Friday, December 22, 2017

JERUSALEM A CAPITAL OF ISRAEL



UN GENESABLE UNDERTAKED TO NOT RECOGNIZE JERUSALEM A CAPITAL OF ISRAEL

The resolution was supported by all permanent members of the UN Security Council, except the United States.

"For" voted France, Great Britain, Germany, Russia.

Nine countries opposed, including Israel and the United States. Another 35, including Canada, Latvia and Australia, abstained. In total, 128 countries participated in the voting.

The representatives of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova simply ignored the voting and did not appear on it.

The results of this voting did not become a surprise. The anti-Israeli resolutions in the UN are not a novelty, they are adopted systematically, with the more meaningless wording. This resolution is another nonsense that can not be taken seriously. But the theater of absurdity that takes place in the United Nations should be stopped long ago. I am grateful to all the countries that did not support this decision, and in particular to Ukraine.

Jerusalem will always be the capital of Israel, nothing will change it.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Ivan Kozlovsky

«My soul in Ukraine» - said Ivan Kozlovsky, a prominent Ukrainian opera and chamber singer. And it confirmed this in fact: he recorded Ukrainian songs, performed with the Ukrainian folk instrument orchestra, opened a music school in his native village, and each year invited the children-singers to visit. He was not afraid to sing songs that his soul sang, despite the fact that he could be punished for them, for example, for Shevchenko’s "I don’t care".. Today is the Day of Remembrance of Ivan Kozlovsky and we must honor his indestructible talent.

Ivan Kozlovsky was born on March 24th, 1900 in the Marianivka village. Ivan’s father was a tailor, he loved to play the accordion. The son also loved music - from birth was endowed with exceptional hearing and melodic voice. Therefore, at 8 years the boy was sent to Kyiv, where he began singing in the choir of Mikhailivskiy Zolotoverhiy Cathedral. They say that Mykola Lysenko heard him once and noted his exceptional talent.

Later he was interested in theater – when he was 15 years Ivan Kozlovsky participated in productions of the Society of Ukrainian actors as chanter. In 1917, the boy entered the Kiev’s Institute of Music and Drama. He made his debut in the theater Kozlovsky Sadowski - in the role of Andrew in the opera "Zaporozhets beyond the Dunai". In addition, Ivan sang in the choir of Alexander Kosice. Ivan’s brother Fedir together with the choir went on tour abroad, and Ivan himself did not go because he was drafted into the Red Army. The choir did not return to Ukraine, because Soviet power appeared at that time. The brothers saw each other in half a century, and because the brother did not return, Ivan was not allowed to go to tour abroad.

When the service in the army came to an end, Ivan’s voice came there again - now in Kharkov and Sverdlovsk Opera theatre and later - in USSR Bolshoy Theater. The first role for him was a small party of Fool in the opera "Boris Godunov." He made his hero from the secondary to a main character because of his voice and charisma. And now the actors around the world try to repeat his manner of representation of the image, because then he made a furor.

In 1920 Kozlovsky married the actress Alexandra Hertsyk. She perfectly played lyrical roles and was 14 years older than her lover. Their relationships ended also lyrically - after 14 years of marriage, Ivan left his wife for a young movie star - 20-year-old Galina Sergeeva. But their marriage eventually fell apart. Galina had several men and married last in her 76 years, but Kozlowski remained alone. And had many admirers and two faithful friends - secretary Nina and research assistant Olga.

In 1954 Ivan left the Bolshoy theatre, and continued to perform solo concerts. In 1970, to his anniversary Kozlovsky made a gift to himself - recorded the disc named "Ukrainian Christmas carols." But a significant part of this edition in the Ukrainian SSR was destroyed.

Ivan Kozlovsky died on December 24, 1993 of pneumonia in the Kremlin hospital. The last book he read was about Vasilkov town. Together, we have to remember that Ivan Kozlovsky - a remarkable man for Ukraine. Whatever the Russians would now assign his talent to the treasury of its history, Kozlovsky always stressed that he was - Ukrainian. This is not written in Russian biography of the singer, but we know that from the words of people close to him.

All his life Ivan Kozlovsky dreamed of spreading the Ukrainian folklore all folk songs and stories. He sincerely believed that by remembering the dead, we continue their lives. So let's combine these two things today, and turn on a Ukrainian song performed by Ivan Kozlovsky. Eternal memory to the prominent singer!

