24 November 1998

I don't know where she was >from but it certainly wasn't from
Mogilev or even this planet. There are 4,500 Jews in Mogilev.
The leaders of the Jewish community are Mr. Naum Joffe and Mrs.
Dora Dyomina. There is a Shabas service every week in Hessed.
There are three remaining pre-War synagogues, all now used as
sports centres. There is also a cemetery. Everyone knows the
difference between a shtetl and a ghetto. A shtetl is where Jews
lived; a ghetto is where they were murdered.

I sometimes think that this must be the most misunderstood nation
in Europe. Odd for a country which is the geographical centre
of the continent.

One thing that is a fact, though, is that there are no matzos in
Belarus. The Joint hasn't the funds to supply them and there are
no other donors in the offing. So if anyone has 15 tons of
matzos to spare let me know, otherwise there may be no Passover
in Belarus.

Best regards >from Minsk, the city on the other side of the moon,

Frank Swartz
Executive Director
East European Jewish Heritage Project
13b Dauman Street
Minsk
220002
Republic of Belarus
tel/fax: +375 17 234 56 12/234 33 60
e-mail: root@eejhp.open.by

**********************************************************
CHANUKAH IN BELARUS

A BITTER WINTER HAS SET IN AND THE COST OF LIVING IS SOARING.
THERE IS REAL HARDSHIP FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED. PLEASE
HELP. WE NEED WARM CLOTHING, MEDICINES AND BASIC MEDICAL
SUPPLIES SUCH AS WALKING STICKS AND CRUTCHES. THERE IS A SPECIAL
NEED FOR SUGAR SUBSTITUTES. IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE CONTACT US.

24 November 1998

I don't know where she was >from but it certainly wasn't from
Mogilev or even this planet. There are 4,500 Jews in Mogilev.
The leaders of the Jewish community are Mr. Naum Joffe and Mrs.
Dora Dyomina. There is a Shabas service every week in Hessed.
There are three remaining pre-War synagogues, all now used as
sports centres. There is also a cemetery. Everyone knows the
difference between a shtetl and a ghetto. A shtetl is where Jews
lived; a ghetto is where they were murdered.

I sometimes think that this must be the most misunderstood nation
in Europe. Odd for a country which is the geographical centre
of the continent.

One thing that is a fact, though, is that there are no matzos in
Belarus. The Joint hasn't the funds to supply them and there are
no other donors in the offing. So if anyone has 15 tons of
matzos to spare let me know, otherwise there may be no Passover
in Belarus.

Best regards >from Minsk, the city on the other side of the moon,

Frank Swartz
Executive Director
East European Jewish Heritage Project
13b Dauman Street
Minsk
220002
Republic of Belarus
tel/fax: +375 17 234 56 12/234 33 60
e-mail: root@eejhp.open.by

**********************************************************
CHANUKAH IN BELARUS

A BITTER WINTER HAS SET IN AND THE COST OF LIVING IS SOARING.
THERE IS REAL HARDSHIP FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED. PLEASE
HELP. WE NEED WARM CLOTHING, MEDICINES AND BASIC MEDICAL
SUPPLIES SUCH AS WALKING STICKS AND CRUTCHES. THERE IS A SPECIAL
NEED FOR SUGAR SUBSTITUTES. IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE CONTACT US.

These areas were in Vilna Guberniia. The Revision Lists are in the Vilna
archives.

We the (LITVAK SIG) received a complete copy of the 1858 Revision List for the
Uyezd of Oshmyany which includes both Oshymany and Smorgan (in addition to
other towns).

The Revision Lists need to be translated, and will be put up on the web.
Donations are needed for the translation process.

Please contact the LITVAK SIG for further information about this area.



Belarus SIG digest wrote:

These areas were in Vilna Guberniia. The Revision Lists are in the Vilna
archives.

We the (LITVAK SIG) received a complete copy of the 1858 Revision List for the
Uyezd of Oshmyany which includes both Oshymany and Smorgan (in addition to
other towns).

The Revision Lists need to be translated, and will be put up on the web.
Donations are needed for the translation process.

