Starunya, Ukraine

Starunya, Ukraine – Where Our Story Begins

Tucked into the rolling foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, the small village of Starunya—known today as Старуня in Ukrainian—holds a quiet but powerful place in our family’s history. This is where the first known generation of the Fahn family lived, more than seven generations ago. In the 19th century, Starunya was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in a region called Galicia—a land of diverse cultures, languages, and a vibrant Jewish presence. Life here was simple, often difficult, but deeply rooted in tradition and community.

Starunya was known for its salt mines, and later, for natural asphalt and oil deposits—rare for a village of its size. But for our ancestors, the rhythms of daily life were shaped more by the seasons than by the mines. Many Jewish families in towns like Starunya made a living as tailors, cobblers, shopkeepers, or traveling merchants. They lived modestly, with strong family bonds, deep faith, and a love of learning that carried across generations. Sabbath dinners, Hebrew lessons in small wooden schools, and community celebrations would have been the heartbeat of village life.

Though Starunya today is quiet and changed, the memory of it connects us to a world that no longer exists—but which made our world possible. The people who lived there, whose names we carry and whose choices shaped our lives, are not forgotten. They endured hardship, found joy where they could, and passed on a legacy of resilience that still lives in us. Honoring Starunya is not just about remembering a place—it’s about remembering who we come from, and the strength that has always been in our story.