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Lviv and Rohatyn 2013

Our visit this year includes several good friends and colleagues from past visits, with a twist: Marla is being interviewed for a small segment of a French TV program about foreign Jews visiting Ukraine and Poland to see and experience the towns where their ancestors had lived before the war. We hope the exposure will encourage others to go, and will increase the focus on and support of preservation of the remaining Jewish sites in those countries.
filming begins with Sylvie and Alex in the 'old town' of Lviv, on a tour of Jewish sites
filming begins with Sylvie and Alex in the 'old town' of Lviv, on a tour of Jewish sites		 Alex points out former Jewish households...
Alex points out former Jewish households...		 ...their mezuzah marks visible in the door frames
...their mezuzah marks visible in the door frames		 near the old synagogue square, some things are new...
near the old synagogue square, some things are new...
...including several information signs recently posted...
...including several information signs recently posted...		 ...but some things are unchanged, like this Jewish headstone still being used as paving
...but some things are unchanged, like this Jewish headstone still being used as paving		 the ruin of the Golden Rose synagogue is still the same
the ruin of the Golden Rose synagogue is still the same		 we make our first visit on the grounds of the ruin
we make our first visit on the grounds of the ruin
Vincent films the area as a popular sight for visitors...
Vincent films the area as a popular sight for visitors...		 ...while Alex explains some old and new details of the site's history
...while Alex explains some old and new details of the site's history		 the bricks here are like those all over the former Galicia
the bricks here are like those all over the former Galicia		 now we are on the old town square to see some of the oldest parts of Lviv
now we are on the old town square to see some of the oldest parts of Lviv
we say au revoir to Sylvie and then visit an apartment building...
we say au revoir to Sylvie and then visit an apartment building...		 ...where one of Marla's relatives lived while attending university
...where one of Marla's relatives lived while attending university 		then we're back at the Lviv oblast archives, where Marla found the record that listed that apartment
then we're back at the Lviv oblast archives, where Marla found the record that listed that apartment		 Renaud interviews one of the archive directors about foreign Jews visiting to do family research
Renaud interviews one of the archive directors about foreign Jews visiting to do family research
there are interesting displays from the archive collections in the hallways
there are interesting displays from the archive collections in the hallways		 at the central state archives building an hour later, the French TV crew interviews their expert on Jewish archive holdings
at the central state archives building an hour later, the French TV crew interviews their expert on Jewish archive holdings		 finally the day's filming is over...
finally the day's filming is over...		 ...and we take a break by visiting the lovely Armenian cathedral in old town
...and we take a break by visiting the lovely Armenian cathedral in old town
that night we relax at our hotel in town
that night we relax at our hotel in town		 driving from Lviv the next morning, we find the road conditions poor
driving from Lviv the next morning, we find the road conditions poor		 but the countryside is green and lush as we approach Rohatyn this Spring
but the countryside is green and lush as we approach Rohatyn this Spring		 we meet Mr. Vorobets, and give him a copy of the 1846 map on behalf of RSRG
we meet Mr. Vorobets, and give him a copy of the 1846 map on behalf of RSRG
then we are off to Drahomanova street, where headstones have been found in the past
then we are off to Drahomanova street, where headstones have been found in the past		 there are two new ones by the river, and one by the roadside
there are two new ones by the river, and one by the roadside		 this woman tells us that once many stones were visible in this road
this woman tells us that once many stones were visible in this road		 these fragments are small enough we can carry them ourselves...
these fragments are small enough we can carry them ourselves...
...and place them in the van for transport to the new cemetery
...and place them in the van for transport to the new cemetery		 Jeremy explains what we are doing, to help spread the word in town
Jeremy explains what we are doing, to help spread the word in town		 now we return to a courtyard where several stones have been found in past years
now we return to a courtyard where several stones have been found in past years		 the wall of stones has been partially disassembled
the "wall of stones" has been partially disassembled
but this nearby garden still contains even more buried stones
but this nearby garden still contains even more buried stones		 Marla relates her family's experiences in town to the French TV reporters...
Marla relates her family's experiences in town to the French TV reporters...		 ...then we go behind her family's buildings to see about getting inside
...then we go behind her family's buildings to see about getting inside		 Mr. Vorobets explains the background to one current resident
Mr. Vorobets explains the background to one current resident
part of Marla's family once lived in her house
part of Marla's family once lived in her house		 the current resident tells what she knows of Rohatyn history after the war
the current resident tells what she knows of Rohatyn history after the war		 now we head down to the lower apartment and basement
now we head down to the lower apartment and basement		 g6/66/607666/3/150024669.QFjs1cu4.jpg
Alex and Jeremy note many original details
Alex and Jeremy note many original details		 then a few houses away from the rynek is another house of Marla's family...
then a few houses away from the rynek is another house of Marla's family...		 ...where several Jews from Rohatyn hid during the war
...where several Jews from Rohatyn hid during the war		 this man lives there now, and gives us the recent house history
this man lives there now, and gives us the recent house history
the house is much changed, but it is good to trade stories
the house is much changed, but it is good to trade stories		 now around at the streetfront, we try to get into the basement, another known hiding place
now around at the streetfront, we try to get into the basement, another known hiding place		 the lock is rusted shut; we all try our hand
the lock is rusted shut; we all try our hand		 finally Vitaly brings pliers and succeeds
finally Vitaly brings pliers and succeeds
a rather chilling place, even without the history
a rather chilling place, even without the history		 the basement has changed significantly since the war...
the basement has changed significantly since the war...		 ...but it is still possible to appreciate what life may have been like down here
...but it is still possible to appreciate what life may have been like down here		 we thank the shop owner for letting us see it...
we thank the shop owner for letting us see it...
...and move on to the new cemetery
...and move on to the new cemetery		 glad to see others have been here to pay respect
glad to see others have been here to pay respect		 we place the three newest stones in the collection...
we place the three newest stones in the collection...		 ...and with a little cleaning...
...and with a little cleaning...
...the second of the three stones reveals some lettering
...the second of the three stones reveals some lettering		 there are other stones newly recovered...
there are other stones newly recovered...		 ...since we were last here in late 2012
...since we were last here in late 2012		 but we see one old stone is now cracked
but we see one old stone is now cracked
how to best preserve all these stone fragments remains an important issue
how to best preserve all these stone fragments remains an important issue		 near the cemetery memorial, Marla notices a large granite stone under some bushes
near the cemetery memorial, Marla notices a large granite stone under some bushes		 removing a thick carpet of moss, a name is revealed
removing a thick carpet of moss, a name is revealed		 now we are at the southern mass grave, explaining what happened here for French TV
now we are at the southern mass grave, explaining what happened here for French TV
Mr. Vorobets continues his ongoing care of the site
Mr. Vorobets continues his ongoing care of the site		 Mr. Vorobets alerts us to some decay at the Soviet memorial to the victims
Mr. Vorobets alerts us to some decay at the Soviet memorial to the victims		 the group offers the small funds necessary to make repairs
the group offers the small funds necessary to make repairs		 Marla talks to the reporters about the motivations for may Rohatyn descendants to see where their families lived, and many died
Marla talks to the reporters about the motivations for may Rohatyn descendants to see where their families lived, and many died
then we visit the old cemetery, just a quick look
then we visit the old cemetery, just a quick look		 another memorial needs some light repair here
another memorial needs some light repair here		 a group picture at the end of the day...
a group picture at the end of the day...		 ...and we wish our friend good health and goodbye
...and we wish our friend good health and goodbye
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