At the XIII Book Arsenal in Kyiv, a discussion "Yiddish as a Ukrainian language" and books published with the support of the "Ukrainian-Jewish Meeting" (UJE)

International Festival “Book Arsenal” is an annual project of the Mystetskyi Arsenal, held in Kyiv for 14 years. It is a multifaceted cultural event that brings together publishing, literary, visual, musical, and theatrical components.
From May 29 to June 1, the festival will gather 100 large and 11 small publishers, as well as 6 bookstores. Visitors will find the best examples of Ukrainian and world literature — both already published and prepared specifically for the event.
This year, the festival is partially returning to its pre-war format, including the participation of small publishers. The Illustrators’ Fair will also return with 12 artists. In total, more than 200 events are planned: lectures, workshops, meetings with authors, exhibitions, concerts, and performances.
The focus theme of the XIII Book Arsenal is “Everything Between Us — Translation”, curated by Yale University history professor Marci Shore and publisher and translator Oksana Forostyna.

Many Activities: Festival in Detail

The festival program includes over 200 events: discussions, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, author meetings, concerts, performances, fairs, and film screenings.
On May 29, 2025, the Book Arsenal Festival in Kyiv will start with an official opening, followed by lectures, discussions, and workshops on cultural diplomacy, literature during the war, book presentations, and illustration exhibitions. The events will include calligraphy workshops, poetry readings, discussions about Yiddish as a Ukrainian language, performances, and reflections on art and war.
In the following days (May 30-31 and June 1), dozens of events are planned: new book presentations, lectures on translation, author meetings, poetry readings, and workshops for children and teens. The program will include international guests, discussions of cultural ties and heritage, environmental and human rights topics, as well as performances and music.
"Yiddish as a Ukrainian Language": Tragedy and Revival
One of the festival’s important discussions will be “Yiddish as a Ukrainian Language” (June 1, 12:00). At the beginning of World War II, there were between 11 and 13 million Yiddish speakers worldwide, most of them in Ukraine. The Holocaust claimed the lives of 85% of these people.
Today, Yiddish is once again a subject of reflection as a language of Ukraine.
Yiddish-Ukrainian literary translations are experiencing a renaissance during the war.
This will be discussed by academic and poet in Yiddish Dov-Ber Kerler (USA), University of California, San Diego literature professor and translator Amelia Glaser (USA), sociologist, culture researcher, editor-in-chief of “Dukh i Litera” Velvl Chernin (Israel). The discussion will be moderated by translator Tetyana Nepypenko.
Participation of UJE: Cooperation and Memory
The Canadian non-governmental organization “Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter” (UJE) warmly invites you to visit its stand B 1.26 at the festival, where you can learn about UJE’s activities, books published with UJE support, the “UJE Chronology” project, and details about participating in the national student drawing contest “Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter: Our Stories Are Incomplete Without Each Other — 2025”.
NAnews – Israel News notes: UJE’s participation is an important cultural exchange that supports understanding between Ukrainians and Jews.
Visit by the Zelenskys: Support for Culture
On May 30, 2025, the festival was visited by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife. The presidential couple expanded their library with books by Aldo Andrea Cassi “To Kill a Tyrant: A History of Tyrannicide from Caesar to Gaddafi,” Yuriy Yanovskyi “Master of the Ship,” and Ann Napolitano “Dear Edward.”
This gesture underscores the importance of personally supporting cultural initiatives even in challenging times.

Conclusion: Past and Future Together

The three key themes of the festival — the site itself, Yiddish, and UJE’s participation — demonstrate that culture unites Ukrainians and Jews, and shared history serves as the foundation for a shared future.
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The International Festival “Book Arsenal” is an annual project of Mystetskyi Arsenal, founded in 2011. It is an intellectual event in Ukraine that unites and develops the book, literary, visual, musical, and theatrical scenes, addressing profound questions of human existence, society, and culture, encouraging participants and visitors to take a proactive stance. https://nikk.agency/en/at-the-xiii-book/