A few years ago, Marla Raucher Osborn discovered her Jewish roots in the western Ukrainian city of Rohatyn. She and her husband have since left their home in California and relocated to Lviv, in western Ukraine, where they run an NGO called Rohatyn Jewish Heritage. This NGO, or non-government organization, is dedicated to restoring Rohatyn’s centuries-old Jewish heritage which was almost completely obliterated by the Nazis during the Holocaust. It’s a daunting project. Of Rohatyn’s Jewish community which numbered in the tens of thousands before WWII, only a few remain today. Remnants of synagogues, cemeteries, and other visible symbols of this once thriving and vibrant community lie scattered across the area, buried in asphalt and concrete foundations, in forests and fields. Marla has dedicated her life to finding and restoring as many of these remnants as she can. Recently, she kindly agreed to share her story with Nash Holos listeners. Pawlina: So how did you end up starting this whole Rohatyn adventure? You and your husband do this, and this is kind of your life’s work now. How did you get started? What brought you to Rohatyn? Marla: It’s a good question. I like to say I was […]
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Knyzhka Corner Book Review: Making Bombs for Hitler
Knyzhka Corner: Ukrainian stories, in English. Skrypuch, Marsha Forchuk. MAKING BOMBS FOR HITLER. Scholastic Canada Ltd., 2012. 186 p. ISBN 978-1-4431-0730-3 Available at Chapters, Amazon and Barnes and Noble Reviewed by Myra Junyk In this edition of Knyzhka Corner, we will be discussing Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch’s novel, Making Bombs for Hitler. The novel begins in 1943 as Lida and her younger sister Laryssa are separated after the Nazis take over their village. Lida is sent to a work camp to become an Ostarbeiter or forced labour worker, and Laryssa disappears. Will they ever be re-united? Nine-year old Lida struggles to survive in the horrible conditions of the Bavarian work camp. She is warned by older girls in her barracks that Germans don’t like young workers so she pretends to be thirteen years old. She develops a strong friendship with her fellow slave labourer Luka. She must eat subhuman food, wear the clothing she was captured in, and go barefoot. Luckily, she is selected to work in the camp laundry where her expert sewing skills are put to use. Her life is much easier than that of others who must work on farms and in factories. When she comes to the […]
Continue readingKnyzhka Corner Book Review: Dance of the Banished by Marsha Skrypuch
In this edition of Knyzka Corner, we will be discussing Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch’s new novel, Dance of the Banished. Dance of the Banished explores the tragic history of Canadian internment camps and the Armenian genocide. It is a story of injustice, prejudice and violence. Skrypuch’s novel is loosely based on actual events, and it was published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Canada’s World War I War Measures Act which set up the internment camps. This novel describes the unbreakable bonds of love in the face of catastrophic conflict. The year is 1913. Teenage lovers Ali and Zeynep live in Eyolmez, Anatolia which is now in Turkey. They are Alevi Kurds who speak the Zaza dialect and practise a religion which believes “in Jesus, the sun, the moon, the stars and Allah.” (p. 16) One key aspect of their religion is a prayer dance called the semah which is the basis for the book’s title, Dance of the Banished. Ali gets a rare opportunity to immigrate to Canada with his brother Yousef. He cannot afford to bring Zeynep with him but promises to do so in the future. They agree to write letters to each other in their journals. However, […]
Continue readingUkrainian Jewish Heritage – Tisha B’Av
Download: UJH-2014-0803-Tisha B’Av Tisha B’Av is a fast day that commemorates the destruction of the two Temples in ancient times, as well as more recent tragedies befalling the Jewish people. It is sometimes referred to as “The Ninth of Av, since it falls on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av. On the secular calendar it usually coincides with late July or mid-August. Tisha B’Av vividly recalls devastating tragedies in Jewish history, so it is known as the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. The first great tragedy occurred in 586 B.C.E. when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the First Temple built by King Solomon, the most important place in ancient Judaism. The Temple was re-built on the site of the First Temple, and completed in 516 B.C.E. This second temple was destroyed during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. The destruction of the two Temples took place on the same day — the ninth of Av — about 656 years apart. These two events were so devastating that the ancient rabbis declared the anniversary of the Temples’ destruction a day of mourning. This is the origin of Tisha B’Av. Other tragedies have occurred on this […]
Continue readingBook Review: Crossing the Border by Ksenia Rychtycka
Audio review and interview with Myra … as heard on Nash Holos August 11, 2013 Anthology explores realities of memory and today’s Ukraine Review by Myra Junyk Crossing the Border, Ksenia Rychtycka’s first anthology of short stories, explores the lives of Ukrainians in Ukraine and in other countries. Her poignant stories focus on family relationships, hope, and self-discovery. Rychtycka doesn’t shy away from the complex political realities of Ukraine. The first story, “Homecoming,” describes Vera’s journey to her hometown of Krynytsia in Ukraine. She is coming back to visit her cousin Stefko after 47 years. Vera is surprised, disappointed and disillusioned by what she finds in the “new” Ukraine—including that her cousin has become a collaborating communist in order to survive.“40 Days” is a realistic look at more recent Ukrainian political developments. Luba is mourning the suspicious death of Roman, her politician husband. She wishes for Roman’s democratic dreams for Ukraine to come true, but realizes “that is hoping for a lot.”The final story, “Orange in Bloom,” describes the involvement of an elderly widow in the highly charged days of the Orange Revolution. Her fervent belief in the freedom of Ukraine is a definite sign of hope for the future. […]
Continue readingCritically acclaimed musical Strike! makes its Alberta Premiere this month
In conjunction with the Alberta Federation of Labour’s 100th Anniversary, Danny Schur & Rick Chafe’s critically-acclaimed musical Strike! makes its Alberta debut with Edmonton’s Workshop West Theatre April 24th – 28th, 2013 at the Timms Centre for the Performing Arts. Set against the nation-changing tumult of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, the eight-show run features an 18-person Edmonton cast under the direction of Edmonton-raised director Arne MacPherson. Danny Schur is currently in Edmonton helping with preparations for the production. We chatted by phone earlier this week about the show and his amazing career as a self-employed full-time musician and playwright. The interview will air on Nash Holos in early April. Tickets for the Edmonton performance are very reasonably priced, so if you are in the Edmonton area or plan to visit while they’re showing, make sure to book your tickets soon. They’re going fast so don’t delay and risk being disappointed. This is one show you don’t want to miss! The performance schedule is: • Wednesday, April 24th (Opening Night) – 8:00 PM • Thursday, April 25th (Student Matinee) – 1:00 PM / Thursday, April 25th – 8:00 PM • Friday, April 26th – 8:00 PM (SOLD OUT) • Saturday, […]
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