The grand opening of the exhibition “Journey with the ‘Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter’: from Antiquity to 1939” took place in Bila Tserkva

On March 2, 2026, the ceremonial opening of the traveling exhibition “Journey with the ‘Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter’: From Antiquity to 1939” took place at the Bila Tserkva Regional Museum, organized by the Canadian non-governmental organization ‘Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter’ (UJE). The exhibition highlights the centuries-old history of relations between Ukrainians and Jews—from the first mentions of Jewish communities in Ukrainian lands to the events of the 20th century, offering a broader view of the complex and rich shared history.

Bila Tserkva has a long and rich history of the Jewish community. Jews began to actively settle here as early as the 17th–18th centuries, and by the 19th century, they constituted a significant part of the city’s population. The Jewish community played an important role in the trade, crafts, and cultural life of Bila Tserkva. The city had synagogues, educational institutions, charitable societies, and various public organizations. Despite the tragic events of the 20th century, particularly the Holocaust, the memory of the city’s Jewish heritage is preserved thanks to researchers, public organizations, and cultural initiatives like this exhibition.

The opening of the exhibition took place in the museum space, which has been an important center for preserving the historical memory of the region for over a hundred years. The museum director, Stanislav Davidkov, addressed the guests with a welcoming speech, emphasizing the importance of such projects for a deeper understanding of the city’s history and its multicultural heritage. The host of the ceremonial opening of the UJE exhibition was Alisa Chernetskaya, head of the sector of traveling and stationary exhibitions of the regional museum.

During the opening of the exhibition, Vladislav Grinevich, UJE’s regional manager in Ukraine, spoke about the organization’s activities and its educational and research initiatives. He noted that the exhibition is intended to help visitors better understand the complex and vibrant history of the coexistence of Ukrainians and Jews, as well as to promote the development of an open dialogue about the shared past, present, and future.

Among the visitors at the event were many schoolchildren, for whom the acquaintance with the exhibition became an important educational event. The initiative of the organization—the All-Ukrainian Student Drawing Contest “Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: Our Stories Are Incomplete Without Each Other”—particularly interested the youth, encouraging students to reflect on the shared history of Ukrainians and Jews through creativity.

Natella Andryushchenko, who heads the Jewish Society of Bila Tserkva “Mitzvah,” also addressed the attendees. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of the city’s Jewish community and supporting cultural initiatives that promote mutual understanding between different communities. She noted that it is especially symbolic to hold the opening of the exhibition during the celebration of Purim, as this holiday reminds us of the strength of the Jewish community, its traditions, and the importance of preserving historical memory.

Among the honorary guests of the event was also Yulia Kovalska, head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Bila Tserkva City Council, who emphasized the significant importance of such exhibitions for the development of the city’s cultural life and the popularization of its historical heritage, thanking UJE.

A special atmosphere during the opening was created by the performance of the vocal ensemble “Rikud” from the Bila Tserkva Corporate Lyceum of the Shreiber family. A group of girls performed the song “Light in You,” and this musical number became the warmest and most emotional moment of the event. It reminded those present of the importance of supporting the younger generation interested in history and cultural heritage, while simultaneously engaging in such educational initiatives.

After the official part, guests were able to get a closer look at the exhibition materials. Visitors carefully examined the exposition, discussed individual historical plots, and shared their own reflections on the complex but important history of Ukrainian-Jewish relations.

Each visitor traditionally received a bright and informative catalog “Journey with the ‘Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter’: From Antiquity to 1914” as a gift—a book edition that contains many historical materials and can serve as a source for further acquaintance with the topic of Ukrainian-Jewish relations.

Vladislav Grinevich, UJE’s regional manager in Ukraine, presents Natella Andryushchenko, head of the Jewish Society of Bila Tserkva “Mitzvah,” with a set of books published with the support of UJE.

Vladislav Grinevich, UJE’s regional manager in Ukraine, presents Stanislav Davidkov, director of the Bila Tserkva Regional Museum, with a set of books published with the support of UJE.

The importance of such initiatives for preserving historical memory and cultural dialogue between communities is undeniable. This event became another step towards strengthening mutual understanding and respect between Ukrainians and Jews. In this context, it is worth noting that exhibitions like “Journey with the ‘Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter'” play a key role in shaping public consciousness. Israel News | Nikk.Agency

Source – ukrainianjewishencounter.org