“Judaism” of the Ukrainian elites: a trick to retain power?

Political and military leaders of Ukraine celebrating Hanukkah. Photo: UOJ

In 2024, the celebration of the "new-style" Christmas coincided with the start of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which is celebrated from 25 December to 2 January. This year, the political and military elite of Ukraine suddenly demonstrated an intriguing interest in religious ceremonies. Not Christian ones, as some might have assumed, but Jewish ones.

This seems especially strange given that in the past year and a half, all the leading politicians and media in Ukraine have actively promoted and even imposed the "new Ukrainian" Christmas, which they have positioned against the "Russian" and "imperial" old Christmas. The need to celebrate Christmas on 25 December "with the entire civilized world" was cited as the reason for the centralised change of the church calendar for the OCU and the UGCC and even for moving public holidays. At the end of 2022, the authorities organised a nationwide survey in "Diya" (a Ukrainian government app) on the date of Christmas celebrations. It seemed like happiness – now, one could fully celebrate on 25 December: attend services, sing carols with friends and colleagues and organise state Christmas events.

However, this year, we saw none of that. There were a few short greetings, but they were mostly formal and politically charged. For example, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that Christmas "symbolises faith in the invincibility of the Ukrainian nation" and "faith in victory". Volodymyr Zelensky did not say anything like that, but he assured that all Ukrainians celebrated on 25 December.

Neither Shmyhal nor Zelensky, nor other top Ukrainian officials were seen in churches. Perhaps they celebrated Christmas secretly on 25 December, but no one knows for sure. Instead, the highest-ranking figures state officials actively took part in other celebrations, specifically the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

To mark the beginning of the celebration, Volodymyr Zelensky invited rabbis to the President's Office and, together with them, lit the Hanukkah menorah.

Zelensky with rabbis at the President’s Office. Photo: Ukrainian President’s website

On the same day, Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko lit the largest menorah in Europe installed in Maidan. "Five-four-three-two-one," Klitschko counted solemnly before pressing the button on the control panel to light the hanukiah.

Later, he lit another menorah, placed at the Kyiv Museum of History. Together with Klitschko, the Jewish ceremony was attended by the ambassadors of Israel and Austria, the deputy ambassadors of Germany and Canada, and the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Asman.

On the same day, at the Kyiv Jewish Community Centre, a special Hanukkah menorah made from fragments of Russian missiles was lit by the head of Ukraine's Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR), Kyrylo Budanov.

Kyrylo Budanov lighting the menorah. Photo: Rabbi Jonathan Markovitch’s Facebook

A few days later, the head of the National Guard of Ukraine, Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko, lit the menorah. Moreover, he did it together with the rabbi in his office. It remains unknown whether Pivnenko is a Jew, and the menorah is always at his workplace, or whether the rabbi brought it along for a photo session.

Head of the National Guard lighting the menorah. Photo: Moshe Asman’s Facebook

However, the country's military leaders are gladly photographed with rabbis not only during Jewish ceremonies but also “just like that”. For instance, here is a photo of the former Commander-in-Chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, with the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Asman.

Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Moshe Reuven Asman. Photo: Asman's Facebook

Here together are Kyrylo Budanov and the other Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Yaakov Dov Bleich.

Kyrylo Budanov and Yaakov Dov Bleich. Photo: Dov Bleich’s Facebook

And here's the already acting commander-in-chief Syrskyi with another rabbi at Zelensky's military breakfast at the Lavra's Refectory Church.

Syrskyi with one of the rabbis at the Lavra’s Refectory Church. Photo: Asman’s Facebook

Soon after, the OCU clergy joined the politicians and military. On 28 December, the "priest" of the OCU, Oleh Sknar, lit the menorah. This took place at the National Clinical Hospital in Kyiv, where the Intercession Church is located.

The clergyman of the OCU, Oleh Sknyar (far right), lighting the menorah. Photo: Asman’s Facebook

Another cleric of the OCU, Vasyl Kosiachenko, either jokingly or seriously called on the authorities to introduce Judaism in Ukraine for victory in the war: "To defeat Putin’s Russia, we need a religion that unites us. If the President of Ukraine, the commanders of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the National Guard of Ukraine are inclined towards Judaism, then maybe all citizens of Ukraine should adopt Judaism? We’ll defeat the enemies, and then we’ll see what happens."

However, other Ukrainians did not take the active involvement of the Ukrainian political and military elite in Jewish rituals so favourably. On 31 December 2024, unknown vandals set fire to a synagogue in Mykolaiv. On 2 January, another vandal "extinguished" a menorah in Lviv by cutting the power cable to the illumination.

Famous Ukrainian singer Katya Chilly posted a sharp criticism of the installation of menorahs in the main squares of Ukraine: "In the center of the Ukrainian state, in the capital of Ukraine, during a war for Ukraine, a symbol of Ukrainian Christmas should be installed. Not other symbols. And not the symbols of other peoples."

At the same time, Katya Chilly noted that while she supports tolerance towards other cultures, it is important to maintain respect for one’s own traditions and land. "Respect, first and foremost, should be for your land, your people, and your traditions, which protect this state and its people," she emphasised.

In the comments, most people supported her, but the media published dozens of stories and articles sharply criticising Chilly, involving politicians and experts. The main arguments of the critics were that the Constitution guarantees Jews freedom of religion, that Ukrainians unhappy with the menorahs are anti-Semites because "they are not ready to accept those who are not like them", and the key point – that all those opposing the menorah in the centre of Kyiv are Kremlin agents.

So, what lies behind this sudden interest of the political elite in Judaism? Could they have suddenly developed a deep love for the Torah? The answer, it seems, is much simpler and lies outside the religious field.

The Jewish lobby has very strong positions among the political elite of the major donor countries to Ukraine. For example, Ukrainian Rabbi Jonathan Markovitch, during a recent trip to the United States, met with the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, and rabbis from Ukraine. Photo: Jonathan Markovitch's Facebook

Here is another rabbi, Moshe Asman, talking to the Speaker of the UK Parliament, Lindsay Hoyle.

Speaker of the UK Parliament, Lindsay Hoyle, with Moshe Asman. Photo: Moshe Asman's Facebook

Here he is with former UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

Boris Johnson and Asman. Photo: Moshe Asman's Facebook

In these countries, it’s quite a common practice for non-Jewish politicians to light the menorah. Here, Mike Johnson is lighting a Hanukkah menorah at the Capitol.

Mike Johnson lighting the menorah at the Capitol. Photo: Moshe Asman's Facebook

It is no secret that with the arrival of Donald Trump to power, Ukraine may face serious upheavals, including changes in leadership. In this context, any public displays of connections with the "right" people can only be beneficial, at the very least.

There is nothing wrong with the Ukrainian authorities so openly supporting a religion to which about 1% of the population belong. It is wonderful that Jews, during martial law, can gather in tens of thousands to celebrate their New Year. It’s excellent that the highest state leaders congratulate them and participate in their religious ceremonies.

However, it is quite regrettable that such demonstrative support from the authorities is extended to the Jewish community against the backdrop of the overt persecution of Ukraine's largest religious denomination. After all, it is good that Jews feel at home in Ukraine. But it is unfortunate that Orthodox Ukrainians are being made to feel as though they are merely guests here.

Read also