A Literary Look at Ukraine
Ukraine as we know it was created, to a large extent, by literature. Like other national movements, including Zionism, the Ukrainians' struggle for self-determination began with the writing of their story in their own language.
Few people are familiar with the Ukrainian language and its rich literature. In the hundreds of years when parts of present-day Ukraine were part of the Russian Empire in its various incarnations, the use of this language was suppressed, and its very existence was often denied. Therefore, the story of Ukraine is often told as a footnote to the much more familiar Russian story. Perhaps if Ukraine's story were more familiar to us, the terrible events currently taking place would be better understood and less surprising.
At this event, we will provide a window into Ukrainian literature in its historical and political contexts. The event will be moderated by Alexandra Mandelbaum Kopiev, a doctoral student who is writing her doctoral dissertation on Breslav Hasidism and leading a research seminar on Soviet Jewry at the Hartman Institute. She will speak with Shalom Bogoslavski, a tour guide and leader of study tours in eastern Europe, who will talk about the country, its people, and its history. Asaf Bartov, founder of Project Ben-Yehuda and Project Nemala, which is translating Ukrainian literature into Hebrew for the first time, will discuss the way in which Ukraine's struggle for independence is reflected in its literature. From the city of Lviv, scholar Dr. Sasha Dovzhyk will join us online to tell us about the poet, playwright, feminist, and national heroine Lesya Ukrainka, and wandering troubadour Yaron Ben-Ami will sing some of her songs to us.
- Tickets can also be purchased from Eventer (Tel. *6627).
- You are required to wear a mask indoors and follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.
- The number of places is limited. | The program is subject to change.