January 27th marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945. Fifty years later, in November of 2005, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed this date International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, or simply International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Holocaust […]
Vitaly Nachmanovych is a historian and ethnopolitologist specializing in Jewish Ukrainian history. His accomplishments are numerous. Among other things he is: a leading researcher at the Museum of History in Kyiv, with a special focus on the atrocity of Babyn Yar, the author of numerous articles and the editor of numerous publications dealing with the
On January 16th, 2014 Jews in Ukraine and around the world will observe Tu Bishvat …traditionally known as the new year of the trees. According to the tradition of the Hasidim, on Tu Bishvat the Almighty decides the fate of trees and their fruits in the upcoming year’s harvest. As on all Jewish holidays and
Brody is a city in western Ukraine, located in the the Lviv Oblast, or province, 90 kilometres northeast of Lviv. It is now the administrative center of the Brody Raion, or district, with a population of about 24 thousand. At one time, Brody was one of the greatest centers of commerce in Eastern Europe, outside
Drohobych is a city located at the confluence of the Tysmenytsia River and Seret, a tributary of the former, in the Lviv Oblast, in western Ukraine. The current estimated population is nearly 78 thousand. Jews had lived in or near Drohobycz as early as the fifteenth century. However an officially recognized community was not established
Kamianets was an ancient and important centre of Jewish life. Now called Kamianets-Podilskyi, today it is a city in western Ukraine, north-east of Chernivtsi. The first part of the city’s dual name originates from камiнь, meaning “stone.” The second part relates to Podillia, of which it is considered to be the historic capital. Podillia is
Many distinguished figures have been laid to rest in Lviv’s Jewish cemetery. Among them are Izaak and Róża Nachmanowicz, the founders of the Golden Rose Synagogue in Lviv. The first mention of the old Jewish cemetery in municipal records dates back to May 27, 1414. The cemetery was established on lands that were bestowed upon
Hannukah starts on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasts for eight days. This year on the Gregorian calendar it starts on November 27 and ends on-December 5. Hannukah is a joyous holiday, celebrated every year by Jews around the world with the lighting of candles on the Menora. TraditionalHannukah treats include hot
As the Jewish High Holy Days draw to a close, the focus of the Jewish community shifts from the solemnity of Yom Kippur to the jubilant celebration of the festival of Sukkoth. In the Jewish diaspora Sukkoth is an eight-day festival beginning on the fifth day after Yom Kippur. Sukkath is also known as the
In the heart of Lviv is a little-known centre dedicated to the revival and restoration of Ukraine’s Jewish heritage. The Faina Petryakova Scientific Center for Judaica and Jewish Art was created in March 2005. The Center is located in the former apartment of Faina Petryakova in Lviv at 14/ 4 Mendeleyeva street. Ms. Petryakova was
