Dr. John-Paul Himka to Present Five Sins and Five Mitzvot Lecture at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada

Saskatoon, SK — The Ukrainian Museum of Canada invites the public to a compelling lecture by noted historian Dr. John-Paul Himka, titled Five Sins and Five Mitzvot, on Thursday, February 12, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. The lecture is presented in conjunction with the current exhibition To Understanding, Through Understanding by artist Betsy Rosenwald.

In this timely and thought-provoking talk, Dr. Himka asks: what are the “sins” that continue to trouble relations between Jews and Ukrainians today? Rather than focusing on the actions of past generations, he turns attention to present-day perceptions, habits, and mental images that shape how communities understand one another. Equally important, he explores the “mitzvot” — the good deeds, gestures, and understandings that help build trust, recognition, and shared purpose.

Through questions such as How do we think about each other? What do we truly know about one another? and How can we build on the many commonalities that link our histories and futures?, the lecture invites reflection, dialogue, and responsibility in the present.

The Museum’s Executive Director, Dr. Jen Budney says, “Ukraine has always been a diverse nation, and Jewish people have lived alongside Ukrainians for more than a thousand years. That long proximity has shaped relationships marked by both shared life and painful histories. The Ukrainian Museum of Canada is honoured to help create space for dialogue, learning, and deeper understanding.”

Dr. John-Paul Himka is one of the world’s leading historians of Ukraine, widely respected for scholarship that is both rigorous and courageous. His influential publications include Ukrainian Nationalists and the Holocaust, Galician Villagers and the Ukrainian National Movement in the Nineteenth Century, Last Judgment Iconography in the Carpathians, and, as co-editor, Bringing the Dark Past to Light.

Admission to the lecture is free for museum members and $7 for non-members. No registration is required.