- September 25, 2024
- 5:20 pm
- Ukraine
On September 24, 2024, in the Khmelnytskyi (Ukraine) regional scientific and methodological center of culture and art, to the sounds of the shofar, an exhibition by Dmitry Polyukhovich entitled “Satanoff: The Lost World of an Ancient Jewish Cemetery” (or “The Stone Lace of Ancient Matzevahs”). The exhibition is dedicated to the traditional art of the Jews of Ukraine and is based on stone carvings on tombstones-matzevahs dating from the period from the mid-17th to the beginning of the 19th century.
The exhibition was first presented in the largest Jewish museum in Ukraine, “Memory of the Jewish People and the Holocaust in Ukraine” (Dnipro). After that, it visited Kyiv and Odessa. In January of next year, it will be shown in Vinnytsia. The organization of the exhibition was made possible thanks to United Jewish Community of Ukraine (OEOU), which financed the production of expensive tablets and provided assistance in the organization.
Polyukhovich is a member of the team of the NGO “Ukraine Incognita”.
Particular attention should be paid to the opinion of art historian, professor, chairman of the Academic Council of the Ukrainian Association of Jewish Studies Yevgeny Kotlyar (Kharkov), who assessed Polyukhovich’s works:
“The beautiful and original works of Dmitry Polyukhovich, as unique prints, preserve and return to us the generous wealth of Renaissance and Baroque forms of these masterpieces of Jewish traditional art. The author carefully preserves their warmth, texture, and play of light and shadow.”
He also compared the patterns on the matzevot to the shortbread cookies that Jews traditionally baked for Purim:
“The eye slowly glides over these fragile ochre patterns, evoking associations with the delicate shortbread cookies baked for the holiday of Purim by Jews in the former shtetls.”
The exhibition presents not only works of art, but also reveals the culture, worldview and customs of the Jews of Ukraine. Each image on the tombstone has a hidden meaning, which the author of the exhibition has been researching for two decades.
The project “Graves of Ancestors” is being implemented in partnership with the NGO “Ukraine Incognita” and under the patronage of the mayor of Gorodok Neonila Andriychuk. Its goal is to explore old necropolises, including Jewish cemeteries.
At the opening ceremony of the exhibition, warm words were spoken by the operational director of OEU Vitaly Kamozin:
“It is a great honor for the United Jewish Community of Ukraine to support the exhibition with the author's project of Dmitry Polyukhovich, who found a unique way to show the beauty of the matzevot carving. The matzevot of eastern Podillia have the highest level of art among other regions of Ukraine.”
Roza Tapanova, director of the National Historical and Cultural Reserve “Babi Yar”, also spoke. She noted the symbolism of the date:
“It is symbolic that after traveling across Ukraine – Dnepr-Kyiv-Odessa, the masterpieces of the ancient masters of Satanov are returning to their homeland, Podolia, precisely on the days when the world celebrates the sad anniversaries of the Babi Yar tragedy.”
Director of the Hesed Besht Charitable Foundation Igor Ratushny emphasized the importance of memory and the preservation of cultural heritage:
“Where there is memory, there are no words needed! Exhibitions are a unique cultural and historical event for our city and all of Ukraine.”
In conclusion of the opening, Maya Onishchuk, director of the KhONMCKM and Honored Artist of Ukraine, noted that:
“The main thing for us is to show the high culture, customs and beliefs of the people who have lived and continue to live next to us for centuries.”
The exhibition will be on display until the end of the month, after which it will move to the premises of the Hesed Besht charity foundation.
Satanovskoye Jewish Cemetery – is an ancient necropolis located in the small town of Sataniv in Podolia, Ukraine. It is considered one of the oldest and most unique Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Europe, with burials dating back to the 17th–19th centuries.
The cemetery is a cultural and historical monument, as matzevot have been preserved on its territory – traditional Jewish tombstones, skillfully carved from stone. These tombstones amaze with their complex Baroque and Renaissance ornaments, carvings and symbolic images, which not only indicate names and dates of birth and death, but also convey deep religious and cultural meanings associated with the lives of the deceased.
Each ornament or symbol on the matzevah carries a coded message. For example, images of animals can symbolize the character traits of the deceased, while symbols of plants and trees often point to beliefs in the immortality of the soul and the hope of rebirth.
Despite the destruction and decay, the cemetery retains its special place in Jewish history and culture. Over the years, work has been carried out to restore and research it. The Ancestral Graves project aims to study the cemetery in detail and preserve its heritage for future generations.
Today, the Satanivske Cemetery is not only a place of remembrance, but also an important object for the study of Jewish history and traditional art of Ukraine.
Satanov — one of the oldest sites of Jewish settlement in Western Ukraine, with a community dating back to the 16th century. In its heyday, Sataniv was an important Jewish cultural and religious center, home to a synagogue founded in 1532 and a famous cemetery with graves dating back to the 17th century. The town’s Jewish community has endured tragedies including pogroms, the Holocaust, and repressions, but their legacy lives on in its architecture and monuments. Sataniv symbolizes the centuries-old Jewish presence in the region, and an exhibition on its history reminds us of the importance of preserving this rich culture.
The preservation and study of sites such as the Satanivske Jewish Cemetery and cultural monuments related to Jewish history in Ukraine is of vital importance to both the Jewish and Ukrainian people for several reasons.
1. Common historical heritage
The history of Jews in Ukraine goes back hundreds of years. It is inextricably linked to the development of Ukraine itself, as Jews played a significant role in the economic, cultural and spiritual life of the country. Satanovskoye Cemetery, as an ancient monument of Jewish culture, reflects the common roots of the two peoples. It symbolizes those deep ties that were formed over centuries, when the Jewish community and the Ukrainian people lived side by side, experiencing both periods of prosperity and tragedy together.
2. Memory and Continuity
Cemeteries like Satanivske and other cultural sites are important places of remembrance. They remind us of events, people, and communities that survived hardships and preserved their culture even in the darkest times. For the Jewish people, this is an important aspect of the continuity of traditions that are preserved and passed on to new generations. For Ukraine, this is an important reminder of the diversity and historical richness of its culture.
3. Counteracting oblivion and vandalism
The study and restoration of such sites is of key importance in the fight against oblivion and vandalism. During the war and under totalitarian regimes, many monuments of Jewish culture were destroyed, and their restoration is not only the restoration of historical justice, but also a symbol of solidarity with the Jewish community. The restoration of sites such as the Satanovskoye Cemetery helps not only Jewish but also Ukrainian researchers and historians to preserve the memory of the past.
4. Education and cultural exchange
It is important for both nations to preserve and study such cultural heritage in order to pass on knowledge of their shared history and avoid prejudices. Preserving monuments such as the Satanovskoye Cemetery creates educational opportunities for young people. This promotes mutual understanding and respect between nations, especially in the context of the complex history of the 20th century, which included tragic events such as the Holocaust and deportations.
5. Strengthening international ties
Restoration and preservation of Jewish cultural heritage sites in Ukraine is also of international importance. It helps strengthen ties between the Jewish diaspora around the world and Ukraine. Joint projects to preserve such monuments can serve as a basis for further cultural and humanitarian cooperation between states and peoples.
Thus, preserving monuments such as the Satanivske Jewish Cemetery and projects to study Jewish heritage in Ukraine is not only a tribute to the past, but also an important step in building a future based on mutual understanding, cooperation and respect for the diversity of cultural traditions.
