Eastern Europe
JFNA has raised $30 million for Ukraine relief effort, coordinating its activities with a host of global Jewish organizations.
Before the British parliament, the embattled president of Ukraine talked of World War II and Shakespeare. Before the U.S. Congress, it was Pearl Harbor and 9/11. But despite being Jewish, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was less successful in his appeal to Israel’s government.
“The Israeli public can be proud of the contribution and the assistance of the State of Israel to the citizens of Ukraine,” says Israel’s prime minister.
“This is why I want to remind you of the words of a great woman from Kyiv, whom you know very well. The words of Golda Meir: ‘We intend to remain alive. Our neighbors want to see us dead. This is not a question that leaves much room for compromise,’ ” says Ukraine‘s president.
Hezbollah has sent neither combatants or advisers to the region, says chief Hassan Nasrallah.
William Daroff celebrated Purim with Chabad, Poland’s Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich and Jewish refugees, and met with a senior aid to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Regarding help to those fleeing the country in the wake of a continued Russian onslaught, Kyiv Chief Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich said: “I’m making this very clear that all of the Jewish communities are doing this, and nobody is asking if you’re Jewish or not. The buses leave from the synagogues, but they’re open to anybody that wants to come.”
“As a Red Cross affiliate, we’re working to help refugees and the wounded as much as possible, and this is how we will continue to act,” said director-general Eli Bin.
“With the noise of the grogger, we suppress the voice of war,” said Chief Rabbi Shlomo Köves.
Israeli Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel described the move as “illogical” and “aggressive.”
“My position remains that the United States must use all diplomatic, informational and economic instruments of national power at our disposal to support Ukraine and deter Russia’s aggression. The purpose and goal must be to help de-escalate this conflict as soon as possible,” Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) said in a news release.
Approximately $6.5 million is being invested in establishing the hospital, which is expected to treat around 100 patients per day.
