Tel Aviv participants discuss controversial issues in the historical memory of Jews and Ukrainians

These sessions were presented in Russian on 14-16 September 2017 at a seminar in Tel Aviv for Israeli youth entitled “Jews and Ukrainians: Controversial Issues of Historical Memory.”

A round table discussion on the possibility of a common Ukrainian/Jewish historical memory and the problem of mutual stereotypes

Is there a historical or moral responsibility by people today for the crimes committed in the past? How many memories can there be? A common memory versus different memories by different nations. How can you teach the tragic pages of history to children? How do you choose heroes? Mutual stereotypes of Ukrainians and Jews and painful questions in their common history.

00:00 – 01:50
An introduction to the four speakers.

01:50 – 02:50
Shimon Briman: a provocative question to begin the discussion.

02:50 – 03:30
Vyacheslav Feldman, Israeli Friends of Ukraine.

03:30 – 09:20
Olexiy Zheleznov, Vasyl Rasevych, and Nicolas Dreyer on German responsibility for the Holocaust.

09:20 – 11:20
Anna Nevzlin (Museum of Diaspora, Tel Aviv): a question about Holocaust teaching in Ukraine.

11:20 – 13:00
Taras Nazaruk on the "polyphony of memories."

13:00 – 18:00
Yevhen Sokolovsky (Israel) and Vasyl Rasevych: Jewish stereotypes about Ukrainians and Holocaust remembrance in modern Ukraine.

18:00 – 27:00
Shimon Briman: about the term "Zhyd" in Ukrainian. A discussion about why the Israeli Knesset refuses to recognize the Holodomor.

27:00 – 34:00
A discussion on Ukrainian/Jewish radicals in history.

34:00 – 35:50
Nicolas Dreyer on building a new national identity after the collapse of the USSR.

Feedback: Summing up and personal impressions of participants of a seminar in Tel-Aviv “Jews and Ukrainians: controversial issues of historical memory”

Exchange of impressions about the seminar: personal opinions on results of lectures and discussions. Participants of a seminar tell what has changed in their perception of the Ukrainian-Jewish history. How it is possible to build the Ukrainian-Jewish dialogue in the future and whether there are prospects of such fair conversation on tragic pages of history of both people?

00:00 – 03:40
Olexiy Zheleznov: "Need to learn more on OUN-UPA/Jews topic"; importance of truth about Ukraine in Israel.

03:40 – 04:50
Olga Brodsky: "I like to save both parts of my identity in Israel – Ukrainian and Jewish elements".

04:50 – 07:20
Anna Nevzlin: Importance of "micro-history" and family researches in Ukrainian/Jewish relations.

07:20 – 09:40
Israeli participant: "It’s important to listen an alternative point of view on Ukrainian-Jewish topic".

09:40 – 11:50
Evhen Sokolovsky: "Revolution of Dignity as example of new Ukrainian heroism".

11:50 – 13:00
Religious participant: "Ukrainian topic is important for us in Israel".

13:00 – 15:20
Andrey (Israeli): "We need to develop such seminar to bigger event".

15:20 – 21:40
Two Israeli women: "We need more information about Ukraine for building bridges of mutual understanding".

21:40 – 28:40
Polyakovsky family (4 persons from Dnipro and Donbas): "Connections with Ukraine are very important for us. Project of Jewish heritage in Dnipro; we cannot return to Donbas".

28:40 – 30:40
Taras Nazaruk (Lviv): "Importance of micro-history and personal stories for Ukrainian-Jewish understanding".

30:40 – 31:50
Ukrainian participant from Ternopil: "I feel a shame for those people (who killed Jews)".

31:50 – 34:10
Nicolas Dreyer: History on family/personal level.

34:10 – 35:30
Leon Girshovich (Israel): Conceptual questions on Ukraine.

35:30 – 37:55
Shimon Briman: "Both people – Ukrainians and Jews, - need for "therapy" of truth – against our old pains".

37:55 – 44:00
Vasyl Rasevych: "I feel very strong and warm reaction from Israeli participants; we need to continue such seminars – in Israel and in Ukraine".

44:00 – 45:26
Taras Nazaruk about "Israeli Friends of Ukraine".

Prepared by Shimon Briman
Edited by Peter Bejger

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