- September 11, 2026
- 6:39 pm
- World News
Fair, Ukrainian culture, new acquaintances, and support for the military — on October 17, 2026, in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, the ‘Ukrainian Gathering of Gratitude’ will take place. The meeting is dedicated to the defenders of Ukraine and Israel, and the organizers invite everyone interested to attend. For those who want to do more than just be a guest, they offer the opportunity to get involved — to come to the fair with their project or join the volunteer team.
Author: Pavel Shveiko
The word ‘Zdybanka’ may be unfamiliar to an Israeli reader who does not speak Ukrainian. It comes from the Ukrainian ‘zdybatysia’ — to meet, to see. But in Israel, a recognizable format has already formed around this word: people gather together for Ukrainian culture, communication, music, books, initiatives, and projects that usually exist each in their own circle.
On October 17, 2026, such a meeting will take place in Jaffa — at Ha-Tsorfim, 29, near the Nothing: space.
It starts at 14:00 and ends at 19:00. The fair will operate until 18:00.
This time, the name was also chosen deliberately — ‘Ukrainian Gathering of Gratitude’, Zdybanka of Gratitude. It is dedicated to the people defending Ukraine and Israel.
And an important point: this is not a closed event ‘only for Ukrainians’. The organizers invite everyone interested — Israelis, new and long-time immigrants, friends of Ukraine, families, volunteers, people interested in Ukrainian culture, and those who just want to spend a few hours in a different atmosphere.
In Jaffa, they want to gather those who usually meet in different places.
In the announcement, the organizers used a very precise Ukrainian word — ‘rozvorushyty’. That is, to slightly stir up ‘Ukrainian life’ in Israel.
Not to reduce it to one concert or several official dates a year, but to give people a place where they can meet, see old acquaintances, find an interesting project, talk to masters, learn about the work of local initiatives — or propose something new themselves.
The specific program for October 17 is being revealed in parts. The organizers promise a lot of Ukrainian, new formats, meetings, and what guests already know from previous Zdybankas. Therefore, we will not invent a list of artists or performances before the team announcement.
However, the arrangement of the day itself is already clear. And it implies that a person can come as an ordinary visitor or find themselves inside the event — with their small business, public initiative, products for the fair, or a few hours of free time for volunteering.
Who are ‘Ukrainian Gatherings in Israel’
Behind the event is the community ‘Ukrainian Gatherings in Israel‘, which promotes the Ukrainian language, culture, and traditions in Israel. The team has different formats — from large meetings to chamber cultural events.
This is far from their first big Zdybanka. In the spring of 2025, the team, together with Nothing: and other Ukrainian projects, already held a large spring meeting with a cultural program and workshops at the same address Ha-Tsorfim, 29. And in August 2026, ‘Ukrainian Gatherings in Israel’ organized in Tel Aviv ‘Zdybanka of the Independent’ for the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
In other words, it is no longer a one-time party invented for one date. Gradually, a platform is forming around Zdybankas where Ukrainian cultural life meets ordinary Israeli life — without the need to choose between them.
The Nothing: space in Jaffa also fits into this logic. There are theatrical laboratories, musical and conversational events, including projects in the Ukrainian language; therefore, the address for such a meeting is not new.
Fair: you can come not only to buy
From 14:00 to 18:00, the fair will be operating at the Zdybanka. And now the organizers are recruiting its participants.
They invite masters, businesses, public initiatives, and organizations. That is, it’s not only about souvenir or food sellers: if a person has their own project and wants to present it to visitors, they can discuss participation with the organizers.
For those who will be directly selling goods at the fair, there is a condition — 30% of sales. Part of this amount will go towards expenses related to the event, the rest — to the collection for Ukrainian military.
The format is designed for one trading table and no more than two participants. The organizational conditions specifically state that the table must be brought with you.
Participation can be paid on the day of the Zdybanka — via Bit or in cash. Bit does not need to be introduced to Israelis, but for those who have recently arrived in the country, we clarify: it is one of the most common applications in Israel for instant money transfers. If a participant needs a receipt, they are asked to specify the necessary details in advance in the form.
The application for the fair must be submitted by October 8.
