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Introduction
Pre-War Photographs
Czernowitz Postcards
Schools of
Czernowitz
Prelude to War
The Second
World War
Return from Transnistria
After the War
Songs of Czernowitz
Czernowitz, My Dream
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Temple of Czernowitz
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Town with a Jewish
Past: The Temple of Czernowitz |
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In 1872 a
split occurred in Czernowitz between the Reform and
Orthodox communities. Then, in 1873, construction of a
new synagogue commenced. Two years later both
communities reunited, and in 1878 the synagogue,
designed a bit like a mosque, was consecrated. The
synagogue was used mostly by the wealthier Reform
group, though services were not so Reform. At the
time, the synagogue was the most prominent building in
all of Czernowitz.
In 1940 the Russians, who had annexed Czernowitz,
closed the synagogue and confiscated its property. On
Jul 5, 1941, German and Romanian soldiers burned down
the synagogue. In 1959 the ruins were converted into a
movie theater. |
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The Temple of Czernowitz
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Dr. Abraham Mark
Chief Rabbi of Czernowitz |
Rabbi Abraham Jakob Mark served as the head rabbi of
Czernowitz from 1926 until 1941 when the synagogue was
burned down by the Germans and he, along with many others,
were killed.
His wife Perla Mark gave
testimony during
the trial of Adolf Eichmann in 1961. She talked about her
husband, the synagogue and what transpired during those
fateful days in Czernowitz in the summer of 1941.
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Some native
Czernowitzers remember the Mark family:
From Hedwig Brenner (née Langhaus):
I knew Mrs. Perla Mark very well. She was a friend of my
mother-in-law Paula Brenner. She often would visit Paula's
house, and she was also at my wedding. My wedding was
officiated by her husband Rabbi Mark in the Rabbinatskanzlei
(then on the second floor in the Jewish House located on the
Theatre Square), and afterwards they had also come to our
home for the dinner. I knew their sons Edi, who was an
engineer and a friend of my late husband; Fredy, who was my
age and
studied in Prague (he disappeared when the Nazi entered the
city); Milan, who died three years ago in Israel, and a
daughter Hertha.
From Lucca Ginsburg (née
Koch):
Dr. Mark was somehow related to my father, and we were often
guests in his house. They had a nice and very comfortable
home and we were often invited there.
Perla knew how to bake fabulous cakes and I remember her
saying:
"First rights go to my own children. After they are fed -
the rest goes to
my guests!"
Later I was often visiting their daughter Hertha, who had
been recently married to a doctor and had an enchanting baby
whom they named Marki. Since they did not know exactly if
their father, Rabbi Mark, was dead - no one knew then what
had happened to him - they gave the baby a tentative name,
eventually naming the baby after his grandfather.
I lost touch with the family when I and my own family left
for Bucharest and then for Curacao.
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70th Birthday
Party
of Israel Koch |
Israel is seated
in the center with the white beard; Rabbi Mark is seated to
his left. Perla, the Rabbi's wife is standing behind him. |
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