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. Rosh Hashana remembers the creation of the world. It’s a time for continuous introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and making plans to do better in the new year… to do Teshuvah – returning to the paths of the Almighty. Rosh Hashana is also called the Feast of the Trumpets, as the central observance of the holiday is the sounding of the the shofar, a ram’s horn. This sound is to awaken souls from their “slumbers” and alert them to the coming judgment. It is a reminder to dedicate one’s life to serving the Almighty and to follow His commandments. The cry of the shofar is also a call to repentance. As the anniversary of man’s first sin, Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the “Ten Days of Repentance” which end with Yom Kippur. At this time of year, the common greeting is “Shanah Tovah,” which means “May you enjoy a good […]

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Klezmer music … it’s instantly recognizable, yet almost impossible to define. It’s a unique sound with a heritage deeply rooted in the shtetls, the Jewish villages of Eastern Europe. The term klezmer is derived from the Hebrew roots “kli-zemer” or “vessel of song.” It reflects the ancient Jewish belief that a musician is not really a creator of music, but rather a vessel through which music flows. It also refers to professional Jewish folk musicians of Eastern European origin. Since the 1970s (nineteen seventies), it also has been used to describe the genres of music they performed. However you want to define it, klezmer is a cultural phenomenon which played an integral part in the culture and celebrations of Ukrainian and other Eastern European Jewry. The tradition of klezmer in Europe dates back to the 16th (sixteenth) century. From then and until the 1930s (nineteen thirties), klezmorim, or klezmer performers, played an important role in Jewish communities. Klezmorim were hired to play at Jewish weddings and other gatherings … as well as at non-Jewish functions. And sometimes, non-Jewish musicians played at Jewish events. As a result, klezmer music became a rather eclectic mix of Eastern European folk styles. So it […]

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Yaroslav Dashkevych was a prominent Ukrainian historian, and one of the founding members of the Scientific Center of Judaica and Jewish art. In a time of rapid devaluation of national values (which is how we can characterize the latest decade of our history), Dashkevych was a significant role model for thousands of people. He was a living example of intellectual and professional honesty, and a real patriot of Ukraine. Even after a lengthy exile in Siberia, he did not give up his beliefs. He remained professional and dedicated to culture. His school of historiography, hundreds of works, articles, and essays will acquire a proper appreciation among future generations. Yaroslav Dashkevych was a Doctor of History, Director of the Lviv branch of the Hrushevskyi Institute of Ukrainian Archeography and Historiography, and head of the historical-philosophical division of the Shevchenko Scientific Society. He was born on the thirteenth of December 1926 in Lviv to Olena and Roman Dashkevych. Yaroslav’s mother was Olena Stepaniv, the first Ukrainian woman officer and a cornet of the Січові Стрілці (Sich Sharpshooters – Sichovi Striltsi). His father, Roman Dashkevych, was a general in the Ukrainian National Republic Army. After studying Ukrainian Language and Literature at the Lviv […]

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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 of Awe.” According to Jewish tradition, on Rosh Hashanah G-d inscribes each person’s fate for the coming year into the Book of Life, and waits until Yom Kippur to “seal” the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend his or her behavior, and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against G-d and against other human beings. The end of Yom Kippur brings absolution by G-d. The ten days leading up to Yom Kippur are known as the Ten Days of Repentance. During this period Jews are encouraged to seek out anyone they may have offended, and sincerely request forgiveness, so that the New Year can begin with a clean slate. This process of repentance is called teshuvah in Hebrew and it is a crucial part of Yom Kippur. Despite what many people may think, transgressions from the previous year are not forgiven through prayer, fasting and participation in […]

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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 around the world observed Rosh Hashana from sundown on Wednesday, September 4th until sundown on Friday, September 6th. Rosh Hashana remembers the creation of the world. It’s a time for continuous introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and making plans to do better in the new year… to do Teshuvah – returning to the paths of the Almighty. Rosh Hashana is also called the Feast of the Trumpets, as the central observance of the holiday is the sounding of the the shofar, a ram’s horn. This sound is to awaken souls from their “slumbers” and alert them to the coming judgment. It is a reminder to dedicate one’s life to serving the Almighty and to follow His commandments. The cry of the shofar is also a call to repentance. As the anniversary of man’s first sin, Rosh Hashanah is the first […]

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