Registration of masters, businesses, initiatives, and organizations for the ‘Gathering of Gratitude’
If a company or public initiative wants to cooperate with the organizers but does not intend to trade at the fair, this option is also provided. The conditions in this case will be discussed individually after filling out the form.
Part of the money will go to the 47th Brigade’s signalers
The fair has a very specific address for assistance. Part of the collected funds, the organizers plan to transfer for the needs of the signalers of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
For the Israeli reader, it is worth explaining the terminology here. AFU — this is the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the abbreviation SMB means a separate mechanized brigade. Signalers in such a brigade provide units with communication and information transmission — without this, normal management of people, equipment, and actions on the front is impossible.
This continues the already familiar practice for Israel, where assistance to Ukraine arises not separately from cultural life, but within it: at events, meetings, charitable projects, and initiatives of local communities.
The same connection between the two countries has long gone beyond cultural events. Recently, NANews reported how Israel and the Kyiv region discussed expanding rehabilitation programs after 57 Ukrainian specialists underwent Israeli training — we wrote more about this cooperation here.
Why Ukraine and Israel are side by side in the name
The wording ‘in honor of the defenders of Ukraine and Israel’ sounds much more understandable for the current Israeli reality than it might have a few years ago.
In Israel, there are people whose families are literally divided between two armies and two wars today. One relative may serve in the IDF, another — remain in Ukraine. Someone came to Israel after the Russian invasion and then experienced October 7 and the subsequent war here.
Therefore, the organizers connect Ukraine and Israel not for a beautiful phrase on a poster. For some visitors to the Zdybanka, this is their own family geography.
At the same time, the cultural connection between the countries is much older than the current wars. One of the recent examples is an expedition of researchers from Jerusalem who went to study the preserved Jewish heritage of Ukrainian Podolia. More than 30 synagogues in Ukraine were included in their study, about which NANews reported in detail in a separate material.
Ukrainian — the language of the event, Hebrew — the second working language
The Zdybanka will be Ukrainian-speaking, and the organizers ask fair participants and volunteers to communicate with visitors in Ukrainian or Hebrew.
For an Israeli who does not know Ukrainian, this is an important detail: you can come calmly. Hebrew is provided as the second language of the event, so the Ukrainian character of the Zdybanka does not turn it into a closed space.
It turns out to be quite an Israeli construction. Ukrainian remains the language of culture and the very idea of the meeting, and Hebrew allows including people who may not have Ukrainian roots at all.
You can come as a guest. Or you can help put it all together
A separate story — volunteers. The organizers are looking for people ready to join the preparation and conduct of one or several elements of the event.
The direction of work can be chosen in the form. Professional event organizing experience is not required here — a person is needed who is ready to properly fulfill what they have taken on, be attentive to guests, and work together with the rest of the team.
The organizers separately remind: a volunteer during the event becomes part of the team and represents the Ukrainian community of Israel. Therefore, people are expected to be friendly, responsible, and have a normal attitude towards each other.
For a few hours of work, of course, they are not going to leave a person without water and a sandwich. Volunteers are promised food and drinks during the event, good company, and a small souvenir gift.
There is also a strict rule: during volunteering, alcohol and any psychoactive substances are unacceptable. Communication within the event — in Ukrainian or Hebrew.
You can fill out a separate volunteer form here.
October 17: what is already known
So, ‘Ukrainian Gathering of Gratitude’ will take place on October 17, 2026, in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Ha-Tsorfim, 29, near the Nothing: space. It starts at 14:00, the fair operates until 18:00, the meeting itself — until 19:00.
Until October 8, registration of fair participants continues. In parallel, volunteers, partners, masters, business representatives, and public initiatives are being gathered.
And you can come on October 17 without your own project — the organizers invite everyone interested.
Someone will come for the Ukrainian atmosphere. Another — to see the fair. Someone will find people here they previously only knew through Facebook. And a few purchases at ordinary trading tables in Jaffa will eventually turn into support for the signalers of the Ukrainian brigade.
Perhaps, for a Zdybanka with the name ‘Gathering of Gratitude’, this is the most understandable program.
