Photos

Trouvé sur GOOGLE à propos de ce rabbin d'Ivano-Frankivsk, ancienne ville polonaise - Stanislawów.
En anglais.
Stanislawow was a city with over 50 synagogues, ranging in size from the large, elegant Great Synagogue in the center of town, to tiny shtibelekh, some of which were merely the living rooms of the homes of neighborhood rebbis, which functioned as places for a minyen to pray, and to study. There is one functioning synagogue today in Ivano Frankivsk. One could say that there is "only one;" and yet one could say that it is a miracle that there actually is a functioning synagogue at this time, over 50 years after the virtual destruction of the entire Jewish community. Keep in mind that Stanislawow had a total population of over 100,000 (perhaps over 150,000), with 25,000 to 30,000 or more Jews prior to WWII. (Different sources vary on exact figures depending on the exact time period referenced in history. We'll add a listing of population statistics to this web site in the future.)
Rabbi Kolesnik was born in Ivano Frankivsk after WWII to Jewish parents stemming from further east in Russia. His parents, having survived the Holocaust, were resettled by the Soviet government in Ivano Frankovsk. He has created a functioning center of Jewish identity by opening the doors of the Great Synagogue for regular services, all year round, despite lack of heat (removed during the Holocaust), and other necessities. The original pews have been replaced by folding chairs. Every shabes, enough Jews come to make a minyen, and services are held. Every High Holiday, Jews come from all of the surrounding towns and villages to pray here. Reb Kolesnik counts the synagogue membership at over 300. A miracle; a tragedy with an eternal flame of hope and strength. (Note: Most, but not all, of the 300 Jews currently in the area did not originate in this city, but were resettled here by the Soviets from further east in Russia at various post-Holocaust times. Nonetheless, they are Jews who are faithfully holding our place in geographic and cultural history. We depend on them, and are grateful to them.)