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Modern Ukrainian hospitality. Festival of Jewish Culture, Krakow Poland 2008.

At a post performance get together in their hotel room, members of the Ukrainian Family Brass Band Konsanans Resto have just laid out a table of dark bread, cheeses, fresh vegetables and home made wine and brandy, representing quite literally everything they had available for guests. They sat us down and made us eat and drink, and in my case, band leader Poppa Baronofsky give me the finest deep tissue massage I have yet experienced. Then to top it off, he picks up his accordion and sang for us. Present are Noam from Oy Division and Dan Blackburg with the Other Europeans Project (www.theothereuropeans.eu) As we left, they pressed sandwiches into our pockets and bade us to return again soon.

Let's be honest, Jews and Ukes have had a mighty conflicted history. But speaking for myself, I was personally embarrassed by the warm-hearted generosity and neighborliness of these folks. Let's hope it portends a much more positive relationship from here on out.