OP head joins Passover celebration with Kyiv Jewish community
Budanov with Rabbi Markovych. Photo: JCC BEIT Menachem
On April 7, 2026, Kyiv’s Jewish community, JCC BEIT Menachem, celebrated Passover. Joining the festivities were Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov, his deputy Iryna Mudra, and Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi.
The Jewish community described the senior officials as “honored guests.” The statement said that Passover serves as a reminder that “freedom always triumphs.”
The overwhelming majority of comments under the community’s Facebook post were sharply negative.
“This is not a Ukrainian holiday. There is no need to impose it on us – let the Jews celebrate it,” wrote Nataliia Babenko.
“I wonder, do they celebrate Ukrainian holidays in Israel? Of course not! So why are they imposing something foreign on us? I do not accept it!” Nadyn Sloboda said.
“Ukraine was and will remain Ukrainian. Do not impose Jewish holidays on us. We are Ukrainians, not Jews,” wrote Liubov Viktorovna.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, in honor of Passover, Zelensky received rabbis from across Ukraine at the Presidential Office.
Read also
OCU opens registration desk for "services" at Lavra
A former church shop at the UOC monastery takes prayer notes and registers visitors for OCU "services".
UOC delegation arrives in Georgia to mark 1,700 years of Christianity
Metropolitan Serhiy of Ternopil and Archbishop Iov of Shumsk concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Shio in Tbilisi.
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates 100,000 UAH for 15-year-old boy's treatment
A UOC eparchy has provided financial aid to seriously ill child.
Metropolitan Pavel leads festive service at Lavra skete
The abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra celebrates solemn service at a capital church.
Pope urges safe grain export from Ukraine
The Pontiff called on the warring parties to ensure grain shipments through the Black Sea, on which the food supply of the poorest countries depends.
UOC believers hold prayerful procession to protect Chernivtsi cathedral
Metropolitan Meletiy, clergy and parishioners prayed for the preservation of the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi and its protection from encroachment.