PART 6. PHOTOGRAPHS
Shepetovka Gravesite
Rabbi Yisroel Meir Gabai and his organization, Agudas Ohalei Tzadikim, performed the important work of restoring the grave of R' Pinchas at Shepetovka and building the ohel that protects it. They also constructed a small guest house for visitors.
Ohel of R' Pinchas at Shepetovka, 2004 (courtesy of Agudas Ohalei Tzadikim)
Rabbi Y.M. Gabai at ohel of R' Pinchas in Shepetovka (courtesy of Agudas Ohalei Tzadikim)
Ohel of R' Pinchas, 2009 (courtesy of Rabbi Tal Zwecker)
Shepetovka ohel at night, 2009 (courtesy of Rabbi Tal Zwecker)
Ner Tamid chandelier in ohel of R' Pinchas, 2009 (courtesy of Rabbi Tal Zwecker)
Grave of R' Pinchas of Koretz at Shepetovka (courtesy of Agudas Ohalei Tzadikim)
Inscription on new tombstone of R' Pinchas of Koretz at Shepetovka, 2009 (courtesy of Rabbi Tal Zwecker)
Crown on tombstone of R' Pinchas (courtesy of Rabbi Tal Zwecker)
Davening at kever of R' Pinchas, 2009 (courtesy of Rabbi Tal Zwecker)
Visitors davening in ohel of R' Pinchas, 2009 (courtesy of Rabbi Tal Zwecker)
Original tombstone of R' Pinchas at Shepetovka (photo undated, probably circa 1913; reprinted from Parashat Pinchas, courtesy of Rabbi Mordechai Gurlitz, 011-972-03-61958222)
Close-ups for comparison of inscriptions on original and new tombstones of R' Pinchas of Koretz at Shepetovka (courtesy of Rabbi Mordechai Gurlitz, 011-972-03-61958222, and Rabbi Tal Zwecker)
Old tombstone of R' Pinchas at Shepetovka (courtesy of Jewish Press, 10⁄20⁄1989, p. 26)
Memorial erected in the post-WWII era in the “new” cemetery at Shepetovka, 2001; this is not the true burial site of R' Pinchas (courtesy of A Simple Jew)
View of Shepetovka, early 20th century (postcard dated July 23, 1902). Synagogue is large white building in background. Reprinted from Sinagogi evreiskaia zhizn (Synagogues: Jewish Life), by Vladimir Likhodedov. Riftur, Minsk, 2007, p. 292.
Additional photos of the gravesite and cemetery at Shepetovka can be seen at: http:⁄⁄www.zadikim.org⁄galleryPage.asp?articleID=44&tableName=gallery_table; http:⁄⁄www.shemolam.com⁄rabbi%20pinchos%20of%20koretz-%20e.files⁄frame.htm, slides 32 to 48; http:⁄⁄www.breslev-midot.com⁄eng⁄photo_album.asp; http:⁄⁄www.mytzadik.com⁄tadik.asp?kever_id=1161&safaid=5; and http:⁄⁄asimplejew.blogspot.com⁄2006⁄09⁄new-jewish-cemetery-in-shepetovka.html.
Tarashcha Cemetery
Rabbi Yisroel Meir Gabai and his organization, Agudas Ohalei Tzadikim, have restored the grave of R' Raphael at Tarashcha on several occasions. In an early restoration, a fence was added; more recently, Agudas Ohalei Tzadikim constructed an ohel to cover and protect the grave.
