Dave Bloom is a member of the board of an organization dedicated to preserving the story of two Jewish communities and surrounding areas in Ukraine. One of them is called Drohobycz and the other is called Boryslaw. Recently a synagogue was restored in this area and Dave has kindly agreed to join us by Skype from his home in Israel to tell us about himself and about the project. Pawlina: So welcome Dave. Thank you for joining us. Dave Bloom: Thank you for having me on your show. Pawlina: Now you live in Israel. Tell us a little bit about your background…how you ended up on this project and in Israel. Because you speak (almost) unaccented English! Dave: Well my personal story is that I was born in what is now Zimbabwe, previously Rhodesia. I came to live in Israel in 1973 and I’ve been here since then. I’m married with two children and I’ve been aways interested—fascinated—in researching my roots. It’s actually my mother’s side—my maternal grandparents—who were born in Boryslaw, which is one of the towns that we’ve mentioned. My mother was born there as well. They came here to Israel, actually, in 1920. So my mother grew up […]

  This week, part 2 of our 2018 Summer Reading List. This list is a compilation of books that have been reviewed on Ukrainian Jewish Heritage here on Nash Holos. Books can entertain, inform, edify. But they always enrich minds – those of the reader but also of the author – some of whom are inspired by the writing a book to write more on a topic that intrigues them. That includes a few of the authors in this list. So here are seven more books recommended by Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio and the sponsor of this series, the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter, for your summer reading pleasure, and edification. East-West Street tells the story of two jurists from Lviv who were instrumental in shaping the precedent setting Nuremberg trial. Most people the world over still really have no idea of the origins of the term genocide, which like the Holocaust, is in danger of becoming an empty cliché instead of a powerful metaphor for the capacity of man’s inhumanity to man. East-West Street is a gripping account of the origins—in effect, the invention—of the terms “genocide” and also “crimes against humanity.” These two concepts became the centerpiece for the […]

What is summer without reading? I can imagine no greater pleasure than sitting down with a good book—or two—on a lazy summer afternoon at the beach or by the pool, on a shady deck, or sprawled out on a lush green lawn. Here on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio, we have been fortunate to learn of and review many excellent books on our series Ukrainian Jewish Heritage. The books cover a wide range of topics involving Jews, Ukrainians, and their interactions over the years. These interactions have not always been amicable, and it is a testament to the authors for broaching controversial topics and examining them with sensitivity, empathy, and a sense of fairness. These books cover a myriad of topics over a broad time frame. Most are available at public libraries, from booksellers, or both. So I’ve compiled a two-part list of 14 books for your summer reading pleasure. Here is Part 1. Stories of Khmelnytsky Stories of Khmelnytsky features provocative essays by distinguished scholars from throughout North America, Europe, and Israel. It takes an honest look at one of the most contentious historical figures plaguing Ukrainian Jewish dialogue. This book carefully addresses, without attempting to resolve, the fundamental […]