On the official Day of Remembrance for Ukrainians who rescued Jews during World War II — observed annually on May 14 — a special film screening was held at the Menorah Cultural and Business Center in Dnipro. The event was organized in cooperation with the Museum “Jewish Memory and Holocaust in Ukraine,” Menorah Art Platform, and supported by the United Jewish Community of Ukraine.
The event began with welcoming words from Dr. Iryna Radchenko, Director of the Museum “Jewish Memory and Holocaust in Ukraine,” and Dr. Yehor Vradii, Deputy Director for Research. They reminded the audience of the crucial role many Ukrainians played in saving Jews during the war and highlighted the diverse motivations and conditions that inspired people to act with courage under extreme circumstances. The speakers also emphasized the relevance of films that connect the past with the present.
The audience then watched the feature film Shchedryk by Olesia Morgunets-Isaienko. The story takes viewers to wartime multiethnic Stanislaviv (now Ivano-Frankivsk), where three families — Ukrainian, Polish, and Jewish — share intertwined fates in the shadow of a common tragedy.
A special guest of the event was actress Yana Korolova, who played the lead role in the film. After the screening, she engaged warmly with the audience, sharing insights about the challenges and creative process involved in filming.
“This event served as a powerful reminder of the tragedy of the Holocaust, of moving stories of rescue, and of the importance of memory as an essential part of our future,” emphasized Iryna Radchenko, Director of the Dnipro Jewish Museum.
