Traveling exhibition "A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1939" opens in Zviahel

Continuing its journey across Ukraine, the traveling exhibition "A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1939," created by UJE, opened in the Zviahel Local History Museum on 27 March 2026. The exposition consists of 20 information stands and introduces visitors to the centuries-old history of relations between Ukrainians and Jews, highlighting both the dramatic pages of their common past and examples of peaceful coexistence, mutual influence, and cultural exchange.

In his welcoming address, Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr., UJE's regional manager in Ukraine, presented UJE and its activities, emphasizing the importance of educational outreach and outlining the exhibition's history and the stops it made along its journey across Ukraine.

Oksana Khatsanovska, the event moderator and a member of the Zviahel Town Council, spoke about Mordekhai Ze'ev Feierberg, a well-known 19th-century Jewish writer born in Zviahel. He was one of the most prominent figures in the Jewish literature of his time. Feierberg was buried in Zviahel, and a memorial plaque was installed on a wall of the former Chornobyl Synagogue, where he studied.

Zviahel Mayor Mykola Borovets joined the opening ceremony. A history buff himself, he shared his thoughts on its content, closely examined the exhibits, and spoke to the audience, underscoring the importance of such exhibitions for the town's cultural life and for mutual understanding among different peoples and religions.

Olena Zhovtiuk, Director of the Zviahel Local History Museum, spoke about the Zviahel tsaddikim (holy rabbis, Hasidic spiritual mentors) buried in the local Jewish cemetery. Buried in Zhiahel are Rabbi Yechiel Michl Goldman, the Zviahel's second tsaddik, and Rabbi Mordechai Goldman, the third tsaddik. These graves are occasionally visited by Hasidic pilgrims, who consider them holy.

Lina Huk, a talented young local musician, performed the famous Jewish melodies "Seven Forty" and "Hava Nagila" on the violin, imbuing the event with a special atmosphere. Her performance was an emotional highlight, emphasizing that music is a universal language that can unite people regardless of their origin. It was especially symbolic that these melodies were performed by a young musician, indicating the new generation's interest in cultural heritage.

The honorable guests of the event included members of Zviahel's Jewish community, in particular Viacheslav Boichman, as well as Liudmyla Onyshchuk, Deputy Head of the Department for Culture and Tourism of the Zviahel Town Council, Tamara Rzhondkovska, research fellow at the Lesia Ukrainka Literary and Memorial Museum, and others.

After the official ceremony, visitors had the opportunity to explore the exhibition in detail. They actively discussed the presented materials, shared their opinions, and asked questions, indicating considerable interest in the topic. For many of those present, the exhibition became not only a source of new knowledge but also an occasion for a deeper understanding of our common history and its significance for the present.

Each visitor received a copy of the lavishly illustrated, insightful catalog A Journey Through the Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: From Antiquity to 1914. This book contains a rich selection of historical materials and can be a source for further exploration of Ukrainian-Jewish relations.

Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr., Regional Manager, UJE Ukraine