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NaUKMA Hosts Conference on Judaica in Ukraine’s Archives, Libraries, and Museums

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Published on Wednesday, 01 April 2026 10:39

A scientific conference "Judaica in the Archives, Libraries, and Museums of Ukraine: Problems of Identification, Research, and Preservation" was held at NaUKMA. The event brought together researchers, museum professionals, and representatives of cultural institutions to discuss the study and preservation of Jewish documentary heritage in Ukraine.

The conference was opened by Olha Poliukhovych, NaUKMA Vice President for Research and Academic Affairs and Research Director of the Project; Bohdana Laiuk, Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine; Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, Head of UNESCO Antenna in Ukraine; and Taisa Sydorchuk, Head of the Omeljan Pritsak Research Centre for Oriental Studies.

In their speeches, the speakers emphasized the particular relevance of the topic amid the full-scale war.

"Documentary heritage is vital for preserving Ukrainian culture during the war. Today, as our cultural heritage suffers daily losses, issues of digitization and ensuring access to documents become critically important," stated Olha Poliukhovych.

"Studying and digitizing Jewish documentary heritage in Ukraine allows us not only to preserve historical records but also to revive voices, tell stories, and promote a shared understanding of Ukraine’s rich and diverse culture," highlighted Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi.

Within two thematic sessions, participants presented research results on Jewish collections from Ukrainian archives, libraries, and museums. The reports covered topics such as the attribution and provenance of Judaica, identification of archival sources, study of museum collections, as well as specific aspects of Jewish theater history and the Holocaust in Ukraine.

Special attention was given to issues of access to sources, their preservation, and integration into modern research and educational practices.

An important part of the event was the exhibition "Judaica in the Collections of the Research Library and the Research Archive of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy," where rare publications by Jewish authors and publishers, as well as unique documents and autographs from university collections, were exhibited for the first time. After the conference, participants took part in a curator-led tour of the exhibition.

The conference was held within the framework of the project "Jewish Heritage in Ukraine: Interdisciplinary Reflections Through the Lenses of Archival Documents, Culture, History and Literature," which aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the Jewish contribution to Ukraine’s multicultural history and to foster interdisciplinary scientific dialogue.

The project is implemented by the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in partnership with UNESCO, with financial support from the European Union. The content of publications within the scope of the project is the sole responsibility of the partner and does not necessarily reflect the views of UNESCO or the European Union.