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Vasyl Slipak



"Responsibility has increased at times. We have no right to be in depression. We must pull ourselves out at any cost. We have a unique chance and we have no moral right to lose it. We have no right to lose Ukraine! "- said the warrior, defender of Ukraine and well-known opera singer Vasyl Slipak. Today he should be 43 years old. But Vasyl, the callous "Myth", died in a battle on the Svitlodarsky arc on June 29, 2016 from a sniper's ball.

Vasyl was born on December 20, 1974 in Lviv. Guy has loved to sing since childhood. In the family, nobody related to music professionally - Vasyl's mother worked in the design bureau, father was a specialist in the production unit. But the grandfather, in honor of which the boy was called, had a unique voice, which passed on to the grandson.

At the age of six, Slipak's first performance took place - at the village wedding, Vasylko sang the song of the Marenichy trio "Silence around." Everyone was delighted. When the boy was 9 years old, his older brother Orest took him to the Lviv State Academic Choir "Dudaryk". There was formed the taste of the prominent Ukrainian opera singer. With “Dudarik”, Vasyl Slipak performed in the most prestigious concert halls of Ukraine and the world: from the National Opera of Ukraine to Carnegie Hall in New York. In the choir, Vasyl Spivak sang until 1994.

During his studies and after the end of the Lviv Conservatory, Slipak performed a lot and participated in various contests. In 1997, Vasyl successfully passed the selection for membership in the Parisian National Opera. His voice allowed him to begin a successful solo career in France and Europe. For almost twenty years Vasyl Slipak had lived abroad. Last concerts he gave on May 25-27, 2016, in the Temple of the Holy Trinity in Lyon, France.

Vasyl Slipak always had an active civic position. Immediately after gaining independence of Ukraine, he joined the "Faith and Light" movement, which was aimed to help people with special needs. Together with his brother Orest, he organized concerts in minors' colonies in order to morally support those who fell behind bars. During the events of the Revolution of Dignity, he could not come to Ukraine, because he had a contract with the Opera, but coordinated public actions in France aimed at supporting Ukraine, sent Ukrainians humanitarian aid, collected money, and organized charity concerts.

When the war started in Donbass, Vasyl created a charitable organization "Fraternité Ukrainienne / Ukrainian Brotherhood", helped Ukrainian defenders, and subsequently joined them. Slipak had been on the front for three times. For the first time he went on war in May 2014, fought at the Pisky near the Donetsk airport, participated in the battles for Avdeevka. In the war Vasyl Slipak took a callous "Myth" - in honor of the most beloved arias - the party of Mephistopheles in the opera of Charles Gounod "Faust."

For the second time Basil went to the front in September 2015, fought in the village of Vodyana near Mariupol, just on the line of collision. Subsequently, he returned to Paris. For the third and last time, Slipack returned to the Donbas on June 18, 2016 to deliver the collected help to the volunteer defenders. He planned to stay on the war for half a year. But after 11 days he died from a hostile ball, which was released by a sniper from a high-caliber rifle. Vasyl Slipak saved his brothers for the price of their own lives. At that time, Ukrainian troops repulsed an attack on a town of Lugansk and went on a counteroffensive.

On June 30, 2016, Vasyl Slipak was posthumously awarded with the Order "For Courage" of the 1st degree. He became the first Hero of Ukraine among volunteers. Theopera singer and warrior was buried on the Lion of the heroes of the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv.

Vasyl Slipak is a lighthouse of the Ukrainian nation. Through his spiritual light, he pointed to the whole path, the path of goodness, devotion, sacrifice, and patriotism. Although he was forcibly extinguished, Ukrainians should go further and not change the road.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

FIRST INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL-COMPETITION OF UKRAINIAN SONG AND ROMANS WAS HELD IN ISRAEL



FIRST INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL-COMPETITION OF UKRAINIAN SONG AND ROMANS WAS HELD IN ISRAEL

In the city of Rehovot, the Israeli folk theater organized an event in which 50 participants from different countries of different ages competed in two categories - professionals and beginners. A compulsory condition for the competition was the performance of one song in Ukrainian.

In addition, the guests of the event could admire wonderful works of Petrikovsky painting by the Honored Master of Folk Art of Ukraine Tamara Vakulenko.

