Jeremy Grant and Misha Aizen at the Zbruch River
This is the foot-bridge over the river Zbrutch leading to Podvolochisk.
The original structure was a wooden one, as can be seen from old photographs.
The old bridge marked the border before the First World War between Tsarist
Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Merchants, mainly Jews, would come
from both sides of the river and meet on the bridge to trade. Alternatively
a Volochisker could pay 30 kopeks for a one-day-pass over the bridge to
Podvolochisk in Galicia.I am standing here with Misha Aizen, the head of
the present-day Volochisk Jewish community, an ex-Red Army hero, a well-known
local headmaster, and a very generous man who, together with his wife,
put me up in their modest home and was my guide throughout my visit. He
provides Matzos and other Jewish items sent on from the Joint Distiribution
Committee to the twenty or so Jews who remain in Volochisk and the surrounding
area. He speaks no Yiddish or English, but will gladly introduce you to
Chaim and Dora Barenfeld, the last two Yiddish speaking Jews of Volochisk,
"biz hundert un tsvantsik", who remember the pre-war years. They are well
worth a visit.
Photographs and Text copyright by Jeremy
Grant 2000
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Last updated 10/25/2000
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