Participants in the projects "Lessons of Historical Truth" and "Masoret", which operate in our Hesed, visited Sataniv. Don't be surprised that our trips there happen too often: Sataniv was once a Jewish shtetl, it has preserved many historical, cultural and sacred monuments, and we, as true researchers of the history of the Jews of Podillia, find something new every time.
Of course, everyone is attracted by the restored Great Cold Synagogue with its unusual history, shrouded in legends. And also by the three famous stones, standing on which and prayerfully asking the Almighty for healing and all sorts of good things for yourself and your loved ones, you can hope for the fulfillment of your desires. It is already known that the Lord helped to create miracles for many people who sincerely prayed while standing on those stones.
We are very grateful to the tour guide Oleksandr Nishchenko, his tours are extremely interesting. It's as if you return to ancient times and experience together with the cloister the times of its heyday and tragic moments. Since the 1930s, the synagogue has ceased to function as a religious building. And in recent years, revived and renovated, it receives not only tourist groups, but also Jews from all over the world. Divine services are held here, Shabbats and Jewish holidays are celebrated.
Then the project participants visited the Satanic necropolis - an open-air museum. You look at the steles and understand: these are not simple stones, but speaking, a talisman of memory. It is hard to believe that they were made by modest unknown craftsmen, but in fact - true artists, because they managed to spiritualize the stone, breathe thought into it, the thrill of a living feeling. Steles with a large number of elements and symbols became similar to tablets. Ancient life here found a peculiar sound.
We tried to decipher the best-preserved monuments at the Satanic Cemetery. We understood most of the symbols. We want others to understand and appreciate the spiritual value of the matzevs that have come down to us from ancient times, and to preserve them for posterity.
