- December 22, 2025
- 10:03 am
- Ukraine
Kyiv collective “Bow Nashir” continues to amaze: Ukrainian students perform songs in Yiddish and Hebrew, creating a unique cultural bridge between Ukraine and Israel.
But what is behind this project? Why do students, many of whom are not Jewish, choose such an unusual musical path?
I told this story Eduard Doks, from Kyiv, specially for Vesti
The Sholom Aleichem Museum in Kyiv became a place where famous Jewish songs were heard. Students Department of Vocals, Kyiv University named after Boris Grinchenko presented a program including compositions in Yiddish and Hebrew.
One of the most memorable performances was Roman Stukalo’s performance of the famous Israeli song “Shema, Yisrael”. It was followed by Yiddish songs such as “Afn veg shteit a boym” And “Oifn prypichek brent a firel”performed by students David Zagorulko and Anastasia Troshchinskaya.
David's older sister, Dasha Zagorulko, and Anastasia Grishchenko supplemented the program with Israeli hits such as “Tzel etz tamar le oh yareah” And “Yerushalayim shel zaav”.
History of the group “Bow Nashir”
The Bow Nashir team was created in 2010 on the basis of the Beiteinu Jewish community center. Its artistic director is Svetlana Gmyrina, senior lecturer at Boris Grinchenko University of Kyiv.
Svetlana Viktorovna says:
“We select complex and beautiful compositions that require serious vocal training. This is excellent practice for students, and an opportunity for listeners to get in touch with the Jewish musical tradition.”
A special feature of the project is that most of its participants do not have Jewish roots. However, some students learn about their origins through participation in the group.
Why is this important for cultural connections?
The performance of songs in Yiddish and Hebrew in Ukraine symbolizes not only the preservation of Jewish culture, but also the strengthening of ties between Ukraine and Israel.
According to research, before the Holocaust, about 3 million Yiddish speakers lived in Ukraine. Today in Ukraine the language Yiddish is taught at the academic level at the Kiev-Mohyla Academybut its use in everyday life is extremely rare.
Table: Contribution of “Bow Nashir” to the development of culture
| Indicator | Description |
|---|---|
| Base | 2010 at the Beiteinu base |
| Supervisor | Svetlana Gmyrina |
| Repertoire | Songs in Yiddish and Hebrew |
| Participants | Students of Grinchenko University |
| Performances | Holidays, concerts at the Sholom Aleichem Museum |
Reviews and prospects
Director of the Sholom Aleichem Museum Irina Klimova highly appreciates the performances of the group:
“Bow Nashir concerts are always an event. Young performers sing with such soul that you want to listen to them again and again.”
However, according to Svetlana Gmyrina, the band has not yet had the opportunity to perform outside of Ukraine or record studio albums.
Jewish culture in Ukraine: revival through music
Today “Bow Nashir” is more than just a musical group. This is a symbol of how young Ukrainians, through Jewish music, find new cultural connections and restore historical memory.
As noted NAnews – Israel Newssuch projects help strengthen relations between our peoples and help to better understand each other.
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