- August 19, 2025
- 10:53 pm
- Ukraine
The Sholem Aleichem Museum in Kyiv is the only state museum in Ukraine where the history of Yiddish and the Jewish shtetl comes alive within the very home of the literary classic. Exhibitions, lectures, and rotating displays make it a point of attraction for Jews in Israel and the Ukrainian diaspora, and NAnews provides a detailed overview.
Memory That Greets You with “Shalom Aleichem”
On March 2, 2009, at 5 Velyka Vasylkivska Street in Kyiv, the Sholem Aleichem Museum opened — the first state-run space in modern Ukraine dedicated to the life, work, and era of Sholem Aleichem.
The house where the classic author lived from 1896 to 1903 became not just a memorial space, but a meeting point of cultures for Jews from both Ukraine and Israel.
“Kyiv is my city… The fact that I cannot be in Kyiv brings me sorrow,” — Sholem Aleichem replied in 1908 to a congratulatory telegram marking the 25th anniversary of his literary career.
Kyiv and Ukraine in the Writer’s Biography
Kyiv played a crucial role in shaping Sholem Rabinovich, later known as Sholem Aleichem (“Shalom Aleichem” — “Peace be upon you,” a traditional greeting). It was here that he wrote his iconic works: “Menachem-Mendl”, “In the Small World of Small People”, the “Tevye the Milkman” stories, and “All of Berdichev”.
These writings helped embed Yiddish culture into global literature and made the author a chronicler of shtetl life.
Permanent Exhibition: From Manuscripts to Matzevot
The Kyiv Sholem Aleichem Museum’s permanent exhibition tells the story of the writer’s life and work, while also offering visitors a chance to explore the spiritual and material culture of Eastern European Jews. During guided tours, visitors can see Jewish ritual items and objects from traditional Jewish households.
Monitors in the exhibition hall display film and theater excerpts based on Sholem Aleichem’s works, Jewish architecture, and the unique craftsmanship of Jewish stonemasons — including Jewish gravestones (matzevot), rare books, manuscripts, and calligraphy samples. The exhibition also features an installation about the Beilis Trial, a legal case that captured public attention across Russia and Europe in the early 20th century.
The museum’s main hall offers a deep dive into the spiritual and everyday life of Jews in Eastern Europe, including:
- Ritual and household items
- Ancient books, manuscripts, and calligraphy samples
- Fragments of plays and films based on Sholem Aleichem’s works
- Authentic Jewish gravestones (matzevot)
- Installations about the Beilis Trial — an event that shook early 20th-century Europe
This permanent exhibition makes the museum a place where the past doesn’t gather dust in archives but speaks directly to visitors in the language of image and memory.
In addition to the main hall, the museum includes a gallery for temporary exhibitions — new showcases are launched almost every month, many focused on Jewish themes in art.
Temporary Exhibitions and “The History of Jewish Clothing”
The museum’s second exhibition space hosts monthly special projects. Currently, it features “The History of Jewish Clothing” — a display exploring the symbolism and function of traditional Jewish garments. Through shawls, caftans, and tallitot, visitors learn how clothing reflected religious identity, gender, social status, and communal belonging.
Past exhibits included “The Shtetl Through the Eyes of AI” and the moving art series “Return Alive!”.
The Museum as a Cultural and Research Center
Under the leadership of director Iryna Klymova, the memorial home has become a dynamic hub, offering:
- Lectures on Ukrainian and world history — online and in-person
- The “Pages of Jewish History and Culture” program for Kyiv schoolchildren
- “Draw Together” art workshops led by Iryna Klymova
- Conferences, seminars, cultural meetings, and concerts
The museum serves as a guardian of memory, a research institution, and a cultural bridge.
Connection with Israel: Why It Matters Today
For Jews in Israel, especially those of Ukrainian descent, the museum has become a place of memory and renewal. It holds the history they carried with them, and here their culture continues to resonate.
This is why NAnews — Israel News regularly reports on the museum’s projects, highlighting its importance in the Ukrainian-Israeli cultural dialogue.
Practical Information
Address: Kyiv, 5 Velyka Vasylkivska St. (Metro “Lva Tolstoho”)
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11:00–17:00 (ticket office closes 45 min before)
Phone: +380 (44) 235-17-34
Website: sholomaleichemmuseum.com
The museum is part of the Kyiv City History Museum Network, which includes nine branches — each dedicated to a different page of local and national memory.
In Conclusion
Sholem Aleichem once said: “I am the chronicler of the Jewish people.”
Today, the museum that bears his name continues that chronicle — adding new chapters about resilience, culture, and the bond between Israel and Ukraine.
NAnews — Israel News will continue to cover cultural events shaping the shared future of our nations.
