Irena Karpa and Iryna Slavinska On Israel

Summarizing the events held by the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter in conjunction with the Jerusalem Book Fair in February 2015, Miriam-Feyga Bunimovych talked with Ukrainian writer Irena Karpa and journalist Iryna Slavinska about their experiences and feelings during their stay in the Land of Israel.

MFB: With the exception of the unexpectedly cold weather in Israel, what has impressed you most about this country? Did you have any certain expectations with landscapes, tastes, and encounters, experiences that came true or vice versa? Did you appreciate meeting with the Israeli public, in particular with the group concerned about events in Ukraine?

Iryna Slavinska: One of my memories features the invisible atmospheric boundary between the two worlds of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. This borderline in my mind is bound to visual markers like the unexpected appearance of large billboards advertising Fifty Shades of Grey, a sign of the sudden increase in the degree of secularism. But seriously, my most genuine impression in fact refers to the work of the Israeli Friends of Ukraine. I'm fascinated by these people and how much they do for Ukraine. I think similar interactions between active young people from different countries are the basis for entirely new foreign policy practices in the world in the future.

Irena Karpa: I believe this is a great and very important initiative. I could only dream of such meetings being held in every country, because Ukraine really lacks appropriate promotion. The living word, the interviews, feeling the breath of modern culture and social life, exchanging experience and—most importantly—human warmth. This has all been revealed to me thanks to the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter. I was overwhelmed with the hospitality, solidarity, the professional organizational approach, and a friendly, caring attitude.

Many thanks to everyone who visited my events. Thanks for buying the books and the CDs kindly provided for my charity sale by KSD and Meridian Czernowitz publishers and the Qarpa band. Now I can only dream of having my book translated into Hebrew and coming to its presentation. Thanks, you are fabulous!

MFB: Do you have any specific associations related to what you saw and felt in Israel with something you had seen before in other countries?

Iryna Slavinska: I think there are associations with other seaports I've visited, such as Barcelona, La Rochelle, and Saint-Michel in Brittany, Odessa, and all the sweet Crimean towns.

MFB: Irena, against the backdrop of your extensive travel experience, what particularly has impressed you about the “land of milk and honey” and its inhabitants?

Irena Karpa: Actually, I have hardly seen any native Israelis. Mostly Banderites! At the beginning of my stay I really felt I got lucky during my not always standard trip. I brought along a pile of shorts and swimsuits, anticipating an abundance of sunshine. But instead what I had to meet face to face were the Sand Storm, the rain, and the wind. Yet everything has charm of its own...

I will remember a long walk on the roofs of Jerusalem with a pro-Ukrainian girl named Sasha from Voronezh, who has been living in Israel for a couple of years. Together with her and Ira Slavinska we were sipping coffee in the Austrian Hospice — that tiny Europe in Old Jerusalem—and were just absorbing the smells, tastes, colors, and sounds.

A journey to the Machane Yehuda market was also quite an adventure. I bought lots of spices, but now I have no clue what to cook with them.

And I'll certainly remember the gourmet Israeli cuisine we were introduced to by the organizers, both in the literal sense on the terrace with incredible Jerusalem landscapes, and in the figurative sense with this wonderful fresh fish and delicious vegetables grown essentially in the desert. That fact continually fascinates me. Also, the eucalyptus desert honey, a gift from the UJE, saves me and my family from the cold even here in Ukraine.

Miriam Feyga-Bunimovich