International Academic Conference “Jewish Communities of Ukraine in the Late Medieval and Early Modern Periods” took place
With the support of the Zionist Federation of Ukraine, the International Academic Conference “Jewish Communities of Ukraine in the Late Medieval and Early Modern Periods” was held in Medzhybizh, Khmelnytskyi region, on 26-27 August 2026.
The conference brought together leading scholars researching Jewish history in Ukraine, as well as researchers from other countries, including Israel, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
Opening of the Conference
A recording of the conference opening is available here.
“When I am here, in the holy city of Jerusalem, where I am currently staying, and tell people that in a few days there will be a conference in Medzhybizh dedicated to these and other topics, they are very surprised. They say, ‘An academic conference in Ukraine? But there is a war there.’
Yes, there is a war, I say. But what are we supposed to do? The conference must go ahead, and academic life must continue.
And people are very surprised. But I am very pleased that thanks to your courage and your willingness to work, this is happening, and scholarship is moving forward,” said Kateryna Malakhova, PhD in Philosophy, Academic Director of the International Interdisciplinary Certificate Program in Jewish Studies, during the opening of the conference.
“We deliberately narrowed the chronological framework of the conference as much as possible, because if we had made it broader, we would have had at least a hundred participants, if not more,” said Oleh Pohorilets, Director of the State Historical and Cultural Reserve “Mezhybizh”, during the opening.
“I teach Jewish history at one of the oldest centers of Jewish studies in the world today. I’ve visited Ukraine many times, and I’m very impressed by the development of Jewish studies here. This conference is proof that Jewish studies is developing remarkably in Ukraine,” said Professor David Fishman, Jewish Theological Seminary of America, who joined the conference online.
“Academic conferences like this are precisely about the development of a country, a community, and its history. They teach us, as citizens, to value and respect our heritage. We will benefit from the fruits of your work, because every tourist who comes here will be able to learn about it and find something for themselves,” said Oleksandr Tkach, Head of the Medzhybizh Territorial Community, during the opening.
Plenary Session
The plenary session featured presentations by Serhii Kravtsov, PhD, Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Volodymyr Potulnytskyi, Doctor of Historical Sciences, the M. S. Hrushevsky Institute of Ukrainian Archeography and Source Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The recordings of the conference’s plenary lectures are available here:
- Serhii Kravtsov, “The Architecture of the Eastern European Synagogue Between Conceptions of the Destroyed and Future Temple”
Watch the lecture - Volodymyr Potulnytskyi, “The Role and Place of B. Khmelnytsky’s Revolution in the Works of Jewish Historians of the 19th-20th Centuries”
Watch the lecture
Participants’ feedback
The conference featured six sections with more than 30 presentations. The research topics are available here. Recordings of the individual sessions will be published separately.
“All the presentations across the six conference sections were remarkably interesting. They inspire further development and research and show that the work you do has an audience and is appreciated,” wrote Olha Yashna, PhD in History, a conference participant, on her Facebook page.
After the conference, participants shared their feedback in an anonymous survey:
“The announced theme was addressed very well. A particular advantage was the several presentations devoted to the Jewish community of Medzhybizh itself.”
“The conference was conducted constructively and accompanied by a lively exchange of ideas, interesting questions, and answers.”
“Only positive impressions: excellent organisation, professional and engaging presentations, and inspiration for further research!”
“A very well-organised conference, with participants logically divided according to their academic interests.”
Organisers
The International Interdisciplinary Certificate Program in Jewish Studies under the auspices of the A. Krymsky Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; the State Historical and Cultural Reserve “Mezhybizh”; the Omeljan Pritsak Research Center for Oriental Studies at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy; and the Medzhybizh Settlement Council.
With the support of the Zionist Federation of Ukraine.
Media Partners: Diye-Slovo Studio, EVREI.TV