The festival was attended by Israelis, including repatriates from Ukraine, representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel, as well as Ukrainian guests and journalists.

Knowledge of the culture of our peoples brings Ukrainian and Israelis together. I sincerely thank the organizers for their initiative, called to deepen friendly ties between Ukraine and Israel. I'm sure that the unique Ukrainian song conquered the audience and left no one indifferent

Monday, December 18, 2017

Mykola Kulish


"Every one of us lives for ages, because we, above all, are ideas," wrote the prominent Ukrainian writer, playwright, director and public figure Mykola Kulish. Today we mark the 125th anniversary of his birth.

Mykola was born in Chaplynka (now Kherson region), in the hired family. The boy has been hired as well, he has been in work for 5 years. Soon Mother of Kulish died, his father married for a second time, began to drink. Nicholas lived in the shelter. He was very capable of studying, his teacher noticed it and decided to raise money in order to send the boy to study. He found 100 rubles, thanks to which Kulish went to Oleshkovsky College. There he began to write, but for that he was expelled - satirical verses by Nicholas did not please the leadership of the school.

Nicholas settled in the room in the family of the Nevells, felt in love with their daughter Tosya and subsequently married her. She gave him two wonderful children - the daughter Olga and the son Volodymyr.
Kulish, who was 22 years old, sent documents to the Odessa University to the Faculty of History and Philology. He was enrolled to the first year. However, the boy had to study at the Odessa School of ensigns, because the First World War began. Military service Mykola carried in Smolensk, hit the front. During the war he was injured, got contusion. Kulish returned home as a completely different person.
In 1925, together with his family, Mykola moved to the main cultural center - Kharkiv. There lived in the house for young criminals. Because of this, by the way, homelessness has also become one of the themes of his work.

In Kharkiv, Kulish met with the most famous Ukrainian writers, including Ostap Vyshnya Mykola Khvylovy, Arkady Lyubchenko. Yes, probably, the most important was the meeting with Les Kurbas. Together they created a new Ukrainian theater.

Their creative tandem was extraordinary, the knowledge of Kurbas and the intuitive feelings of Kulish allowed to create masterpieces. For example, the play "97".Everyone was impressed by their thoughts and ability to show their soul through the theater, to feel the images.
In addition, in Kharkiv Kulish was engaged in social activities, in 1926 he headed the literary organization VAPLITE (Free Academy of Proletarian Literature), edited its magazine. He was also the editor of the "Prolitfront" and "Literary Fair".
Mykola Kulish was extremely worried about the fate of his people: "Hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands of Ukrainians swore at Shevchenko's image not to fold, until Ukraine is free to be restored," he wrote. On the man during the Holodomor of 1933, Antonina Kulish recalled: "I saw that hunger destroys my child (daughter Olga) and asked Mykola to get somewhere to buy some food. Nicholas answered me: "What is Olga ?! When all people, all of Ukraine are dying from starvation? "He did not think about me or about children. He forgot about himself, barely moving his legs: he was exhausted to the edge. "
At the same time, an ideological campaign was launched against Kulish, and the plays “People Malachi”, “Mina Mazaylo”, “Pathetic Sonata” were called hostile to the communist regime.

The last product of Kulish was "McLenna Grace." Socio-psychological drama narrated about the confrontation between man and society. Unfortunately, for Nikolay this confrontation was solved. On December 7, 1934, he was arrested and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with the confiscation of property. He was ill with tuberculosis under arrest. But he died not from it.
Together with Kurbas - his friend, he was shot on November 3, 1937 at the Sandarmokh tract.

"We want the nation not to clean our foreign boots. Time! It's time to become free! "- called the Ukrainians Kulish. So many decades have passed, and his words remain relevant for us.

Friday, December 15, 2017

HANUKKAH



HANUKKAH - THE LOVE OF THE WORLD, LIGHT AND GOOD

To share a part of miracle with children, we held the Hanukkah holiday at the Honorary Consulate of the State of Israel in the Western region of Ukraine, located in Lviv.

It is important for children to respect their traditions and teach history. Rabbi Siva Fainerman skillfully in game form told the kids about the miracle of Hanukkah and with them lit a third Hanukkah candle.

