Jews from Ukraine: Leo Motzkin. From Ukrainian Brovary to Kiryat Motzkin, named in his honor
And today in our section “Jews from Ukraine,” we will talk about Leo Motzkin — an outstanding public figure from Brovary, whose name is associated with the history of Israel and Ukrainian Jews. Leo Motzkin (Aryeh Leib) was born in 1867 in Brovary, Kyiv province of the Russian Empire. In this small town, near Kyiv, […]
From occupied Lugansk to Israel: the story of a Ukrainian teacher who continues to teach mathematics online to her students from Haifa
The story of Maya Rybnikova: from occupied Lugansk to Haifa. A significant event for the Ukrainian diaspora took place in Haifa, in the heart of Israel. The Embassy of Ukraine handed over the state award on December 19, 2024 “Honored Teacher of Ukraine” Maya Rybnikova is a math teacher from Russian-occupied Severodonetsk. This award is […]
Ukrainian soldier learns of his Jewish roots and undergoes circumcision after tragedy at the front
While the attention of the Israeli public is focused on the confrontation between Israel and Iran, the war in Ukraine does not subside. Russian missiles continue to strike Ukrainian cities, destroying both civilians and civilian infrastructure. But amid the destruction, losses, and anxiety, there are also stories that inspire — especially for the Jewish community, […]
Since 1976, the Ukrainian mosaic icon of the “Zarvanitsky Mother of God” in Nazareth has occupied one of the central places in the Basilica of the Annunciation – how did this happen?
Entering the churchyard of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, you immediately notice the beautiful mosaic depicting Ukrainian Zarvanitsky Mother of Godlocated directly opposite the main entrance to the temple. It is surprising that this image ended up in such an important place, among the mosaics of other countries – as if the Virgin […]
Jews from Ukraine: The History of the “Jewish Kuren” in the Ukrainian Galician Army of 1919
The Jewish Detachment left a significant mark in history as a symbol of bravery and solidarity between two peoples. In honor of the commander Solomon Laynberg, a street in Lviv was named after him. In 2013, it was proposed to establish a monument to the “Jewish Detachment” in Ternopil, but the project was suspended due […]
Jews from Ukraine: Golda Meir, born May 3, 1898 in Kyiv, became the most influential woman of the century #еевреїзаука
On May 3rd, 127 years have passed since the birth of Golda Meir. The most influential woman of the 20th century was born in Kyiv and became one of the founders of the State of Israel. Meir was one of the most prominent figures in world politics for over 30 years. She became the Prime […]
Two regimes, two names, one face: September 22 is the anniversary of the Soviet-Nazi parade in Brest in 1939 – which paved the way for the outbreak of World War II and the Holocaust
September 22, 1939 an event took place that they still try not to remember in Russia – a joint parade of Nazis and communists in Brest. It was a symbol of cooperation between two totalitarian regimes, which became a dark spot in the history of World War II. It is especially important to realize that […]
Jews from Ukraine: Haim Hazaz – from the Ukrainian village of Sidorovichi to the first ever Israel Prize for Literature
A boy from a Ukrainian Jewish village who survived pogroms and humiliation by Russian authorities in Kyiv became a symbol of Israeli literature. The biography of Haim Hazaz in our permanent section “Jews from Ukraine” is a bridge between Ukraine and Israel, past and future. Roots in Ukraine: Childhood among forests and traditions Today the […]
The first monument to the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine was erected in Jerusalem – what is known?
In April 2025, in Jerusalem, at the Wohl Rose Garden (Wohl Rose Garden), located between the Knesset and the Supreme Court, the first memorial in Israel to the victims of the Ukrainian Holodomor of 1932-1933 was installed. This monument was the result of cooperation between the city of Jerusalem, The Temerty Foundation, The Embassy of […]
Jews from Ukraine: Moshe Segal from Poltava, the man who was arrested for blowing the shofar in Jerusalem on Yom Kippur
The story of Moshe (Moshe-Tzvi) Segal is the trajectory from Poltava to Jerusalem. Youth in the Ukrainian Jewish environment, strict study routine, and the first Zionist circles turn into a public gesture of freedom at the Western Wall on Yom Kippur in 1930. He gave the final sound of the shofar — tekiah gedolah — […]