Ukrainian books overcame difficulties and reached Israel: on October 17, 2026, they will be presented in Jaffa

A new batch of Ukrainian books for children and adults has reached Israel, despite delays, delivery issues, and losses. On October 17, 2026, the literature will be presented at the book stand of the ‘Ukrainian Meeting of Gratitude’ in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Visitors will be offered to get acquainted with the new editions and participate in a book exchange.

Author: R. Verter

“Despite the efforts of unfriendly neighbors to burn Ukrainian books, they still made it to Israel!” — this is how emotionally the organizers announced the arrival of the new batch of literature.

This is a figurative expression reflecting the difficult circumstances in which Ukrainian culture is being spread today. The organizers did not report any literal attempt to burn books.

The books arrived later than planned, and there were some losses. However, the main thing happened: the new editions reached readers in Israel.

Books that were awaited

The organizers have not yet presented a full list of delivered editions, but it is already known that there is literature for children and adults among them. You can get acquainted with the books at a special stand during the Ukrainian meeting in Jaffa.

For the Ukrainian community in Israel, such deliveries have special significance. Finding literature in Ukrainian here is much more difficult than books in Hebrew, Russian, or English. Even when ordering an edition online, buyers face the cost of international shipping and waiting for parcels.

In the context of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, the book has acquired additional significance. It is not just reading in the native language, but also an opportunity to maintain a connection with the culture of a country fighting for its independence.

Moreover, it is not only about recently arrived Ukrainians. Tens of thousands of families live in Israel, connected to Ukraine by their origin. Some continue to speak Ukrainian at home, others want to introduce their children to the language of their parents, grandparents.

For them, the opportunity to hold a modern Ukrainian book in their hands sometimes means more than it seems from the outside.

Ukrainian language in an Israeli family

The Israeli language environment quickly changes children’s habits. At school, they study in Hebrew, communicate with friends in it, watch videos, and correspond. For a child who came from Ukraine a few years ago or was already born in Israel, Ukrainian can gradually become a language exclusively for home communication.

But the parents’ desire to preserve the language is not enough. A child needs interesting stories, adventures, fairy tales, and characters they want to spend time with.

Ukrainian books provide such an opportunity. And not in the form of a mandatory lesson, but through the simple pleasure of reading.

For adults, literature also remains a way to maintain a cultural connection with Ukraine outside the news agenda. The war continues, but Ukrainian life is not limited to reports from the front. Novels, children’s books, historical research, poetry are being published. New authors and publishing projects are emerging.

For NAnovosti — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, this story is important primarily for its Israeli continuation: Ukrainian literature overcomes borders and finds readers even where its distribution requires additional efforts.

Read a book? Bring it for exchange

In addition to the stand with new literature, the organizers of the Meeting invite visitors to join the book exchange.

If there are already read books at home, they can be brought to the event and passed on to other readers. In return, there will be an opportunity to find something interesting for yourself.

This initiative is especially convenient for a relatively small language community. A book that has stood on one home shelf for years can get a new life in another family.

For someone, it will be a modern novel, for someone — a children’s fairy tale that will be read to a child before bedtime.

At the same time, the organizers do not specify whether the new editions will be sold or distributed under other conditions. It is confirmed that there will be a book stand and a separate opportunity to exchange read books at the event.

What is ‘Meeting of Gratitude’ and why is it held in Israel

‘Meeting’ is a Ukrainian colloquial name for a gathering. It comes from the verb ‘to meet’. In Israel, events of the Ukrainian community are held under this name, combining a cultural program, communication, fairs, and charitable initiatives.

‘Meeting of Gratitude’ is dedicated to the defenders of Ukraine and Israel.

The program includes cultural meetings, Ukrainian music, creative events, book initiatives, and a charitable component. The organizers aim to unite people for whom Ukrainian culture, mutual support, and connections between the two countries are important.

A separate place in the program is occupied by the screening of documentary novellas ‘Capable’ by the international initiative Culture vs War. Viewers will be presented with stories of the Ukrainian group DakhaBrakha, human rights activist Oleksandra Matviychuk, and violinist Bohdana Pivnenko.

Earlier, NAnovosti already reported on the preparation of the Meeting of Gratitude in Tel Aviv. Now another important detail has been added to its program — the arrival of long-awaited Ukrainian books.

Where and when the book meeting will take place

‘Ukrainian Meeting of Gratitude’ will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 14:00 to 19:00.

Venue: Nothing:, HaTzorfim Street, 29 (HaTzorfim 29), Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

Admission is free, but pre-registration is required.

You can register through the organizers’ form.

Event details, program, and possible updates are published on the official page of the Meeting of Gratitude on Facebook.

Visitors are invited to come with families, friends, and children. And those who want to participate in the book exchange should look at their home shelves in advance.

From Ukraine to Israel — not just a package of books

A few boxes of literature may seem insignificant against the backdrop of what happens daily in Ukraine and Israel.

But for people living far from their native language environment, such events become part of everyday life. The Ukrainian language is heard not only during official speeches but also at the family table, at children’s parties, in conversations about what has been read.

Books that arrived late in Israel can now find new homes. Perhaps some of them will return to another book exchange in a few months and continue their journey.

On October 17 in Jaffa, Ukrainian literature will have another meeting with readers.

And for the readers themselves — a good reason to meet each other.