The UNF Ottawa-Gatineau branch, together with the Paul Yuzyk Institute For Youth Leadership, announce the second annual Canada’s Parliament Education Forum — a unique educational leadership forum to in Ottawa November 20-24, 2013. Want to learn about our government, how it works, and what YOU can do to get involved to make a difference in […]
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The Last Klezmer
One of Galicia’s few klezmer musicians to survive the Holocaust was Leopold Kozlowski. Known as the last klezmer of Galicia, he is a passionate promoter of klezmer. Now 95, he lives in Krakow, Poland where he teaches klezmer to non-Jewish students. Klezmer is a traditional Jewish non-liturgical music with roots in Galicia. Like other folk […]
Continue readingJames Temerty – Founder of Ukrainian Jewish Encounter (UJE)
James Temerty is a distinguished Canadian entrepreneur, civic leader, and philanthropist, and founder of the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter. Well-known and respected for his vision, initiative and servant leadership, James Temerty has received many honours for his achievements. He was born in the Donbas region of Ukraine during WWII. His parents were deported to Germany as […]
Continue readingUkrainian Jewish Heritage: Sukkhot
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 […]
Continue readingBook Review: Crossing the Border by Ksenia Rychtycka
Audio review and interview with Myra … as heard on Nash Holos August 11, 2013 Anthology explores realities of memory and today’s Ukraine Review by Myra Junyk Crossing the Border, Ksenia Rychtycka’s first anthology of short stories, explores the lives of Ukrainians in Ukraine and in other countries. Her poignant stories focus on family relationships, […]
Continue readingYom Kippur in Ukraine
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 […]
Continue readingBook Review: Bequest by Anna Shevchenko
Bequest is the first novel by Ukrainian-born British writer Anna Shevchenko. It is April 2001, and two people separated by thousands of miles are both exploring an 18th century legend claiming that Hetman Polubotko hid a vast fortune of Cossack gold (estimated to be worth 270 billion pounds) in a London bank. There are two […]
Continue readingBook Review: Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell
Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell is a novel set in Willow Creek Alberta in 1938. The story revolves around two Ukrainian immigrant families and the hardships they faced in settling and farming land on the Canadian prairies. After being imprisoned for over two years for stealing grain, Teodor Mikolayenko arrives home. Unable to […]
Rosh Hashana & Uman Pilgrimage in Ukraine
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 […]
Continue readingSambir cemetary
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 […]
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