In the Jewish faith, Yom Kippur is known as the  Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur, or Soodny Den’in Ukrainian, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for Jews, as the focus is on atonement and repentance. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days … or in Hebrew, Yamim Nora’im, meaning “Days […]

The name for the Jewish New Year is Rosh Hashana, which in Hebrew means the “head of the year.” It is one of the most important religious holidays for Jews … a day of awe and fear, but also a day of celebration. In 2013 (the Jewish Year of 5774), Jews in Ukraine, Israel and […]

Sambir is an administrative centre for the Lviv region, or Raion, located 73 kilometers from the city of Lviv. Founded in 1199, Sambir has a rich Jewish history, little of which remains. The first mention of Jews living in Sambir dates back to 1447.Over the years, conflicts between Christian and Jewish merchants arose. This led to royal decrees in the mid-fifteen hundreds restricting Jews from trading or living […]

The Legion of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen (Січові Стрілці) in Ukrainian, was the first Ukrainian military unit of the 20th century. The Sich fought on the side of Austria-Hungary, with dreams of an independent Ukraine in the near future. Among the Sich Riflemen were many Ukrainians of Jewish descent. Ludwig Rosenberg, also known as Volodymyr […]

Zhovkva is a beautiful and extraordinary town located 25 kilometers from Lviv … an easy day trip away. From its earliest days, Zhovkva’s population was a mix of Poles, Ukrainians and Jews. Today the towan’s architectural, historical and cultural diversity make it popular with tourists. More than 27,000 visited last year. Zhovkva was founded in […]

Ukraine’s Jewish community is fighting to restore a historical treasure in the heart of Lviv. This treasure is the “Golden Rose” — also known as Turei Zahav — and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Golden Rose is the oldest synagogue in Ukraine. It is also renowned as one of the oldest and […]

The Faina Petryakova Scientific Center for Judaica and Jewish Art has been set up to commemorate the life of Faina Petryakova – a passionate defender and promoter of Jewish art, and a great scholar. Faina Petryakova was born in 1931 in Old Buxov (now in Belarus territory) into a Jewish family. Her father was an […]

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 […]