Jews from Ukraine: Haim Hazaz – from the Ukrainian village of Sidorovichi to the first ever Israel Prize for Literature

A boy from a Ukrainian Jewish village who survived pogroms and humiliation by Russian authorities in Kyiv became a symbol of Israeli literature. The biography of Haim Hazaz in our permanent section “Jews from Ukraine” is a bridge between Ukraine and Israel, past and future. Roots in Ukraine: Childhood among forests and traditions Today the […]
The path from Kyiv to Haifa: Mark Golenkov — a product of Kyiv’s youth football, hero of Maccabi Haifa U19’s victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Youth League
Almost 4 years ago, with the start of Putin’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, a 13-year-old teenager Mark Golenkov arrived in Israel from Kyiv. A repatriate. A goalkeeper. A guy who had been training in the Ukrainian football environment and living a normal child’s life, where training was the main event of the day. And then […]
Jews and Ukrainian Sovereignty: The Reaction of Jewish Communities and Israel to the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine on July 16, 1990 – As It Happened

On July 16, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR of the 12th convocation adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine — a crucial document that proclaimed the supremacy and independence of the Ukrainian republic within its territory. The declaration did not immediately announce secession from the USSR but established the priority of […]
Jews from Ukraine: Vladimir Zeev Jabotinsky (continued)
As promised, we continue our discussion of a Jew from Ukraine – Ze'ev Jabotinsky. #jewsukraine 📝 The biography of Vladimir Zeev is really full of interesting facts, so today we are publishing the second of two posts about him. — First see – Jews from Ukraine: Vladimir Zeev Jabotinsky. 👦🏻 Childhood and youth: Vladimir Jabotinsky […]
The story of Dmitry Fialka, a children’s coach of “Maccabi Be’er Sheva,” who died defending Ukraine in the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
He was born in Lviv, became an Israeli citizen, coached children at “Maccabi Be’er Sheva,” served in the IDF, and then returned to Ukraine — and to a war that was not of his choosing. He voluntarily joined the “Right Sector”, helped train recruits, later signed a contract with the UAF and commanded a platoon […]
Irena Maman: how a seamstress, a repatriate from Ukraine, became a heroine for soldiers in Northern Israel, despite shelling and financial difficulties
Irena Mamana repatriate from Zhitomir (Ukraine), became a real heroine of northern Israel. She sews bulletproof vests, repairs uniforms and helps soldiers, forgetting about herself, despite the shelling and financial difficulties. Her story was told Nikita Aronov on the Israeli portal “Details“. Irena Maman is one of five returnees honored on November 7 for their […]
In Ukraine, a “Kohanim Bridge” was built for $1,000,000: in Gadyach, a Chabad shrine was made accessible to the descendants of ancient priests – what is it and why?
“A 200-meter-long bridge, with 37 sections, 178 steps, and a heating system, allows the Kohanim to safely visit the holy site…“ The construction of the bridge cost more than 1,000,000 dollars. According to the organizers, it is the largest project of its kind in Ukraine and, most likely, in all of Europe. Ukraine is at […]
19 Kislev – Hasidic New Year: historical connection between Jewish heritage and Ukraine
The Hasidic New Year is celebrated on the 19th of Kislev and symbolizes spiritual renewal. This day is associated with the release of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi from prison in 1798, which was a turning point for the Hasidic movement. The founder of Hasidism, the Baal Shem Tov, began his activities in the 1730s […]
Jews from Ukraine: Yevhen “Benya” Yatsyna, the youngest Ukrainian “cyborg” who died in January 2015 defending Donetsk airport
In Ukraine, January 20 is observed as the Day of Remembrance for the Defenders of Donetsk Airport. It marks the anniversary of the end of the battles for the airfield. The events of those days became an important milestone in the modern history of the country. The battles for the Donetsk Airport lasted from May […]
On International Jewish Book Day, December 29, we remember the “Kiev Letter” of the 10th century, confirming the ancient ties between Ukraine and the Jewish people
International Jewish Book Day is celebrated annually on December 29 (International Jewish Book Day). This holiday symbolizes the rich literature and cultural heritage of the Jewish people, reflecting their influence on world culture. However, behind the celebration lie deep historical ties that unite Israel, Ukraine and the Jewish community. One of the brightest pages of […]
March 18: 11th Anniversary of Russia’s Annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea — Jewish Community, Karaites, Krymchaks, and Israel’s Position
11 years ago, on March 18, 2014, Russia annexed Ukrainian Crimea, which led to long-term political and humanitarian consequences. This illegal annexation was carried out in violation of international law and without Ukraine’s consent. On the peninsula, among other ethnic groups, there was a Jewish community, including Karaites and Crimean Jews, small but significant peoples […]
The joint history of Ukrainians and Jews: an exhibition on the mutual influence of cultures opened in Zhytomyr – video
On January 28, 2026, in Zhytomyr, a traveling exhibition “Journey with the ‘Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter’: From Antiquity to 1939” opened at the regional literary museum. The exhibition immediately sets a broad historical scale — from early contacts to the dramatic threshold of World War II — and offers a look at the past without simplifications and […]
“Shameful gathering of Jewish and Ukrainian nationalists”: in 1966, the first rally took place in Babyn Yar
What Happened and Why It’s a Turning Point At the end of September 1966, Kyiv residents independently held a commemoration at Babyn Yar for the first time in a quarter of a century. September 24 — a small quiet action (about fifty people), September 29 — already hundreds. Thus began the city’s “lower” memory, returning […]
“Chornitsa”. In Israel, there is a rock band that writes and sings in Ukrainian.
