VAAD Ukraine

VAAD Ukraine (Асоціація єврейських організацій та общин України) is an all-Ukrainian public organization that serves as an umbrella body for Jewish organizations and communities across the country. It was founded on 14 January 1991, in the final months of the Soviet Union, and established its central offices in Kyiv. The organization is represented by more than 200 branches in over 90 cities of Ukraine, making it one of the largest Jewish communal networks in the country. The association's stated main goal is to create and strengthen structures aimed at national revival and at building ties between Jewish organizations. Its areas of activity include organizing social protection systems for Jewish communities, cultural and educational work (including schools, lectures, seminars, and academic conferences on Jewish languages, history, culture, and traditions), supporting the revival of religious Jewish communities and the return of religious buildings such as synagogues, yeshivas, and schools, providing practical assistance and public oversight on matters of emigration to Israel, combating antisemitism, and expanding ties with Jewish organizations in Israel and other countries. It also performs coordination, information, and representation functions for its members at the state and international levels. VAAD Ukraine is a participant in several international Jewish organizations, including the Vaad (CIS), the European Council of Jewish Communities, the European Jewish Congress, and the World Jewish Congress. It is also a co-founder of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, the Zionist Federation of Ukraine, the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, the World Congress of Russian-Speaking Jews, and the Congress of National Communities of Ukraine. From January 1991 until the end of 2020, VAAD Ukraine published the newspaper "Hadashot" ("News"). The organization's leadership includes co-presidents Andriy Adamovsky and Iosif Zisels, who have served in that role since 2015. In March 2014, VAAD Ukraine, together with the Congress of National Communities of Ukraine, published an appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin condemning the introduction of Russian troops into Ukraine. In May 2018, The Jewish Chronicle reported that a number of Ukrainian Jewish organizations had disavowed Zisels over his support for Nazi collaborators, and more than forty public leaders stated that Zisels and his Vaad "do not represent the Jews of Ukraine"; Jews of the Mykolaiv region also announced their withdrawal from Vaad. Despite these controversies, VAAD Ukraine remains an active and prominent voice in Ukrainian Jewish life, as reflected in its ongoing news output on its official website.

VAAD Ukraine was founded on 14 January 1991, during the final period of the Soviet Union, as an all-Ukrainian public organization. Its central bodies were located in Kyiv. The organization emerged as an umbrella structure to coordinate and support Jewish organizations and communities across Ukraine, at a time when many religious and cultural institutions were being revived after decades of Soviet repression. From January 1991 until the end of 2020, VAAD Ukraine published the newspaper "Hadashot" ("News"), which served as a periodical for the Jewish community. The association grew to represent more than 200 branches in over 90 cities of Ukraine, becoming one of the largest Jewish communal networks in the country. In March 2014, VAAD Ukraine, together with the Congress of National Communities of Ukraine, composed and published an "Appeal to the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin" condemning the introduction of Russian troops into Ukraine. This marked a significant political stance by the organization during the early stages of the conflict. In May 2018, the publication The Jewish Chronicle reported (and "Lechaim" reprinted) that a number of Ukrainian Jewish organizations had disavowed Iosif Zisels due to his support for Nazi collaborators, and more than forty public leaders stated that Zisels and his Vaad "do not represent the Jews of Ukraine." Following them, Jews of the Mykolaiv region also announced their withdrawal from Vaad. This controversy highlighted internal divisions within the Ukrainian Jewish community regarding historical memory and representation. Since 2015, the organization has been led by co-presidents Andriy Adamovsky and Iosif Zisels. The official website of VAAD Ukraine continues to publish news and statements, reflecting its ongoing activities in social protection, education, interfaith relations, and representation of Jewish interests in Ukraine and internationally. The organization is a participant in several international Jewish bodies, including the Vaad (CIS), the European Council of Jewish Communities, the European Jewish Congress, and the World Jewish Congress, and is a co-founder of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, the Zionist Federation of Ukraine, the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, the World Congress of Russian-Speaking Jews, and the Congress of National Communities of Ukraine.

• VAAD Ukraine founded as an all-Ukrainian public organization.

• Started publishing the newspaper "Hadashot" ("News").

• Together with the Congress of National Communities of Ukraine, published an appeal to Russian President Putin condemning the introduction of Russian troops into Ukraine.

• Andriy Adamovsky and Iosif Zisels became co-presidents.

• The Jewish Chronicle reported that a number of Ukrainian Jewish organizations disavowed Iosif Zisels and stated that he and his Vaad do not represent the Jews of Ukraine.

• Ceased publication of the newspaper "Hadashot".

Umbrella association for Jewish organizations and communities in Ukraine, focused on national revival, social protection, education, and representation.

• 2018 controversy over Iosif Zisels' alleged support for Nazi collaborators

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1. 1Асоціація єврейських організацій та общин України (Ваад) — Official Websitevaadua.org
2. 2Ассоциация еврейских организаций и общин (Ваад) Украины — Wikipedia (Russian)ru.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wikidata: Q4071479wikidata.org