Who we are and what our goal is
This website is dedicated to preserving the history of the Jewish community of Derazhne. They lived and worked together with Ukrainians, Poles and had a peaceful life until everything was destroyed in World War II. We are here to remember them.
Since the local archive was burned down twice during the war, it is difficult to put together all the puzzles to recreate past events. However, we want to share some of the erased history with you. Here you can find heartwarming stories, heartbreaking stories, interviews, historical charts, lots of photos and videos.
In 2016, Kateryna Kryvko began researching this story and putting it all together. With the help of many people, it has become possible to place everything on one website and share such unique information with the world.
The main goal is to collect all possible information left about the Jewish community of Derazhne and keep it here. If you have anything to share, contact us by email.
Kateryna Kryvko, founder, content manager
The idea for this project suddenly came to me in May 2016. I did not even expect it to become a big research and union of people from all over the world. We must try to recreate a holistic historical picture, without forgetting anyone. I consider it my mission to preserve the memory of the Jewish community of Derazhne, as they have been an integral part of history. They lived, worked, created something, loved and most of allwanted to live... Remembering them and their lives is the only thing we can do. When remembering and talking about the terrible events of the past (WWII), we cannot allow this to happen again.
Solomiia Kotiai, translator
This project was much more than just a translation because Ukraine is not only huge well-known cities but also thousands of small towns and villages. Old days events of those are not widely known, but still they are a precious page in a book of Ukrainian history nevertheless. These remarkable stories must be heard!
Phyllis Grossman, editor, content manager
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We want to say a huge thank you to the people who helped us with the materials for this website
Information, photos and ongoing support - Hryhorii Arshynov
Videos and photos - Andrii Maliuskyi
Videos - ESJF (European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative)
Information, personal stories and photos - Phyllis Grossman
Information, personal stories and photos - Dorie Cohn
Information (personal stories) - Haim Shalev
Information (personal stories) - Ilan Troen
Information from Yad Vashem archives - Timorah Perel
Information - Liubov and Ihor Potapchuk
Photos - Tamara Voitovych
Photos - Serhii Omelchuck
Personal stories - Halyna Bas
Personal stories - Mariia Dybrovuk
Personal stories - Nina Snitiuk
Videos (interviews) - Valentyna Samchuk, Liudmyla Laniush
Special thanks to my parents Tetiana and Kostiantyn Kryvko,
who always supported me along creating this project and who have taught me to respect all cultures, peoples and nationalities
