Visit of Zeev Elkin and Alon Shoham to Dnipro (Ukraine) – “Nativ” will resume its activities in Ukraine “in pre-war format”

On November 10, 2025, an official visit of the Israeli government service “Nativ” delegation took place in the city of Dnipro (Ukraine). Minister Ze’ev Elkin, overseeing the organization’s work at the office of the Prime Minister of Israel, and the head of “Nativ” Alon Shoham visited the Israeli Cultural Center and the Museum of Jewish People and Holocaust Memory, operating in the “Menorah” complex. This event became significant for Israeli-Ukrainian relations and an important signal to the Jewish diaspora: Israel is returning to full-fledged work with the communities of Ukraine.

The visit on November 10, 2025, was reported by the official website of the Israeli government (in Russian for some reason…).

Symbolic Return and Official Confirmation

The publication notes:

“Today, November 10, Minister Ze’ev Elkin and the head of the organization ‘Nativ’ Alon Shoham paid a working visit to the city of Dnipro (Дніпро) (translated into Ukrainian for some reason).”

Elkin highly appreciated the community’s activities, emphasizing the contribution of the leaders of the city’s Jewish organizations, who provide support and social programs for all residents of Dnipro — regardless of nationality or religion.

In turn, Alon Shoham stated:

“In accordance with the directive of Minister Ze’ev Elkin, the organization ‘Nativ’ will return the volume of its activities in the cities of Dnipro and Odessa to those that existed before the start of the war in the region.”

This phrase became the central theme of the visit, marking a strategic turn — Israel intends to restore its humanitarian and cultural presence in Ukraine to the extent that existed before 2022.

Meetings in “Menorah” and the Revival of Trust

During the visit, the delegation visited the “Menorah” community center — the largest Jewish complex in Europe, where the Israeli Cultural Center “Nativ,” the Museum of Jewish People and Holocaust Memory, and the “Golden Rose” synagogue are located.

The guests were accompanied by Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, reported by “Nativ-Ukraine,” one of the most influential spiritual leaders of Ukraine. In the museum hall, a meeting was held with 150 leading representatives of the Jewish community, where issues of religious education, social support, and the possibility of expanding Hebrew study programs were discussed.

Ze’ev Elkin noted that Israeli cultural centers play a huge role in strengthening ties between Israel and the Jewish communities of Ukraine. He thanked Rabbi Kaminezki for his leadership and contribution to the development of the community, emphasizing that in wartime conditions, the role of such centers only increases.

“Nativ”: A Bridge Between Israel and the Diaspora

The organization “Nativ” was founded in 1952 at the initiative of David Ben-Gurion. Its mission is to preserve and strengthen Israel’s ties with Jews from the countries of the former USSR and Eastern Europe, assist in repatriation, and spread knowledge about the history, language, and culture of the Jewish people.

Since the early 1990s, “Nativ” has created a network of Israeli Cultural Centers (ICC) operating at diplomatic missions. Today there are 4 in Ukraine — in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa, and Dnipro. These centers have become platforms for studying Hebrew, holding lectures, film screenings, and meetings with Israeli writers, actors, and scientists.

“Nativ” also has the exclusive right to verify the right to repatriation under the Law of Return and issue aliyah visas for citizens of Ukraine.

Political and Cultural Context of the Visit

The return of “Nativ” to Ukraine signifies not only the relaunch of cultural programs but also the strengthening of diplomatic dialogue between Jerusalem and Kyiv. Against the backdrop of Russian aggression, the visit of Elkin and Shoham became a sign of support for Ukrainian Jews and recognition of their contribution to the country’s life.

In Dnipro, where Jewish life has always been an integral part of the city’s identity, the restoration of “Nativ’s” activities is perceived as an act of trust and the revival of cooperation between the two peoples.

Today, “Nativ” is not only part of Israeli diplomacy but also a living mission of memory and unity. Dnipro has become the place where this unity has once again taken shape.

NANews — Israel News × Ukraine, November 11, 2025.