The Passover Seder in Jewish Communities Across Ukraine
Passover is one of the most significant Jewish holidays, marking the Exodus from Egyptian slavery and celebrated as the Festival of Liberation.
At the heart of Passover there is the Seder (which means “order” in Hebrew), a ceremonial meal held on the first night of the holiday. During Seder, participants drink four cups of wine or grape juice, eat symbolic foods representing the hardships of the Israelites in the desert, and read the Haggadah — the story of the Exodus.
For over 30 years, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU) has done much to ensure a possibility to every Jew in Ukraine to take part in this meaningful celebration.
This year, more than 40,000 Seder kits were delivered to Jewish families across the country. Each kit included matzah, grape juice, candles, a ke’ara (Seder plate), the Haggadah, and even a kippah — everything needed to experience the warmth and richness of Passover traditions at home.
Thanks to the FJCU, over 150 communities in cities across Ukraine received matzah, grape juice, Haggadot, and other essentials to organize communal Seders and welcome the holiday together.
Passover is one of the most significant Jewish holidays, marking the Exodus from Egyptian slavery and celebrated as the Festival of Liberation.
At the heart of Passover there is the Seder (which means “order” in Hebrew), a ceremonial meal held on the first night of the holiday. During Seder, participants drink four cups of wine or grape juice, eat symbolic foods representing the hardships of the Israelites in the desert, and read the Haggadah — the story of the Exodus.
For over 30 years, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU) has done much to ensure a possibility to every Jew in Ukraine to take part in this meaningful celebration.
This year, more than 40,000 Seder kits were delivered to Jewish families across the country. Each kit included matzah, grape juice, candles, a ke’ara (Seder plate), the Haggadah, and even a kippah — everything needed to experience the warmth and richness of Passover traditions at home.
Thanks to the FJCU, over 150 communities in cities across Ukraine received matzah, grape juice, Haggadot, and other essentials to organize communal Seders and welcome the holiday together.
✨ Passover in Ukraine: Unity, Tradition and the Light of Freedom ✨
Jewish communities across Ukraine are celebrating Passover: a festival of freedom, faith and unity. During these days, celebrations are taking place nationwide, including communal prayers, educational programmes for children, and traditional Seders that bring together different generations around shared spiritual values.
In the lead-up to the holiday, the communities observed important preparatory traditions, including the burning of chametz, - a symbolic act of purification and inner renewal. Both children and adults took part in learning the story of the Exodus from Egypt, singing traditional songs, preparing for the Seder, and creating a special atmosphere of anticipation in their homes and communities.
In the cities across Ukraine, festive Seders are being held, featuring traditional tables with matzah, the Seder plate (ke’ara), the reading of the Haggadah, and the four cups of wine. Families, friends, young people and elders gather together to sing “Ma Nishtana” and reflect on the journey from slavery to freedom. Prayers include hopes for peace, protection and a brighter future.
Despite the challenges of the present day, Jewish communities in Ukraine continue to preserve their traditions, strengthen their unity, and carry forward the light of faith and hope.
We warmly extend our greetings on the occasion of Passover. May these days bring peace, blessings and joy to every family.
Chag Pesach Sameach!
Jewish communities across Ukraine are celebrating Passover: a festival of freedom, faith and unity. During these days, celebrations are taking place nationwide, including communal prayers, educational programmes for children, and traditional Seders that bring together different generations around shared spiritual values.
In the lead-up to the holiday, the communities observed important preparatory traditions, including the burning of chametz, - a symbolic act of purification and inner renewal. Both children and adults took part in learning the story of the Exodus from Egypt, singing traditional songs, preparing for the Seder, and creating a special atmosphere of anticipation in their homes and communities.
In the cities across Ukraine, festive Seders are being held, featuring traditional tables with matzah, the Seder plate (ke’ara), the reading of the Haggadah, and the four cups of wine. Families, friends, young people and elders gather together to sing “Ma Nishtana” and reflect on the journey from slavery to freedom. Prayers include hopes for peace, protection and a brighter future.
Despite the challenges of the present day, Jewish communities in Ukraine continue to preserve their traditions, strengthen their unity, and carry forward the light of faith and hope.
We warmly extend our greetings on the occasion of Passover. May these days bring peace, blessings and joy to every family.
Chag Pesach Sameach!
