Last week the students of the 1st course of the Women Teacher Training College Bet-Chana, Dnepropetrovsk, together with the high school students of the machon Chaya-Mushka went to an exciting journey within the framework of the Masa-Shorashim Annual Ethno-cultural Project. This project gives the girls the opportunity to know their ethnic roots visiting historical places connected with the Jewish history from its beginning to the Holocaust. This year they traveled through the cities of Western Ukraine: L’viv, Berdichiv, Brody, Medzhibozh, Rovno, Zhitomir and Chernovtsy. during the journey the girls were accompanied by the Ph. D. in History and mentor Osnat Helb. They all visited old synagogues and places of burial and memorials, saw architectural and historical monuments connected with lives of tsadiks, wisemen, artists and tragic events of the Jewish history of Ukraine.
The girls returned from the journey filled with inspiration and desire to study the history and culture of their nation and of the country they live in especially if they have the opportunity to study in such a interesting way. They shared with us their impressions, moods and bright and colorful pictures.
Reizel Tkachuk, 1st year student:
I liked the journey very much. Great impressions I got being in L’viv. The city itself is very beautiful and interesting. I was also very surprised that people in Western Ukraine the people are very friendly and helpful. It was very interesting to visit the places of burial of great tsadiks, to listen to the histories about Jews who lived in Ukraine many years ago.
Batya Gurskaya, 1st year student:
This whole week journey told us much from the Jewish history. Every new place had a secret. For example old inscriptions on the walls in L’viv said that Jews were part and parcel of the city. Old streets, houses, long roads, towers in Gothic style and plenty of emotions. It was much fun. Thanks to everyone who arranged this great journey!