On April 26, 2024, in Rishon LeZion at the Bella Ciao club, the rock band Chornitsa will perform with their original songs and Ukrainian covers (Acoustic). Tickets and details here – https://www.eventer.co.il/wyqj7 Original songs and Ukrainian hits. “Odin v kanoe”, “Vopli Vidoplyasova”, “Okean Elzy” …. The folk-rock band “Chornitsa” founded by immigrants from Ukraine presents […]
An Israeli photographer creates a project dedicated to Ukrainian women in Israel. Models pose in traditional Ukrainian costumes against the backdrop of Israeli cities, uniting the culture and history of the two nations.
Photo project by Israeli photographer Olga Savinadedicated Ukrainian women in Israelbecame not only a way to preserve cultural heritage, but also a bridge between two peoples. Models dressed in traditional Ukrainian costumes pose against the backdrop of Israeli cities, creating a visual story that unites past and present. “I would like to do a series […]
Natan Sharansky – Soviet dissident, human rights activist, publicist, a good friend of Ukrainians at the level of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Israel
“Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter” continues its project about famous Israelis of Ukrainian origin – Natan Sharansky. Today, Natan Sharansky remains a good friend of Ukrainians at the level of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Israel. His clear stance on international support for Ukraine after the start of the large-scale Russian invasion became a call for the Israeli […]
In Hebrew and in Israel: “Anthology of Ukrainian Poetry, Volume I: Classics (from Skovoroda to Franko)” published as part of Translate Ukraine 2025
As part of the Translate Ukraine 2025 program, 75 new translations of Ukrainian books have appeared, reports the Ukrainian Book Institute (UBI). “We share the results of the Translate Ukraine 2025 translation support program. This year, the Ukrainian Book Institute received 161 applications for participation, 133 applications passed the technical selection, and 80 passed the […]
What is special about Jewish music and how did Ukraine contribute to its development? — opinion
Michal Stamovaa translator of the “Aggadah” of Jewish prayers into Ukrainian and an expert on the history and culture of the Jewish community, in her interview for “Hromadske Radio”writes Project Kesher, discusses Jewish musical traditions in the context of centuries-long interaction with Ukrainian cultureShe represents a look at Jewish music as an important part of […]
A stamp was issued in Ukraine in honor of Rafal Lemkin, a Jewish scientist who defined the concept of “genocide” and who was the first to call the Holodomor “genocide of the Ukrainian people.”
Rafal Lemkin – an outstanding Jewish lawyer of Polish origin, author of the term “genocide”. Lemkin was one of the first to call the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people. He is the first specialist in international law who defined the crimes of the Stalinist communist regime against […]
“Dukh i Litera” is a leading Ukrainian cultural project in the field of Jewish studies, offering a wide selection of books on Jewish studies in Ukrainian
The Publishing House of “Dukh i Litera” is one of the oldest Ukrainian publishers of humanitarian literature, founded in 1992 at the Kyiv Mogilyan Academy. It specializes in the release of books on philosophy, sociology, cultural studies, theology and, above all, on Judaic. For a Jewish audience in Israel, this publishing house is of particular […]

