Vier graue Häuser (Rohatyn - 1.851 km)

(Rohatyn, 01.05.10 - 02.05.10) Rohatyn, eine kleine Stadt im Westen der Ukraine, ist der Ort aus dem meine Vorfahren stammen. Über das grausame Schicksal, das sie während des Holocaust erlitten haben, habe ich in meinem Rohatyn-Blog berichtet. Auf Wunsch der 80 Mitglieder starken Rohatyn-Gruppe, habe ich etwa 500 Häuser in Rohatyn fotografiert; das sind nur vier davon:

Ob meine Verwandten vielleicht in einem dieser Häuser gewohnt haben? Ich werde es wahrscheinlich nie erfahren, denn die Vernichtung der Juden aus Rohatyn war systematisch und nahezu vollständig; nur einer von hundert dieser Menschen hat überlebt; die übrigen wurden bestialisch vor Ort oder in dem Vernichtungslager Belzec ermordet. Rosette Faust Halpern, eine der ganz wenigen Überlebenden, schrieb am 01.05.10, am gleichen Tag, als ich in Rohatyn war, folgende Zeilen:

"I was deeply touched with the welcome messages expressed in the internet. Humbly, it was I who likes to welcome all of you. The second and third generation, the longtime born in Rohatyn, and the spouses that take interest in preserving the memory of the victims. Sunday Dec 9, 1962, a meeting was held at the Hotel Diplomat in New York. The first book was printed requesting every survivor to recount their ordeal of survival. Unfortunately, some of the survivors were facing recent tragedies and could not contribute to the book. 'Stand up and be a witness!', shouted my brother Jack. I stood up at the meeting and this is what I said.
It is a great privilege for me to witness and partake in a Yiskor meeting for the Rohatyn ghetto. I was in the ghetto all of the time from the beginning until the end. Twenty years ago, I wouldn't dare to believe that I, one of the most hunted and hated of human beings, was still alive. Surrounded by ruthless murderers helped by local enemies, imprisoned in a crowded closed up ghetto, degradation and humiliation, plagued by hunger and epidemics, life without hope.. These were the conditions of our miserable existence. What could one wish in these conditions? After three actions March 20, 1942, Yom Kippur 1942, and December 8, 1942, the last most unhumane massacre occurred on June 6, 1943 with the liquidation of the ghetto in Rohatyn. Scattered mass graves, this is what was left of ones beautiful life in Rohatyn. Only one wish and last prayer was common to all these victims, that one day their names and silent struggle will be remembered. Their last message was DON'T FORGET! It is evident that their last wish was granted by the formation of this group. We have not forgotten."