The preliminary results of the research were presented on March 26, 2026, at the thematic conference «Jewish studies in the archives, libraries and museums of Ukraine: challenges in search, research and preservation».
PROGRAMME OF THE EVENT
The National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is collaborating with UNESCO in the study of Jewish Studies in the archives, libraries and museums of Ukraine. This initiative is implemented with the financial support of the European Union and is aimed at recognizing Ukraine’s multicultural history, promoting Jewish heritage and fostering academic dialogue.
Project participants and and researchers from leading Ukrainian museums, archives and heritage sites presented papers dedicated to the identification, attribution, study and preservation of Jewish collections.
Main conference presentations:
Section 1 (moderator – Taisa Sydorchuk, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy)
- «Collection of Jewish printed books in Ukraine: challenges of identification, attribution and research prospects» - Nadiia Ufimtseva (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy)
- «Judaica in the collection of the National Museum of Ukrainian History: rediscovered assets, research challenges and unexplored topics» - Tamara Kutsaieva (National Historical and Architectural Museum «Kyiv Fortress»
- «Sources on the history of the Jewish Cultural and Educational organization «Kultur-Liga» in Kyiv archival collections: identification, classification and research potential» - Anna Umanska (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy)
- «Judaica from the collections of the National Preserve «Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra» as an example of researching Jewish collections in Ukrainian museums» - Olga Iashna (National Preserve «Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra»)
Section 2 (moderator – Nadiia Ufimtseva, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy)
- «Attribution and Provenance research of Judaica from the collections of the Museum of the History of Religion: the “Silver” und “Metal” Groups» - Maksym Martyn (Lviv Museum of the History of Religion)
- «The history of Jewish Theater in Kyiv through the materials of the collection of the Museum of Theater, Music and Cinema Arts of Ukraine» - Iryna Meleshkina (Museum of Theater, Music and Cinema Arts of Ukraine)
- «The space of agency: the role of local Administration Heads during Holocaust in the Poltava region (based on materials from local archives)» - Tetiana Borodina (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy)
- «Documents of the Jewish Museum in Lviv collections: issues of search and research» - Taisa Sydorchuk (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy)
Over the centuries, the Jewish community has created a significant material and spiritual cultural heritage in Ukraine. Despite the tragic losses of the 20th century, a large part of it is preserved in Ukrainian archives, libraries and museums. Its study and accessibility for researchers and the general public remain of paramount importance.
As Professor Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, Head of the UNESCO Office in Ukraine, noted:
«In times of war, documentary heritage is not only under threat; it becomes a vital resource for resilience. Archives, libraries and museums are not merely repositories of the past; they are spaces where societies preserve evidence of their identity, continuity and historical truth.»
During the conference, the exhibition «Judaica in the Collections of the NaUKMA Research Library and Research Archives» was on display. For the first time, it showcased rare publication by Jewish authors and publishing houses printed in various countries over the past century, as well as unique documents and autographs of prominent Jewish scholars and cultural figures preserved at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academ