Fenced grave of R' Raphael at Tarashcha, 1997 (courtesy of Michael R. Tobin)
Close-up of tombstone of R' Raphael, 1997 (courtesy of Michael R. Tobin)
Ohel of R' Raphael at Tarashcha, summer 2003 (courtesy of Rabbi E.E. Frankel)
R' Raphael's ohel at Tarashcha in winter (courtesy of Rabbi E.E. Frankel)
R' Raphael's ohel, with view of adjacent stone marker (courtesy of Lo Tishkach Foundation, 2011)
Tarashcha ohel and rustic surroundings, 2003 (courtesy of Rabbi E.E. Frankel)
Another view of Tarashcha ohel, 2003 (courtesy of Rabbi E.E. Frankel)
Interior of ohel of R' Raphael at Tarashcha, 2004 (courtesy of Breslev Center, Israel)
Grave of R' Raphael at Tarashcha, summer 2003 (courtesy of Rabbi E.E. Frankel)
Praying at grave of R' Raphael at Tarashcha, summer 2003 (courtesy of Rabbi E.E. Frankel)
Kvittels and candle stubs left by visitors to the grave of R' Raphael (courtesy of Lo Tishkach Foundation)
Additional photos of the cemetery at Tarashcha, taken by Michael R. Tobin in 1997, can be seen at: http:⁄⁄www.mrt5.com⁄ukraine⁄/ukr0002.html (rows 2 and 3).
Graves of Disciples
The gravesites of R' Shmerl of Verchivka and R' Binyamin Ze'ev Wolf of Balta, two important disciples of R' Pinchas, were also restored by Rabbi Yisroel Meir Gabai and his organization, Agudas Ohalei Tzadikim.
Cemetery at Verchivka, 2005 (courtesy of Rabbi E.E. Frankel)
Tombstone of R' Shmerl of Verchivka, 2005 (courtesy of Rabbi E.E. Frankel)
Grave of R' Binyamin Ze'ev Wolf of Balta at Safed, 2003 (courtesy of Rabbi E.E. Frankel)
Tombstone of R' Binyamin Ze'ev Wolf of Balta at Safed, 2003 (courtesy of Rabbi E.E. Frankel)
Bershad Synagogue
This 200-year-old synagogue was where R' Raphael prayed. However, he was far too humble to practice as the community rabbi.
Exterior of Bershad synagogue, 2006 (courtesy of G. and R. Shilo)
Study table, chairs, and benches in Bershad synagogue, 2006 (courtesy of G. and R. Shilo)
Ark, pews, lecterns, and prayer books in Bershad synagogue, 1991 (courtesy of Rita Ostrovskaya, “Jews in Ukraine, Shtetls”)
Beadle near ark and cabinet in Bershad synagogue, 2004 (courtesy of I.P. Weisz)
Wooden pews and banners in Bershad synagogue, 2004 (courtesy of I.P. Weisz)
Ezrat nashim [women's balcony] with pile of discarded and mouldering prayer books, in Bershad synagogue, 2004 (courtesy of I.P. Weisz)
Painted ceiling in Bershad synagogue, 2004: “Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yakov” (courtesy of I.P. Weisz)
Additional photos can be seen at: http:⁄⁄czernowitz.ehpes.com⁄reunionposts⁄photos⁄shilophoto⁄berchad⁄index.html (photos of the synagogue and cemetery appear on pages 2 and 3);
http:⁄⁄www.rita-art.org⁄start-e.html (photo gallery: “Jews in Ukraine, Shtetls”);
and
http:⁄⁄scatteredamongthenations.org⁄pages⁄nations⁄ussr⁄ukrainetext1.html.
Midrash Pinhas, 1876, Warsaw, open pages
Midrash Pinhas, 2001, available at http:⁄⁄www.Nehora.com
Imrei Pinchas HaShalem, 2003, edited by Rabbi E.E. Frankel, available at http:⁄⁄www.MySefer.com
Parashat Pinchas, 2008, by Mordechai Gurlitz, available at http:⁄⁄SeforimCenter.com
Bershad
Frontispiece of Bershad [yizkor book], 1946, with design representing the tallit weaving industry for which the shtetl was once famous (courtesy of I.P. Weisz)
Map of Bershad and surrounding region, from Bershad [yizkor book], 1946 (courtesy of I.P. Weisz)
Some views of present-day Bershad can be seen at: http:⁄⁄czernowitz.ehpes.com⁄reunionposts⁄photos⁄shilophoto⁄berchad⁄index.html; http:⁄⁄www.bershad.com.ua⁄fotoalbom⁄; and http:⁄⁄www.bershad.info⁄photo.html.
