EVERYBODY HAS HIS OWN BABIY YAR

CHRISTIAN AND JUDAIC DIALOGUE

JEWISH ROOTS IN AFRICA

YIDDISH UN YIDDISHKAIT

The question about establishing the "Babiy Yar" Museum and the Museum of Jewish history in Ukraine has been discussed since the first days of the formation of the Kiev Jewish culture society, that is since 1988. The attitude of local and control authorities to our proposals was positive. They gave us a building in Melnikov street N 46. It is on the territory of the former Jewish cemetery where the "Menorah" monument is standing now. In 1991, on the 50th anniversary of the Babiy Yar tragedy, there was an exhibition dedicated to the tragic events.

No construction to a "regular" moment. No sculptural and architectural symbol. A comprehensive project is needed to work for future generations.

It was a hot day in August (25), 1942, when German battalion N 101 was executing a current anti-Jewish operation in the Polish town of Medzizhech. All Jews of this town were sent to camps for extermination. Before sending them there, the Jews were driven to the market square and made sitting motionlessly under the burning sky. Any disobedience was punished with death. Many prisoners used to lose consciousness. Anyone who tried to stand up was immediately shot. Soon the market square was filled with corpses. Among the killed there were many children for whom it was difficult to sit motionless.