Cultural Festival
On April 30, the Cultural Festival – 2026 took place in Transnistria, and the Jewish community also took part in the exhibition
On April 30, the Cultural and Educational Center of PSU opened the Cultural Festival – 2026, in which our Jewish community became a participant. For many centuries, representatives of different cultures have lived side by side in Transnistria, and the festival became the platform where each of them was able to present its own characteristics and traditions. Participants of the festival included Jewish, Russian, Ukrainian, Moldovan, Belarusian, Polish, Gagauz, Bulgarian, and Azerbaijani communities.
At the Jewish community’s stand, visitors could learn more about the symbolism and traditions of the four major Jewish holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Hanukkah, and Passover. The composition dedicated to Rosh Hashanah included pomegranates, apples, and honey, symbolizing the sweetness and prosperity of the coming year, as well as a shofar, which for centuries has gathered people for spiritual renewal. The Sukkot composition included the “arba minim” — four species: lulav, etrog, hadas, and aravah, each carrying deep symbolic meaning.
A special atmosphere was created by the Hanukkah display: the hanukkiah, dreidel, and traditional Hanukkah gelt introduced visitors to the history and traditions of the Festival of Lights. At the Passover exhibit, we spoke about the Seder plate, the meaning of its symbols, showed the afikoman, and offered matzah to everyone who wished — as a reminder of freedom and the importance of memory.
Our volunteers actively communicated with festival guests, explaining the symbols of Judaism, the meaning and importance of holidays in Jewish culture, and gladly answering questions. The Jewish community’s stand attracted great interest from visitors, which was very pleasing. Participation in the Cultural Festival is not only an opportunity to present the Jewish community, but also an important step toward mutual understanding and respect among peoples.