving, we came upon workmen digging a trench who were
visibly agitated. They had dug up bones, not those of masscre victims but
rather those of Jews whose graves had not been relocated. Joel Soffin. our
rabbi, and Aleks, explaining to the workmen that we wished to give the bones
a proper
burial, took charge of the bones. We then brought them back to a site
maintained by the US Commission For Jewish Monuments Overseas, which
contains about 10 - 15 relocated graves, placed them in a void under a slab
and said Kaddish (having just finished saying Kaddish at the edge of the
ravine). Suffice it to say, it was one of the most moving experiences of my
life.

We are coordinating with the congregation in Zvenigorodka and have raised
funds to: refurbish the temple; provide aid to elderly
pensioners; provide transportation so that children >from surrounding
communities can comes study (we participated in a B'nai
Mitzvah ceremony for 17 children and one adult the day we presented the
torah); and,. refurbish the Jewish cemetery. We are
returning this July!

Again, I would be happy to share photos upon request.

Gary Platt