Holiday candle lighting / lighting from an existing flame / end of the holiday in cities of Ukraine (07.04 / 08.04 / 09.04):
Balta – 19:22 / 20:29 / 20:31
Berdyansk – 18:52 / 19:58 / 19:59
Berdychiv – 19:29 / 20:38 / 20:40
Bila Tserkva – 19:22 / 20:32 / 20:34
Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi – 19:17 / 20:23 / 20:24
Cherkasy – 19:14 / 20:23 / 20:25
Chernihiv – 19:20 / 20:32 / 20:33
Chernivtsi – 19:37 / 20:45 / 20:46
Dnipro – 19:01 / 20:09 / 20:11
Donetsk – 18:50 / 19:57 / 19:59
Hadiach – 19:08 / 20:18 / 20:19
Henichesk – 18:59 / 20:05 / 20:06
Ivano-Frankivsk – 19:43 / 20:51 / 20:53
Izmail – 19:22 / 20:27 / 20:28
Kamianske – 19:03 / 20:11 / 20:12
Kakhovka – 19:05 / 20:11 / 20:13
Kharkiv – 18:58 / 20:08 / 20:10
Kherson – 19:09 / 20:14 / 20:16
Khmelnytskyi – 19:34 / 20:43 / 20:45
Kropyvnytskyi – 19:12 / 20:20 / 20:22
Kremenchuk – 19:08 / 20:17 / 20:18
Kryvyi Rih – 19:07 / 20:14 / 20:16
Kyiv – 19:22 / 20:32 / 20:34
Konotop – 19:12 / 20:23 / 20:25
Lubny – 19:11 / 20:21 / 20:23
Luhansk – 18:48 / 19:56 / 19:57
Lutsk – 19:43 / 20:53 / 20:55
Lviv – 19:44 / 20:54 / 20:55
Mariupol – 18:49 / 19:56 / 19:57
Melitopol – 18:58 / 20:04 / 20:05
Mohyliv-Podilskyi – 19:11 / 20:18 / 20:19
Mykolaiv – 19:30 / 20:38 / 20:39
Nova Kakhovka – 19:06 / 20:12 / 20:13
Odesa – 19:16 / 20:22 / 20:23
Oleksandriia – 19:09 / 20:17 / 20:19
Oleshky – 19:08 / 20:14 / 20:15
Pervomaisk – 19:17 / 20:25 / 20:26
Poltava – 19:04 / 20:13 / 20:15
Rivne – 19:39 / 20:49 / 20:51
Shostka – 19:12 / 20:24 / 20:26
Skadovsk – 19:07 / 20:12 / 20:14
Sumy – 19:05 / 20:16 / 20:18
Ternopil – 19:40 / 20:49 / 20:51
Uman – 19:21 / 20:29 / 20:30
Uzhhorod – 19:52 / 21:00 / 21:02
Vinnytsia – 19:28 / 20:37 / 20:39
Voznesensk – 19:15 / 20:22 / 20:23
Zaporizhzhia – 19:00 / 20:07 / 20:09
Zhytomyr – 19:29 / 20:39 / 20:41
Balta – 19:22 / 20:29 / 20:31
Berdyansk – 18:52 / 19:58 / 19:59
Berdychiv – 19:29 / 20:38 / 20:40
Bila Tserkva – 19:22 / 20:32 / 20:34
Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi – 19:17 / 20:23 / 20:24
Cherkasy – 19:14 / 20:23 / 20:25
Chernihiv – 19:20 / 20:32 / 20:33
Chernivtsi – 19:37 / 20:45 / 20:46
Dnipro – 19:01 / 20:09 / 20:11
Donetsk – 18:50 / 19:57 / 19:59
Hadiach – 19:08 / 20:18 / 20:19
Henichesk – 18:59 / 20:05 / 20:06
Ivano-Frankivsk – 19:43 / 20:51 / 20:53
Izmail – 19:22 / 20:27 / 20:28
Kamianske – 19:03 / 20:11 / 20:12
Kakhovka – 19:05 / 20:11 / 20:13
Kharkiv – 18:58 / 20:08 / 20:10
Kherson – 19:09 / 20:14 / 20:16
Khmelnytskyi – 19:34 / 20:43 / 20:45
Kropyvnytskyi – 19:12 / 20:20 / 20:22
Kremenchuk – 19:08 / 20:17 / 20:18
Kryvyi Rih – 19:07 / 20:14 / 20:16
