A New
Year's card from Shumsk
Below is a card sent for the Jewish New Year from Shumsk. The
Hebrew text reads "G'mar Chatima Tova" (May you be sealed for
goodness), a traditional greeting at this time of year. The photograph
shows the core of the
old town of Shumsk prior to its destruction. The tall building is the
great synagogue, and on the right is the market square, featuring an
arcade of shops built by David Batt in the 18th century. If anybody can
identify some of the other buildings or areas, please let me know. Sadly, just a few of the buildings pictured here exist today.
This unique image is reproduced with the permission of Shumsk
descendant Yonah
Levenson, who scanned this photograph. We are enormously grateful to
her.