Cultural and humanitarian cooperation
An important background of the development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and Israel is a presence in the State of Israel about five hundred thousands immigrants from Ukraine, including several tens of thousands of ethnic Ukrainians. Significant role in this process plays the fact that there is more than one hundred thousand Jewish in Ukraine.
The places where prominent Jewish religious and cultural figures were born and lived are of a great interest for Israeli citizens. Every year thousands of pilgrims and tourists from Israel visit in particular, the tombs of rebbe Nachman in Uman, rebbe Shneur Zalman in the city of Hadiach of Poltava region and rebbe Shapiro Rabinovich in Mukachiv.
Besides the abovementioned, Israelis visit other places connected with Jewish history and culture in Ukraine. These include, for example, a house in Drogobych, where B.Schultz, a prominent Jewish artist and writer of mid twentieth century, lived; a house in Rivne where a mother of popular Israeli writer Amos Oz lived and which he has described in one of his books; a place in Buchach where an Israeli writer, Nobel laureate Sh.Agnon was born and spent his childhood.
There is an interest to the Ukrainian culture and language in Israel, retained primarily by immigrants from Ukraine. There are also a number of writers who write in Ukrainian language and organize literary evenings. Some Israeli universities have scientists involved in the Ukrainian studies.
To provide cultural and spiritual needs of the Ukrainian community, the Embassy of Ukraine pays significant attention and provides a support to the local NGOs and organizations of immigrants from Ukraine. Their activities promote cultural and humanitarian ties between the two states, preservation and distribution of Ukrainian culture and language in the State of Israel.
Together with the numerous Ukrainion organisations, the Embassy conducts the activities to mark jubilee and memorable dates in the life of our country. With the participation and initiative of the Ukrainian diaspora, cultural and artistic events
are regularly held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Israel. The Embassy also provides advisory and organizational assistance.
A film club “Created in Ukraine” operates with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel. Hence, community representatives meet monthly to watch and discuss modern Ukrainian movies. Screenings under the umbrella of the film club also take place in different Israeli cities: Haifa, Holon etc. Ukrainian cinema is becoming interesting for the Israeli people, therefore, it is moreover to see screenings of the Ukrainian films in the cinema theatres in Israel.
With the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion into Ukraine, the issue of holding various cultural events becomes even more significant. Hence, many charity concerts, exhibitions, film screenings and other cultural events are organized. All collected funds go to support Ukraine.
Currently, the establishment of a bilateral dialogue in the cultural sphere is considered as an important condition for the partnership enhancement cooperation between two countries.
Constant attention is paid by the Embassy to interaction with Veterans and Chernobyl organizations.
Embassy, within its jurisdiction, provides the necessary support to the Ukrainian churches and religious organizations in the development of conections with coreligionists abroad.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, representatives of the Ukrainian community united to help their compatriots. Thus, a volunteer movement was launched throughout the whole country and specific centers for collecting humanitarian aid were created. It should be noted that help is provided not only by people with Ukrainian rutes. Many Israelis help Ukrainians on an ongoing basis (both in Israel and in Ukraine).
Nowadays there is a tendency in more intensive cultural and humanitarian contacts between Ukraine and Israel in the field of regional cooperation.
Ukrainian Cultural Center in the State of Israel
Since October 2021, the Ukrainian Cultural Center in the State of Israel operates in Tel Aviv (previously it was in Bat Yam).
The Centers functioning contributes to the strengthening relations with the immigrants from Ukraine, as well as the popularization of Ukrainian culture in Israel. The Center performs an educational and informative role, unites representatives of various pro-Ukrainian organizations.
Various cultural and educational events take place in the Center on a regular basis: movie screenings, exhibitions, concerts, creative meetings, lectures, music and thematic evenings, etc.
At the same time, with the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, the Ukrainian Cultural Center played the role of a center of a volunteer activity and a humanitarian aid center.
Address of the Ukrainian Cultural Center: 22, Yirmeyahu str, Tel Aviv.
Information about the upcoming events at the Ukrainian Cultural Center are posted on the official websiteof the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel in the Events section and on the Embassy's social media pages on Facebook and Twitter, Ukrainian Cultural Center in Tel Aviv and Telegram channel of the UCC (t.me/ukrainianculturalcenter). If you have ideas in the cultural area, please write to e-mail: [email protected] and [email protected].