Zhytomyr's Literary Museum hosts a traveling exhibition on the common history of Ukrainians and Jews

English transcript for video below

Originally appeared in Ukrainian @suspilne.media

On 28 January 2026, the traveling exhibition "A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1939," comprised of 20 information panels, opened in the Zhytomyr Regional Literary Museum. According to Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr., head of UJE's office in Ukraine, after being mounted in five major cities in Canada in 2015, the exhibition was adapted and translated into Ukrainian and toured across Ukraine.

The exhibition has so far been shown in 15 Ukrainian cities and towns — in regional centers, museums, libraries, and cultural and educational spaces.

"The main objective is to deepen mutual understanding between Ukrainians and Jews, improving awareness of our common history, culture, and, most importantly, the mutual influence they have had on our peoples. Individuals with a Jewish background want to learn more about their Ukrainian origins: how Ukrainian history has influenced their specific families. Thus, our exhibition focuses not only on the tragic pages of history but also on the mutual cultural exchange. This includes intermarriage, the influence of Yiddish on Ukrainian and vice versa, and mutual influences in religion and on the younger generation. Until recently, we did not have the concept of a Ukrainian Jew, but now the phenomenon of Ukrainian Jews is gaining more popularity with each passing year," Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr., explained.

Tetiana Rudenka, head of the Department for Culture and Tourism in the Zhytomyr Region Military Administration, explained in a comment for Suspilne the value of the exhibition for school and university students: "The local history museum and the literary museum will do everything to hold lectures for children here, so that we remember the Holocaust more than on one day. We need to raise this topic, discuss it, and make sure to tell our children, because this can happen to absolutely everyone. We will make video lectures, which we will definitely publish on the website of the Department for Culture."

Vadym Pyvovarov, a visitor to the exhibition, said that it resonated with the present: "What is happening in Ukraine today is to a degree similar to something like the Holocaust. What Russia is doing to the Ukrainian people is practically on the same level as what Nazi Germany did to the Jews in the 20th century."

The exhibition will be open until 15 February 2026.

English transcript for video

"Until recently, we did not have the concept of a Ukrainian Jew. The phenomenon of a Ukrainian Jew is gaining more popularity with each passing year." On 28 January 2026, the exhibition "A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1939" opened in the regional literary museum. The traveling exhibition consists of 20 information panels. Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr., head of the Ukrainian office of the Canadian non-profit organization "Ukrainian Jewish Encounter," said: "The exhibition was created by the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter, a Canadian non-profit organization. In 2015, it was presented in five major cities in Canada. After adaptation and translation into Ukrainian, the exhibition toured across Ukraine." The exhibition was mounted in 15 cities and towns — regional centers, museums, libraries, and cultural and educational spaces. "The main objective is to deepen mutual understanding between Ukrainians and Jews, improving awareness of our common history, culture, and, most importantly, the mutual influence they have had on our peoples. Individuals with a Jewish background want to learn more about their Ukrainian origins: how Ukrainian history has influenced their specific families. Thus, our exhibition focuses not only on the tragic pages of history but also on the mutual cultural exchange. This includes intermarriage, the influence of Yiddish on Ukrainian and vice versa, and mutual influences in religion and on the younger generation."

Tetiana Rudenka, head of the Department for Culture and Tourism in the Zhytomyr Region Military Administration, says the exhibition is valuable for school and university students: "The local history museum and the literary museum will do everything to hold lectures for children here, so that we remember the Holocaust more than on one day. We need to raise this topic, discuss it, and make sure to tell our children, because this can happen to absolutely everyone. We will make video lectures, which we will definitely publish on the website of the Department for Culture."

Vadym Pyvovarov, a visitor to the exhibition, says that the exhibition resonates with the present: "What is happening in Ukraine today, you know, is somewhat similar. If not to the Holocaust itself, then at least to something close. What Russia is doing to the Ukrainian people is practically on the same level as what Nazi Germany did to the Jews in the 20th century." The exhibition will be open until 15 February 2026. Anzhelika Nesterchuk, Tetiana Ryvak, Suspilne News, Zhytomyr.

Translated from the Ukrainian by Vasyl Starko.