Exhibition "A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1939" opens at the Hillel Center in Kyiv
On 22 February, the exhibition "A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1939," created by UJE, opened at the Hillel International Center in Kyiv. Hillel is an international Jewish student organization that unites young people and supports the development of Jewish culture, education, and intercultural dialogue. Its center in Kyiv is an important modern space for educational and cultural youth initiatives, as well as a platform for discussing the history and present of Ukraine's Jewish community.
The exhibition has traveled to dozens of cities in Ukraine, introducing visitors to the history of Ukrainian-Jewish relations. It was last exhibited in Kyiv in 2020, on Kontraktova Square. Symbolically, its new home is Hillel, a space where Jewish youth create modern history.
In his welcoming address, Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr., UJE's regional manager in Ukraine, described the organization's activities and the concept of the exhibition, which aims to understand the complex, multifaceted history of Ukrainian-Jewish coexistence.
Lesia Firsanova, director of the Hillel Center in Kyiv, noted that the activities of the two organizations are largely similar in terms of values and goals. Both strive to develop dialogue, education, and mutual understanding among people, which is why it is very symbolic and significant that the exhibition is hosted by Hillel.
After the opening ceremony, visitors continued exploring the exhibition, carefully examining its elements, discussing in small groups the issues of Ukrainian-Jewish coexistence, and sharing their thoughts and experiences.
During the exhibition, Hillel's space became a real museum, with walls adorned with information panels that drew visitors' attention and encouraged conversations about the history of Ukrainian-Jewish relations.
Each visitor to the exhibition's opening was traditionally presented with a copy of the lavishly illustrated, insightful catalog A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1914, which contains a rich selection of historical materials and can serve as a source for further exploration of Ukrainian-Jewish relations.
Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr., Regional Manager, UJE Ukraine
