IN 1903 A BOY WAS FOUND MURDERED
The local newspaper “Bessarabets,” reported the boy was killed by Jews, who wanted his blood for their rituals. This newspaper had stoked tensions for years with headlines such as “Death to the Jews!” The hatred towards the Jewish people ran high.
The Russians were fired up and riots began. For 2-3 days in Kishinev, a city of 50,000 (1/2 Jewish), Jews were killed and the women raped. The wounded numbered 500. Over a thousand businesses and homes were damaged & destroyed.
These riots made worldwide headlines. You can read the story here.
7 OR 8 YEARS AGO
I watched Fiddler On The Roof. During the iconic closing scene – Jews fleeing, forced from their Russian homeland, everything they owned on their backs or in their carts, my body convulsed and I was wracked with sobs. I was shocked by my body’s response.
A thought kept repeating “Thank you Great Grandfather for getting us out, thank you for getting us out…”
In that moment I Grokked the sacrifice he had made and how much it must have cost.
YOSEF’S STORY – (We speculate)
Yosef (My Great Grandfather) was a little boy of 8 or so living in the town of Kishinev, Russia when all hell broke loose and enraged citizens began murdering Jews (Ironically at the end of church services on Easter Sunday). He may have seen neighbors, friends and family attacked and killed. He may have been attacked himself. We don’t know.
We know that 2 years later in 1905 there were further riots in Kishinev (and this time in many other Russian cities as well.) This time 19 Jews were killed and many others injured. Maybe he was 10.
We know that at the age of 20, he was shipped off to America – He was the youngest and the last to leave. He never saw his mother and father again.
A SACRIFICE OF LOVE?
(As I understand it) my Great-Great Grandfather (Abraham) and Great-Great Grandmother (Dorothy) had 4 boys, all were sent off to America, a new chance and hope. They were not sent off together though, they were sent off year by year when they were old enough and the family had the money. My Great-Great Grandparents stayed behind never seeing their boys again. We don’t know when they died, but we know they were deceased by 1925.
I can’t imagine what it took to send sons off, one by one, knowing they’d never see them again, to give them a better chance at life…
MOLDOVA
With the fall of the Soviet Union Moldova broke away from Russian rule and reformed as it’s own country. It has been invaded by the Turks, Russians and more. It has changed hands many times. Moldova is perhaps the poorest country in Europe. They are known for wine and not much else.
Moldova’s capital is Chisinau, formerly named Kishinev. My Great Grandfather’s last name is Kishinevsky, then changed to Kishineff, as is my grandfather’s and my father’s. How “Blackwell” came about is another story.
I’m in Moldova now, re-connecting with the family homeland that had been forgotten and left behind. I don’t know if any of my people have returned here in over 100 years. I don’t think my Great Uncles ever returned.
And it feels good to be here. Feels good in my body and in my Soul. The re-connection with this land, city & peoples.
I don’t know how long I’ll stay. Perhaps a month, maybe more. I don’t have a return ticket, but a tourist visit is limited to 90 days.
I know this re-connection to my ancestral homeland is important for Soul & Being.
I don’t blame the people here, as we have seen, people can be inflamed by a corrupt media at any time. The people here are no different, I am no different.
YOUR STORY
Let’s share our stories about ancestral homeland trauma. Let’s honor our ancestors and support sisters & brothers in learning about the importance of this.
Please post your family story – Or comments & thoughts down below. I look forward to reading them.
Jack
* Picture of the entrance to the Kishinev Jewish cemetery taken 10/09/22. I looked for my Great Great Grandparents graves, but they were not listed as buried here.
