By COLlive Staff
200 community members gathered Sunday in Rostov at the site of the largest mass killings by the Nazis in Russia, to pray and memorialize the victims.
August 11-12 marks 71 years since the mass killing of 27,000 people (mostly Jews) by the Nazis at Zmievskaya Balka (Snake Valley), when they gathered all remaining Jewish residents of Rostov to the outskirts of town to be killed.
After reciting Kaddish, Rostov Shliach Rabbi Chaim Danzinger spoke about the importance of taking on a Mitzvah in the merit of those who perished, and then they heard shofar.
This year, in honor of the event, a book was released containing historical facts about the tragedy, as well as the names of over 3,000 people who were killed at Zmievskaya Balka.
The names were gathered over the past several years via a project called Rememberingrostov.com, as many of those who perished were not reported, and very little information exists about the murders.
Copies of the memorial book were distributed free of charge to all participants. The project is headed by Mr. Yuri Dombrovsky who is sponsoring all expenses related to this important project.
“The names gathered so far are a good start, but we still need the public’s help in sending in any additional names or information they may have,” said Rabbi Danzinger.
For more information go to Rememberingrostov.com.
Video: Rabbi Israel Meir Lau speaks at last year’s memorial event:
Proud of you Chaim!
danzingers (estrin) are the best, friendliest shluchim out there!!!
Is an inspirational Shliach. He and his wife are, to the best of my knowledge at the last count, the only couple on Shlichus in Russia where both the Shliach and Shlucha are North Amaerican born. Keep up the amazing work!!!