We go to the border of Khmelnytsky and Ternopil regions not for rest in the picturesque nature of Podilsky Tovtry and winding Zbruch. At the beginning of the century, the crowded town of Zbryzh was raging here, much of which was inhabited by Jews. Oleksiy Vasyliovych Umnov, the village head of Zbryzh and Sokyrynets, invited the staff of the Khmelnytsky Hesed Besht Charitable Foundation headed by the Director Ihor Ratushny here., to personally tell about the findings and secrets, remaining in the area.
We meet at the top of the village, near the current, from where you can see the winding canyon of ancient Zbruch and the panorama of the former town. Now the village of Zbryzh is a small settlement with distributed plots of land, which in Ukraine and our region in particular are extremely many. The former greatness is evidenced, unless, memories and several buildings, which can still be seen between the trees. One of them is an ancient synagogue, converted into an industrial agricultural premises. Mr. Oleksiy is happy to talk about Zbryzh's past, complementing the official history with his own recollections of the life of the Jewish community, which he was still lucky to see.
Historical background, You can find the preconditions and consequences of obtaining the Magdeburg right for Zbryzh at this link. As for the Jewish community, then the central part of the village belonged to the kagal, where the market square was located, houses and a synagogue. To this day, Hebrew words remain in the village to denote its parts: for example, there is an area "okopisko", which means "cemetery". The beginning of the decline of the community did not fall on the Nazi occupation, and before, at the beginning of the First World War. The front line fell exactly on these lands, therefore, most Jews were resettled before the arrival of the Nazis. Although during the occupation there were also their Righteous Among the Nations and their saved Jews.
they, that did not destroy the war, won by the Soviet government. In the postwar period, jewish houses near the synagogue, which everywhere became deserted and inclined, were demolished by heavy bulldozers, the territory was leveled and the synagogue turned into a processing plant. Today, giant barrels and mechanisms are rusting in her yard, conveyors of production lines stick out of windows. We could not get inside, but looking out the window we noticed a large niche in the floor in one of the rooms. Apparently it was a former mikvah.
After the synagogue we moved to the bank of the river Zbruch, where the bridge was once overturned - an important structure, which provided Zbryzh and its inhabitants with stable development and income. Now there is no bridge, but if it were available, the level of the village could be significantly raised, connecting it with the nearest major settlement in Ternopil region - Skala-Podilska.
The next point of our visit was the area "Okopysko" – and terrain, where there used to be a Jewish cemetery. It remained here and now, but in comparison with other cemeteries of our area, extremely empty. Earlier, Mr. Alexei collected fragments of matzevot here, which he keeps in his own yard, as silent evidence; fragments can also be found in the bushes on both sides of the cemetery, however, you will not see whole plates here. instead, in the middle of the cemetery rises an embankment with a flat top. What was in his place is unknown, but such an element is not inherent in Jewish burial.
Not far from the cemetery are the remains of a fortification. It was the gateway to the city during the Commonwealth. Moore, adjacent to the gate, the peasants dismantled for their own needs. On the wall of one of the rooms, from under, at least, five layers of plaster, a simple fresco, looks like a saint. Machinery, in which the picture is made, extremely primitive, therefore knowledgeable people believe, that this is the work of the late Middle Ages.
Already in the estate of the village head we were able to view his findings - fragments of matzevot. When a man consulted on a social network with a rabbi about it, what to do with the stones, he was advised to bury them in the ground, traditionally. However, according to the head of the village council, it should become the property of the museum. The ornaments on the plates are extremely different: from primitive to carved with great skill, which may indicate differences in hundreds of years between different fragments.
It is impossible to bring back the past glory, but to revive the village and its infrastructure, to create conditions for the development of green tourism is a difficult task, but achievable. Alexey Vasilyevich with like-minded people, such as local historian and lover of antiquity Anatoly Shvets, convinced, that anything is possible, however, without knowledge of the past there is no future. Therefore, at first caring people are taken to study history, restoration of monuments and valuables, which have been exemplary for hundreds of years for all caregivers. A monument to Magdeburg law is planned to be erected here in the near future, which was here and was given to well-developed settlements.
From my side, Khmelnytsky Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht" is grateful to the residents of the village. Zbryzh and his leader for their indifference and careful attitude to the monuments of Jewish culture. We publish this material with hope, that he will be seen by the descendants of people from the Jewish community of Zbryzha (and Oleksiy Umnov has several examples of respectable people in his memory, whose ancestors were from here) and help to recreate the history of the community or become patrons of Jewish monuments. Our organization will also join in the promotion of Zbryzh and, maybe, its former glory is again forgotten on the banks of the winding Zbruch!
Vyacheslav Nagnybida
violent
Grandma is still lying on the bench, Pip did not read the prayer
And already the headman in village council wrote down a share on the grandson
The children already have a share of two, and who is three
And on the ground already in the queue of cats a dozen more dogs
He has a whole flock of them, he is like a pastor for orphans
They like to eat well, waiting in line for the gate
It's the people, don't scold him, his heart is sincere pussy
You just take care of them, bring sour cream, cheese
The village was forgotten by the bushes, there is no system with wells
This is a far-fetched problem, learn from the letter
Human gardens were flooded, the element was pouring, and what
You will wait for help, like water from a goose
Tu, the road was silted up, no problem, get used to it somehow
And how not, then sapi in hand, take a little, rake
Know, where are your problems, below the belt, go
Where else can you grab a share, better tell him
He came to power with a purpose, shares more to rake
Anoint it with your hand, the gods descended from on high
He hears a voice in the middle of the night, vision sees all the time
The village with problems will wait, in the foreground your okay
He promises a lot to everyone, and then what, does not dry brains
As who will ask him what, then bile will spit into your soul
Pray for people to cry, although in the soul