Please contact the LITVAK SIG for further information about this area.



Belarus SIG digest wrote:

Dear Myra:
There are/were Jews and Jews in Mogilev. As David so rightly puts
it, since the breakup of the USSR, the community there struggled to set
up its own Jewish Sunday School, at one point there were two, with one a
regular school meeting in a classroom of a state school. they did
everything through their own ingenuity, as the Jewish Agency was not
interested in helping Russian Jews stay in Russia. So Mogilevers taught
themselves Hebrew and taught it to their kids, learned Jewish history and
taught it to their kids. They had little help >from the outside, and
managed to do a wonderful job.
While it is true that the Mogilev government has not given back
any of the synagogues, of which there were many, they had at one point
offered a ruined shell of one. They said Americans would pay to fix it.
The main synagogue in Mogilev is a gymnasium.
As in America, there were Mogilev Jews who felt more connected to
Judaism, and those who felt less connected. Kosher meat was nonexistent,
unless one bought the animal and "shecht" it oneself. The grandparents
who lived through the war tried their best to impart Yiddishkeit to their
children and grandchildren.
I have videos of holiday celebrations, some 4-5 years ago, in
Mogilev with yiddish songs and music by adults and children. Very moving
recordings.
As you know, Myra, I know the family in question. We cannot make
judgements on what they know or don't know. In the same apartment complex
in Tucson is a very religious family >from Tashkent, whose mother has been
trying to teach the other new Russian-speaking immigrants about holidays
and customs. I visited both families on my trip to Tucson. The woman >from
Tashkent was amazed that the people >from Mogilev and other cities in the
apartment complex had no knowledge of the simplest things in Judaism. But
this is just one family.
As American Jews, we need to understand what happened in Mogilev,
and hundreds of other places just like it. The fact that these people
survived, and are now giving their children Jewish educations is
wonderful. Also, in the family in question, the in-laws speak yiddish.
The Taskhent family is Sephardic. Sharing a meal with them,
complete with all brachas and birkat hamazon (grace after meal), I saw
the grandfather with what I thought was a siddur or prayerbook. As soon
as I could, I asked to see the book, and saw it was printed in Russian.
They were not allowed to learn Hebrew, as I understand it, but learned
all the prayers in phonetic Russian transliteration.
As regards the community in Mogilev, about 5 years ago, we
brought two teenagers to Camp Ramah in Palmer, Mass. The girl married and
now lives in Israel, and I think the boy has also gone to live in Israel
as well. Both were very active in the youth activity groups in Mogilev. I
have been told that a few years ago, the Mogilev groups were considered
the most active, and they traveled to Minsk and other area cities for
what we, as former USYers, would call kinnusim or shabbatonim (weekend
activities.
There are descendents of religious families in Mogilev, some of
whom still have Torah scrolls saved >from the war, hidden in their homes
or perhaps now in Israel.
It is hard to make generalizations about one community >from only
speaking to one person. Different people move in different circles and
different things are or were important at the time.
I am glad you had a chance to meet Raisa. Have you met the rest
of the family?
Best regards,
Schelly Dardashti
JGS of Southern Nevada-East