Kyiv – 19:22 / 20:32 / 20:34
Konotop – 19:12 / 20:23 / 20:25
Lubny – 19:11 / 20:21 / 20:23
Luhansk – 18:48 / 19:56 / 19:57
Lutsk – 19:43 / 20:53 / 20:55
Lviv – 19:44 / 20:54 / 20:55
Mariupol – 18:49 / 19:56 / 19:57
Melitopol – 18:58 / 20:04 / 20:05
Mohyliv-Podilskyi – 19:11 / 20:18 / 20:19
Mykolaiv – 19:30 / 20:38 / 20:39
Nova Kakhovka – 19:06 / 20:12 / 20:13
Odesa – 19:16 / 20:22 / 20:23
Oleksandriia – 19:09 / 20:17 / 20:19
Oleshky – 19:08 / 20:14 / 20:15
Pervomaisk – 19:17 / 20:25 / 20:26
Poltava – 19:04 / 20:13 / 20:15
Rivne – 19:39 / 20:49 / 20:51
Shostka – 19:12 / 20:24 / 20:26
Skadovsk – 19:07 / 20:12 / 20:14
Sumy – 19:05 / 20:16 / 20:18
Ternopil – 19:40 / 20:49 / 20:51
Uman – 19:21 / 20:29 / 20:30
Uzhhorod – 19:52 / 21:00 / 21:02
Vinnytsia – 19:28 / 20:37 / 20:39
Voznesensk – 19:15 / 20:22 / 20:23
Zaporizhzhia – 19:00 / 20:07 / 20:09
Zhytomyr – 19:29 / 20:39 / 20:41
Holiday candle lighting / lighting from an existing flame / end of the holiday in European countries (07.04 / 08.04 / 09.04):
Berlin, Germany – 19:33 / 20:46 / 20:48
Bratislava, Slovakia – 19:12 / 20:20 / 20:21
Budapest, Hungary – 19:04 / 20:10 / 20:12
Balatonneszéd, Hungary – 19:08 / 20:14 / 20:16
Frankfurt, Germany – 19:49 / 20:59 / 21:00
Hannover, Germany – 19:47 / 21:00 / 21:02
Munich, Germany – 19:34 / 20:42 / 20:44
Nuremberg, Germany – 19:38 / 20:47 / 20:49
Vienna, Austria – 19:15 / 20:23 / 20:24
Warsaw, Poland – 19:02 / 20:15 / 20:17
Holiday candle lighting and end of the holiday in cities of Israel (07.04 / 08.04):
Ashdod, Tel Aviv – 18:43 / 19:42
Ashkelon – 18:35 / 19:43
Bat Yam – 18:35 / 19:42
Be’er Sheva – 18:44 / 19:41
Carmiel, Nof HaGalil – 18:33 / 19:41
Haifa, Netanya, Rishon LeZion – 18:34 / 19:42
Jerusalem – 18:23 / 19:40
Berlin, Germany – 19:33 / 20:46 / 20:48
Bratislava, Slovakia – 19:12 / 20:20 / 20:21
Budapest, Hungary – 19:04 / 20:10 / 20:12
Balatonneszéd, Hungary – 19:08 / 20:14 / 20:16
Frankfurt, Germany – 19:49 / 20:59 / 21:00
Hannover, Germany – 19:47 / 21:00 / 21:02
Munich, Germany – 19:34 / 20:42 / 20:44
Nuremberg, Germany – 19:38 / 20:47 / 20:49
Vienna, Austria – 19:15 / 20:23 / 20:24
Warsaw, Poland – 19:02 / 20:15 / 20:17
Holiday candle lighting and end of the holiday in cities of Israel (07.04 / 08.04):
Ashdod, Tel Aviv – 18:43 / 19:42
Ashkelon – 18:35 / 19:43
Bat Yam – 18:35 / 19:42
Be’er Sheva – 18:44 / 19:41
Carmiel, Nof HaGalil – 18:33 / 19:41
Haifa, Netanya, Rishon LeZion – 18:34 / 19:42
Jerusalem – 18:23 / 19:40
Shabbat Candle Lighting & Havdalah Times in Cities of Ukraine
Balta — 19:26 / 20:34
Berdychiv — 19:33 / 20:43
Berdiansk — 18:56 / 20:02
