The Jewish World in Ukrainian Short Fiction

In the late 19th century, as well as the first few decades of the 20th century, an interest in short fiction was sparked across the European continent. Ukraine was no exception. Ukrainian short fiction at the turn of the 20th century offers a wide scope of images, experiences, and relationships, as well as the achievements, breakthroughs, and difficulties of the time. Multicultural life was in full swing, and Jewish culture in particular was among the noticeable subjects focused on in Ukrainian literature.

How did Ukrainian short fiction writers represent Jews and Jewish life as well as Ukrainian-Jewish relations? Based on over one hundred pieces of literature, we will delve into the details of Ukrainian literary imagery of the Jewish world. From representations of the Jewish body to dramatically varying images of Jewish women; from the educational discrimination of Jews by the Russian empire to Soviet crackdowns; from images of Jewish agricultural colonies to Jewish settlements being set on fire during pogroms, and so forth. By tracing the anthropology, social conditions, and literary topography of the Jewish world in Ukrainian short fiction, this lecture seeks to present new angles of viewing Ukrainian-Jewish literary encounters.

This event is part of the National Library of Israel’s “Ukrainian Jewish Voices” series.