Dear Myra:
There are/were Jews and Jews in Mogilev. As David so rightly puts
it, since the breakup of the USSR, the community there struggled to set
up its own Jewish Sunday School, at one point there were two, with one a
regular school meeting in a classroom of a state school. they did
everything through their own ingenuity, as the Jewish Agency was not
interested in helping Russian Jews stay in Russia. So Mogilevers taught
themselves Hebrew and taught it to their kids, learned Jewish history and
taught it to their kids. They had little help >from the outside, and
managed to do a wonderful job.
While it is true that the Mogilev government has not given back
any of the synagogues, of which there were many, they had at one point
offered a ruined shell of one. They said Americans would pay to fix it.
The main synagogue in Mogilev is a gymnasium.
As in America, there were Mogilev Jews who felt more connected to
Judaism, and those who felt less connected. Kosher meat was nonexistent,
unless one bought the animal and "shecht" it oneself. The grandparents
who lived through the war tried their best to impart Yiddishkeit to their
children and grandchildren.
I have videos of holiday celebrations, some 4-5 years ago, in
Mogilev with yiddish songs and music by adults and children. Very moving
recordings.
As you know, Myra, I know the family in question. We cannot make
judgements on what they know or don't know. In the same apartment complex
in Tucson is a very religious family >from Tashkent, whose mother has been
trying to teach the other new Russian-speaking immigrants about holidays
and customs. I visited both families on my trip to Tucson. The woman >from
Tashkent was amazed that the people >from Mogilev and other cities in the
apartment complex had no knowledge of the simplest things in Judaism. But
this is just one family.
As American Jews, we need to understand what happened in Mogilev,
and hundreds of other places just like it. The fact that these people
survived, and are now giving their children Jewish educations is
wonderful. Also, in the family in question, the in-laws speak yiddish.
The Taskhent family is Sephardic. Sharing a meal with them,
complete with all brachas and birkat hamazon (grace after meal), I saw
the grandfather with what I thought was a siddur or prayerbook. As soon
as I could, I asked to see the book, and saw it was printed in Russian.
They were not allowed to learn Hebrew, as I understand it, but learned
all the prayers in phonetic Russian transliteration.
As regards the community in Mogilev, about 5 years ago, we
brought two teenagers to Camp Ramah in Palmer, Mass. The girl married and
now lives in Israel, and I think the boy has also gone to live in Israel
as well. Both were very active in the youth activity groups in Mogilev. I
have been told that a few years ago, the Mogilev groups were considered
the most active, and they traveled to Minsk and other area cities for
what we, as former USYers, would call kinnusim or shabbatonim (weekend
activities.
There are descendents of religious families in Mogilev, some of
whom still have Torah scrolls saved >from the war, hidden in their homes
or perhaps now in Israel.
It is hard to make generalizations about one community >from only
speaking to one person. Different people move in different circles and
different things are or were important at the time.
I am glad you had a chance to meet Raisa. Have you met the rest
of the family?
Best regards,
Schelly Dardashti
JGS of Southern Nevada-East

The Belarus SIG is very happy to announce the completion of our first online
newsletter. It can be found at our web site: www.jewishgen.org/belarus.
Click on the Online Newsletter button.

Our editors, Bryan Polikoff and Elsebeth Paikin have done a wonderful job.
Featured articles are: A Journey to Senno by Elliot Lepler, and Our Small
Town - Swir contributed by Arnold Wolfe. Also included is a synopsis of
Existing Records for Shtetls in Belarus compiled by David Fox and more.

The editors would welcome your article ideas or contributions for future
issues. See the newsletter for guidelines and more details.

Risa Heywood
Belarus SIG Webmaster
E-mail: risah@ibm.net

Is Boritza the same as Borisov? Please advise. I'm looking for BENENSONS

from Borisov.

Patricia Marcus
nysacd@aol.com

The Belarus SIG is very happy to announce the completion of our first online
newsletter. It can be found at our web site: www.jewishgen.org/belarus.
Click on the Online Newsletter button.

Our editors, Bryan Polikoff and Elsebeth Paikin have done a wonderful job.
Featured articles are: A Journey to Senno by Elliot Lepler, and Our Small
Town - Swir contributed by Arnold Wolfe. Also included is a synopsis of
Existing Records for Shtetls in Belarus compiled by David Fox and more.

The editors would welcome your article ideas or contributions for future
issues. See the newsletter for guidelines and more details.

Risa Heywood
Belarus SIG Webmaster
E-mail: risah@ibm.net

Is Boritza the same as Borisov? Please advise. I'm looking for BENENSONS

from Borisov.

Patricia Marcus
nysacd@aol.com

I believe the Oshmiany district is covered by Litvaksig. HOwever records
for some towns may be in the Grodno Archives, so I recommend following
this group also.

Anita Berk

Does this news group cover Oshmyany and/or Smorgan?

MODERATOR'S NOTE: I am moderating >from Las Vegas and don't have access
to any reference material to check to see where your shtetls are located.
Perhaps someone else can answer.

