Jewish Kyiv and the Cantonists

The Cantonists were young Jewish boys who were forced into the Czar’s army from about 1827 to 1856. They were often identified by members of their own community, and some were kidnapped by Yiddish speaking Russians. We shall be showing ‘Moishe – a short film by Maya Cooper’, about her great great grandfather, Moishe Gralnick. He was born in the early 1830s in Somerdik (Samhorodok), Ukraine, kidnapped at the age of about 10, and served for about 20 years, but never gave up his Judaism. He married in about 1860/65, and had a large family, most of whom came to London, eventually including Moishe and his wife Rebecca.

Maya will introduce the film, and tell us about how she came to make it. Maya is a filmmaker and actor based in Brighton. She has been working in the creative industries for over 5 years. Maya’s most recent project ‘Moishe’, which she wrote and directed, is a short historical drama set in 19th century Ukraine. The film is set to be shown at film festivals in Warsaw, Atlanta, and Tel Aviv.

This will be preceded by a short introduction by the branch Chairman, Michael Crook, who will give an overview of Jewish life in Kyiv and surrounding towns and villages in the mid-19th Century, based largely on the book “Kiev – A Jewish Metropolis” by Natan M Meir.

There will be an opportunity to socialise before the talk, so please join us from 7.30pm for tea and coffee, cakes and biscuits, the talk will start at 8.00pm.

We very much look forward to welcoming you at Ralli Hall or on Zoom for this event.