The Old Soliterman Family Mill In Bratslav, Ukraine
Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to revisit the town of Bratslav (Breslev) Ukraine, and while my last visit a good 18 or so years ago was during the summer, this time we arrived as winter was just departing so the trees were bare and the landscape brown and I thoroughly enjoyed this special site just as much as I did the first time around. While the reason for our road trip from Uman to Bratslav (about 2 hours drive) was to visit the gravesite of Rabbi Nosson Sternhartz (more on that next week) I couldn’t help but soak in the gorgeous surroundings which includes this very large and dramatic stone building. It was apparent to me, given its location on the river that this was a mill, but no one seemed to know more than that.The building is located just adjacent to the area where one parks at the bottom of the old Jewish cemetary, next to the river. You can’t miss it!
Today as I was doing research for some posts about the effects of the Holocaust in this very area, I came across information about this very building, and to my great surprise it was owned by a Jewish family by the name of Soliterman, and there is even a dramatic story to tell!
Really stunning, right?
Ready for the story about this old mill? Here goes:
The economic life of Breslov picked up somewhat in the early 20th century. in connection with the general industrial boom in the South West Ukraine region. Jews, who formed in this period more than half of Breslov , were almost all engaged in the commercial and industrial sector. Of the 15 industrial and commercial enterprises, most of them were owned by Jews.
One of the most successful entrepreneurs in Breslov was Jacob (Yankel) Solitermann. The Solitermana Mill operated three water turbines and diesel engines creating about a dozen permanent jobs. In 1907 they produced flour worth about 50 thousand rubles, in 1913 – 300 thousand rubles. A prominent businessman known for his generous charity, Jacob Soliterman nevertheless almost became a victim of a blood libel.
In the spring of 1912, when a parcel in his name came into the hands of the police. In package was a bottle of red liquid and a cover letter explaining that the Christian blood was intended for use by the Bratslav Jewish community in the coming Passover. During the search by the police a letter written by an recently dismissed employee, threatening revenge on his former master was found. The investigation established that the worker had arranged the prank and Jacob Soliterman was proven innocent.
This information came from a website called The International Jewish Cemetary Project, and you can find the entire post here.
After some more research I very sadly discovered this information as part of a list of pograms in Bratslav:
May 7, 1919: Local teacher and priest together with peasants organized pogrom which continued 2 days. Among killed Jews were members of famous families Soliterman, Averbah and Umanskiy.
(This information came from a website called History Of Jewish Communities In Ukraine, and you can find the entire post here.)
I am saddened to learn that the history of this beautiful site is laden with tragedy and attrocities committed against the Jews, but it certainly will not keep me from visiting again, hopefully a bit sooner next time!