Holiday without surprises - is not a holiday! Therefore, the doll theater called the "Valley of fairy tales" performed with the play about eternal values ​​- kindness, friendship, support and love for parents. And especially the kids were delighted when everyone was "immersed" into a huge so-called "home", during the show of bubbles.

Parents have to give a lot of their own forces in order to raise their child a decent, human-loving, honest and kind person. Holidays make it possible for us, in an easy and unobtrusive way, to lay the foundations for the development of the children.

For example, on Hanukkah, children traditionally are given some money. In Yiddish, this is called "Hanukkah Gelt" - Hanukkah money, in Hebrew - "Dmyh Hanukkah". With this money child can do what he wants - immediately buy something for himself or postpone for the future.

But there is one indisputable obligation - a part of the money should be paid on charity. So even the youngest children are taught to help those who need it. Because there are always people who do not have money for gifts and holidays.

Children are our future!

May your warmth and kindness live in your hearts!

Hag Hanukkah sameah!






Thursday, December 14, 2017

Mykhailo Starytsky



"How I love you sadly
My people are nullified by poverty
Frustrated and darkness is overwhelmed
That has already forgotten how to respect itself
Having spent its former strength ...
How do I love your sad graves
Ukraine! How I love you! "

These strong words in 1878 were written by prominent Ukrainian writer, actor, director, theater and public-cultural activist Mykhailo Starytsky. He was born 177 years ago in the village of Klishchyntsi (now Cherkasy region).

Mykhailo Starytsky is the author of over 30 plays, including the drama «Bohdan Khmelnytsky», «Marusya Boguslavka», and others. In addition to the original plays, he reworked the works of other authors according to the stage rules. For example, “Christmas Night", "For Two Hares", "Limeryvna", and others. Thanks to Mykhailo Starytsky these works became extremely popular among the audience.

Mykhailo Starytsky was born in a gentry family. His father was a retired captain, and his mother came from an outstanding Lysenko family. When the boy was 8 years old, his Dad died. At age 12 he was left without a mother. The mother of Starytsky was brought up by mother’s brother Vitaliy, the father of composer Mykola Lysenko.

Mykhailo's life was associated with Mykola Lysenko. Together with him he was brought up, together they joined the Kharkov University, and with him in 1871 he began to work on the creation of the "Society of Ukrainian Stage Actors" in Kyiv. Mykhailo wrote folk songs, which later he gave tothe work of Nikolay Lysenko, he wrote a libretto to Lysenkov's operas ("Garkusha", "Chernomortsy", "Christmas night", "Taras Bulba", "Drowned").

In 1861, Starytsky returned to his native village to obtain a paternal estate. Then he first fell in love. On the evening parties, the villagers Stepanida struck him. He went to the girl's father to asked for a date, but she was betrothed. Staritsky devoted Stepanida the lines:

"The night is, Lord, lunar, clear, stellar, it is visible, even though you need to collect pines. Come here, my beloved, working hard, at least for a moment in the grove ... ".

These words Mykola Lysenko put on music, but this song started to be famous with the melody of Andriy Voloshchenko and Vasyl Ovchinnikov. Now it is generally considered popular.

The unlucky love of Starytsky was treated by sister of Mykola Lysenko, Sophia. She was only 14 years old when they got married. The couples had 5 children.

In 1882 Starytsky organized the first Ukrainian professional troupe along with Marko Kropyvnitsky. Ivan Marianenko, the prominent Ukrainian actor, recalled: "Having invested all his money in the business, he immediately set the work of the theater on a broad foot: he raised the acting rates to the level of Russian theaters, gathered a large orchestra and a choir, beautifully arranged the plays, invited the best decorators; New costumes and stamped beads were sewn."

The development of the Ukrainian theater was a matter of Mykhailo Starytsky’s life. He spent all his wealth and savings on it. The theater was the life of Starytsky. To put the first Ukrainian professional corps on a high level, he sold his own estate and a bakery... Starytsky was invited to the theater primarily as a patron, and he completely fulfilled his noble mission. Already in the elderly, a prominent theatrical figure has said: "I burst into the theater all my possessions, goodness and in my old age I remained a beggar..."

In 1895, Mykhailo Starytsky left the theatrical activity and was engaged only in literature. Mykhailo Starytsky died in Kyiv on April 27, 1904, buried at Baykovoye cemetery