Traveling exhibition "A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1939" opens in Bahacheve
On 12 December 2025, the traveling exhibition "A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1939," created by UJE, opened in the Bahacheve Historical Museum. The event became an important part of the exhibition's cultural and educational itinerary, designed to showcase the centuries-old history of coexistence of the Ukrainian and Jewish peoples.
Vitalii Bohoslavsky, Director of the Bahacheve Historical Museum, opened the ceremony, noting the importance of preserving historical memory, especially at the local level. He emphasized that the museum is a space where history meets contemporary senses, and exhibitions like this help comprehend the complex heritage of Ukraine's multiethnic past.
Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr., UJE's regional manager in Ukraine, presented the organization's key initiatives and outlined its mission and intercultural diplomacy projects. He discussed the concept of the exhibition, which seeks to present the history of Ukrainian-Jewish relations in all its complexity — from periods of peaceful coexistence and cultural interaction to dramatic and tragic pages.
In his special and extremely moving address, Ivan Antonovych, a Bahacheve resident who in the past closely cooperated with the local Jewish community, particularly with the Tselikman and Nardorf families, shared personal memories of his youth, his medical practice, and human stories he had preserved in his memory. His story was a living testimony to interpersonal ties, mutual support and coexistence of different communities in the town.
The opening ceremony was attended by Bahacheve Mayor Oleksandr Zaborovets and Secretary of the Bahacheve Town Council Alla Chornobai. In their speeches, they thanked the organizers for their cooperation, emphasized the importance of developing Ukrainian-Jewish relations, drew historical parallels between the fates of the Ukrainian and Jewish peoples, and noted the commonality of their historical trials and tragedies.
Employees of the Bahacheve Public Town Library actively participated in organizing the event. Librarian Tetiana Vovkulenko presented a thematic book exhibition, which included publications about the Holocaust, stories of Jewish families, literature about concentration camps, as well as the world-famous Diary of Anne Frank. The books became an important addition to the main exhibition, enabling a deeper understanding of the topic.
The exhibition generated considerable interest among people of different ages. In particular, eleventh-grade students from Lyceum No. 1, accompanied by their history teacher, Yurii Nasikan, actively explored the exhibition, discussed what they saw, and showed genuine interest in Ukrainian-Jewish history. Olha Shynkeieva, Head of the Fine Arts Department at the Bahacheve Arts School, also joined the visitors, underscoring the event's interdisciplinary and cultural nature.
The town of Bahacheve itself deserves special attention. It has a rich and complex history, in which various cultural and national traditions are closely intertwined. For a long time, the Jewish community was an integral part of its life, influencing its economic, social, and cultural development. Hosting the exhibition was an important gesture of returning to the town's historical memory and honoring the people and communities that shaped its landscape.
After the official opening ceremony, everyone was invited to explore the exhibition, interact, and exchange impressions. Each visitor to the exhibition's opening was presented with a copy of the lavishly illustrated, insightful catalog A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1914. The exhibition was open until 5 January 2026, inviting residents and visitors of Bahacheve to reflect on our shared past and engage in dialogue about history, memory, and mutual understanding.
Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr., Regional Manager, UJE Ukraine
