Yesterday, Journalist and Author Vladislav Davidzon spoke at the exhibit about the history of Ukraine and the current state of the war. The talk centered on the complex relationship of Jews in Ukraine before and during the war and the relations between Ukraine and Israel before and since the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022.
He talked about the history of Jews in Ukraine and The Holocaust with clarity and historical detail. As with all Eastern European countries the tragedy was immense and complex. He also addressed the accusation by Russian of Nazis in Ukraine. Davidzon gave numbers and background to show the (small) scope of Nazi organizations before the invasion, and how those groups joined the rest of the nation to fight the Russian invasion. He also spoke with encyclopedic knowledge about the Nazi collaboration during World War II in Russia as well as Ukraine and other countries.
After the talk, I ordered Davidzon's book: Jewish-Ukrainian Relations and the Birth of a Political Nation: Selected Writings 2013-2023 on Amazon.
Next month when I return to Capital Hill with the American Coalition for Ukraine, I will be better informed to discuss why as an American Cold War veteran I support Ukraine and it's fight against Russian invasion and tyranny.
The first paragraph of Davidzon's Wikipedia page showing more ofthe range of his work:
Vladislav Grigorievich Davidzon (born 7 March 1985) is an artist, writer, editor and publisher, film producer best known for his journalism and chronicling on post-Soviet politics with an emphasis on cultural affairs.[1][2] Davidzon is the former publisher and editor-in-chief of The Odessa Review, an anglophone publication that focused on the cultural life of Odesa, Ukraine.[3] Davidzon is a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council at the Eurasia Center and is the author of From Odessa with Love, a novel about modern Odesa.[4] He is known for his daily practice of keeping an artistic [5] daybook/diary[6] and also for his work as a collage artist.[7] In March 2022 he burned his Russian passport[8] in front of the Russian embassy in Paris with former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves holding the lighter.[9]
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Another lovely poster of the Affirmation of Life Exhibit:
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