Anita Berk
anitab@starmail.com

I believe the Oshmiany district is covered by Litvaksig. HOwever records
for some towns may be in the Grodno Archives, so I recommend following
this group also.

Anita Berk

Does this news group cover Oshmyany and/or Smorgan?

MODERATOR'S NOTE: I am moderating >from Las Vegas and don't have access
to any reference material to check to see where your shtetls are located.
Perhaps someone else can answer.

Anita Berk
anitab@starmail.com

Before you assume that your friend is clueless, please keep in mind that
there is also a Ukrainian Mogilev that is a much smaller town. In fact, if
you look it up on the ShtetlSeeker, there are several Mogilev's throughout
the former Soviet Union. It must be the Russian language equivalent of
Springfield or something. Anyhow, you may want to double-check with your
friend to find out which one she is from.

Dan Checkman
New Orleans, LA

Myra Davis wrote:
(excessive quoting deleleted)

She said there is not longer any synagogue in Mogilev. She said the Jews >do not practice any religion and the only thing every one celebrates is
the New Year. She was familiar with Passover but only that. They have a
hard time getting meat there. I really was surprised to learn about the

lack of Judaism. I had expected her to be very religious. She said they

only know they are Jewish and there are non-Jews.

MODERATOR'S NOTE: I have spoken to other recent immigrants >from from
Mogilev and there is infact a Hebrew school for the Jewish children there
and that there areJewish communal activities organized in Mogilev.

Before you assume that your friend is clueless, please keep in mind that
there is also a Ukrainian Mogilev that is a much smaller town. In fact, if
you look it up on the ShtetlSeeker, there are several Mogilev's throughout
the former Soviet Union. It must be the Russian language equivalent of
Springfield or something. Anyhow, you may want to double-check with your
friend to find out which one she is from.

Dan Checkman
New Orleans, LA

Myra Davis wrote:
(excessive quoting deleleted)

She said there is not longer any synagogue in Mogilev. She said the Jews >do not practice any religion and the only thing every one celebrates is
the New Year. She was familiar with Passover but only that. They have a
hard time getting meat there. I really was surprised to learn about the

lack of Judaism. I had expected her to be very religious. She said they

only know they are Jewish and there are non-Jews.

MODERATOR'S NOTE: I have spoken to other recent immigrants >from from
Mogilev and there is infact a Hebrew school for the Jewish children there
and that there areJewish communal activities organized in Mogilev.

There is a town spelled Smorgon located in Belarus. It is northwest of Minsk,
roughly equidistant >from Minsk and Vilna and spelled Smarhon on modern maps.
Oshmyany sounds alot like Osmanya which is a town mentioned by my family which
comes >from Smorgon, Belarus.
Please get in touch with me.

MODERATOR'S NOTE: All messages should be signed with your full name, city
and state or country.

There is a town spelled Smorgon located in Belarus. It is northwest of Minsk,
roughly equidistant >from Minsk and Vilna and spelled Smarhon on modern maps.
Oshmyany sounds alot like Osmanya which is a town mentioned by my family which
comes >from Smorgon, Belarus.
Please get in touch with me.

MODERATOR'S NOTE: All messages should be signed with your full name, city
and state or country.

I am trying to find information on what was life like in this small town.
According to my gf, Gregorio Shapiro who was born here in 1905, there were
only 25 jewish families, so if anyone has information on the town, please
email me.

Bonnie Shapiro
Toronto, Canada
Zapote1@aol.com

I am trying to find information on what was life like in this small town.
According to my gf, Gregorio Shapiro who was born here in 1905, there were
only 25 jewish families, so if anyone has information on the town, please
email me.

Bonnie Shapiro
Toronto, Canada
Zapote1@aol.com

I am looking for information on the NORAR family, >from Oshyman and Smorgan.

Scott Noar
sman@uscom.com

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please use all caps for surnames in both the heading
and subject sections of posted messages.

I am looking for information on the NORAR family, >from Oshyman and Smorgan.

Scott Noar
sman@uscom.com

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please use all caps for surnames in both the heading
and subject sections of posted messages.