Bila Tserkva — 19:27 / 20:37
Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi — 19:21 / 20:27
Cherkasy — 19:19 / 20:28
Chernihiv — 19:25 / 20:37
Chernivtsi — 19:42 / 20:50
Dnipro — 19:06 / 20:04
Donetsk — 18:54 / 20:02
Hadiach — 19:12 / 20:23
Henichesk — 19:03 / 20:09
Horlivka — 18:53 / 20:01
Ivano-Frankivsk — 19:47 / 20:56
Izmail — 19:26 / 20:31
Kamianske — 19:07 / 20:16
Kakhovka — 19:09 / 20:16
Kharkiv — 19:03 / 20:13
Kherson — 19:13 / 20:19
Khmelnytskyi — 19:39 / 20:48
Konotop — 19:17 / 20:29
Kremenchuk — 19:13 / 20:22
Kropyvnytskyi — 19:16 / 20:25
Kryvyi Rih — 19:11 / 20:19
Kyiv — 19:27 / 20:37
Lubny — 19:16 / 20:26
Luhansk — 18:52 / 20:01
Lutsk — 19:48 / 20:59
Lviv — 19:49 / 20:59
Mariupol — 18:53 / 20:00
Melitopol — 19:02 / 20:08
Mohyliv-Podilskyi — 19:15 / 20:22
Mykolaiv — 19:34 / 20:43
Nova Kakhovka — 19:10 / 20:16
Odesa — 19:20 / 20:26
Oleksandriia — 19:13 / 20:22
Oleshky — 19:12 / 20:18
Pervomaisk — 19:22 / 20:29
Poltava — 19:09 / 20:19
Rivne — 19:44 / 20:55
Shostka — 19:17 / 20:30
Skadovsk — 19:11 / 20:16
Sumy — 19:10 / 20:21
Ternopil — 19:45 / 20:54
Uman — 19:25 / 20:34
Uzhhorod — 19:57 / 21:05
Vinnytsia — 19:33 / 20:42
Voznesensk — 19:19 / 20:26
Zaporizhzhia — 19:04 / 20:12
Zhytomyr — 19:34 / 20:44
Weekly Torah reading: Shemini
Balta — 19:26 / 20:34
Berdychiv — 19:33 / 20:43
Berdiansk — 18:56 / 20:02
Bila Tserkva — 19:27 / 20:37
Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi — 19:21 / 20:27
Cherkasy — 19:19 / 20:28
Chernihiv — 19:25 / 20:37
Chernivtsi — 19:42 / 20:50
Dnipro — 19:06 / 20:04
Donetsk — 18:54 / 20:02
Hadiach — 19:12 / 20:23
Henichesk — 19:03 / 20:09
Horlivka — 18:53 / 20:01
Ivano-Frankivsk — 19:47 / 20:56
Izmail — 19:26 / 20:31
Kamianske — 19:07 / 20:16
Kakhovka — 19:09 / 20:16
Kharkiv — 19:03 / 20:13
Kherson — 19:13 / 20:19
Khmelnytskyi — 19:39 / 20:48
Konotop — 19:17 / 20:29
Kremenchuk — 19:13 / 20:22
Kropyvnytskyi — 19:16 / 20:25
Kryvyi Rih — 19:11 / 20:19
Kyiv — 19:27 / 20:37
Lubny — 19:16 / 20:26
Luhansk — 18:52 / 20:01
Lutsk — 19:48 / 20:59
Lviv — 19:49 / 20:59
Mariupol — 18:53 / 20:00
Melitopol — 19:02 / 20:08
Mohyliv-Podilskyi — 19:15 / 20:22
Mykolaiv — 19:34 / 20:43
Nova Kakhovka — 19:10 / 20:16
Odesa — 19:20 / 20:26
Oleksandriia — 19:13 / 20:22
Oleshky — 19:12 / 20:18
Pervomaisk — 19:22 / 20:29
Poltava — 19:09 / 20:19
Rivne — 19:44 / 20:55
Shostka — 19:17 / 20:30
Skadovsk — 19:11 / 20:16
Sumy — 19:10 / 20:21
Ternopil — 19:45 / 20:54
Uman — 19:25 / 20:34
Uzhhorod — 19:57 / 21:05
Vinnytsia — 19:33 / 20:42
Voznesensk — 19:19 / 20:26
Zaporizhzhia — 19:04 / 20:12
Zhytomyr — 19:34 / 20:44
Weekly Torah reading: Shemini