Funding a Belarus memorial
Internet marketer Ruslan Koganhas resisted an urge to fund a memorial commemorating the members of the Belarus Jewish community who perished in the Holocaust.
Ruslan Kogan
Kogan told J-Wire: “I was just going to donate the full amount but my mum didn’t let me because she said it’s not fair and they want to give everyone from Belarus or with relatives from Belarus the opportunity to contribute and feel part of the initiative.”
On the website set up for those who may want to donate to this project an explanation for the project is outlined.
“Belarus was hit hard by the second world war. Thousands of Jews were slaughtered and many were executed in front of their families.
There is a community of Belarus immigrants in Melbourne, Australia which is organising to build a memorial in Australia. Melbourne Chevra Kadisha have kindly donated land at the MCK Springvale Cemetery.
We are raising funds to build a beautiful memorial to help remember those that have perished and the families that have been torn apart by the holocaust.
To donate funds click http://www.gofundme.com/BelarusMemorial
Kogan, who is one of the top ten in Australia’s Young Rich List, admitted that he would have been happy to fund the $20,000 venture on his own…but his mother who is on the committee, had told him “It’s not fair and they want to give everyone from Belarus or with relatives from Belarus the opportunity to contribute and feel part of the initiative.”
To date $15,000 has been raised.
Ruslan, I have a question: Is the memorial intended for members of the Belarus Jewish community who have been murdered by the Nazis, or is it also to commemorate German and Austrian Jews who have been transported to Belarus in cattle wagons and slaughtered in or near Minsk?