Travel Guide to Jewish Russia & Ukraine, A

Until Communism fell, the Jews of Russia and Ukraine had been suppressed and denied human and religious rights. Today, not only are they reborn, but they are rebuilding a new, vibrant community for the twenty-first century. Frank explores this rebirth and guides both first-time and experienced travelers to Jewish and historical sites. He profiles synagogues, monuments, and schools that can be found in such cities as St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kiev, Odessa, and even Kishinev in Moldava.

Approximately 120 years ago, the majority of the world’s Jews lived in what was called the "Pale of Settlement" in the Russian Empire. Most American Jews today trace their ancestry to Russia and the surrounding territories, especially Ukraine. "A Travel Guide to Jewish Russia & Ukraine" will aid those visiting places where relatives once lived, as well as those simply in search of history.

Specifically, "daryoush" from Seattle, in the course of commenting upon this book and expressing interest in a book about "recent Jewish history" in Lebanon, West bank and the Gaza strip, says the following:

"I like to better understand the Israeli massacres in the refugee camps."

He/she also goes on to make several other specious statements including usage of the term "concentration camps."

Daryoush's statement is a Big Lie masquerading as a review. I have serious reservations about his/her agenda, but setting that aside for a second, the deaths in the refugee camps (that I assume he refers to, related to the 1982 war in Lebanon) were not "Israeli massacres." They were carried out, by all credible accounts, by Lebanese militiamen arguably under Israel's influence. This is not to excuse the killings, nor even Sharon's alleged negligence or complicity, but even in the worst case terming them "Israeli massacres" is simply inaccurate.

One has to wonder about the mindset of someone who would use such a term.

The need to respond to such garbage is a sad commentary upon the state of discourse on Israel and our times generally.

- Ezra in Minnesota


It made me drop my chalupah and turn the page   October 31, 1999
7 out of 15 found this review helpful

Not only informative but terrific reading. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. A travel log that's enjoyable to read whether you visit the places or not. Put on your seatbelt because this is a journey well worth taking!


Editors could have made a better job of it   August 6, 2008
Mariya Dmytriyeva (Northridge, CA, US)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

As a part of a Jewish community in Western Ukraine I am well aware of the problems the citizens of Ukraine are facing be they Ukrainians, Russians or Jews.

I found this book worth of interest -- unfortunately it has too many minor factual and other mistakes that make it not applicable for the purposes I needed it for.

The entire Ukrainian part should be reworked if the author ever plans to publish it again -- to make Ukrainians less bloodthirsty and a little bit closer to what they are in reality (if they were that bloodthirsty as the author portrays them to be how possibly could Jews have survived living side by side with Ukrainians for one thousand years?)
A consultation with a specialist in Ukrainian history will be a must as well as a thorough fact-checking.
Petliura was never a bandit. As a matter of fact he heavily prosecuted any demonstrations of anti-Semitism in the army he was in charge of. The guy who killed him just ate too much of Soviet propaganda.
Besides, the author who meticulously mentions participation of Ukrainians in the Holocaust fails to mention that among Ukrainians there were a lot of those who risked their lives and lives of their families to rescue Jews.
When talking about Babi Yar, he never mentions that exterminations were held there for 2 years -- and the Jews were killed there during the first week. After that it was prisoners of war, Ukrainian nationalists, Gypsies, gays and lesbians, and a lot of other people.

If he wants to write the story of Jews in Ukraine he has to be better informed.
What would be also nice is consistent spelling of names of the cities -- in compliance with Ukrainian tradition, not with Russian.

Also the author could have better harnessed his anti-Ukrainian stance:
for example, when he is writing about the Jewish memorial in Babi Yar he writes:
[I am giving an exact quote]
p.335
Only in 1991, when the menorah memorial was erected [...] did the Ukrainian government dedicate and recognize the spot as the area where Jews were killed and buried.

Just for reference: Ukraine regained its independence on August 24, 1991.
It was not able to recognize it earlier officially because it did not have its own government.

The last but not the least: the author fails to learn the difference between the Russian and the Soviet. When writing about history of the 20th century it is indeed a major difference.