As Jews around the world stock up on apples, honey and brisket in advance of Rosh Hashanah, Jews in war-torn Ukraine are planning for their third New Year under sirens and rocket bombardments.
Across the country, people are experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis.
“Before the war, many people were reluctant to seek help with food and clothing, today almost everyone is in need,” said Rabbi Nachum Ehrentreu of Zaporizhzhia.
Rabbi Shalom Gottlieb from Mykolaiv said it’s the same in his city. “People are without livelihood. Countless workplaces have closed—factories and businesses,” Rabbi Gottlieb said. “People are literally living from hand to mouth.”
Jewish Relief Network Ukraine is once again stepping up its efforts to ensure that everyone has the means to mark Rosh Hashanah, as well as Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah, with dignity, a table full of food and spiritual encouragement.
“We are preparing to bring the High Holidays to the Jews of Ukraine,” said Rabbi Shlomo Peles, executive director of JRNU. “For the third year in a row, people are suffering great hardship and loss. We are doing everything possible to bring them some sweetness and joy. It is more important than ever to show the Jewish community that they are not alone and not forgotten. We pray that the New Year will bring peace to Ukraine and around the world.”
Working with local Chabad emissaries on the ground all across Ukraine, JRNU is sending packages to Jews from Dnipro to Kyiv, Kamenetz to Zhitomer. Each package contains honey cake or cookies, jars of honey and calendars. In addition, thanks to an ongoing partnership with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), JRNU is distributing humanitarian packages within every community to ensure that no Jew will be hungry over the holidays and that they will celebrate the new year with happiness and hope.
While finances are tight, Chabad emissaries are loathe to turn anyone who needs help away. Whether they are coming for spiritual guidance—such as the 60-year-old man in Kharkiv who just underwent a brit milah or the mezuzahs many people are putting on their homes for the first time—or physical needs like a warm meal or clothing, the Chabad emissaries are determined to make it happen.
“The price of electricity has doubled, along with the cost of basic goods,” said Rabbi Mordechai Levenharts from Kyiv. All of which combined means that more funding and aid are needed to help ensure the Jews of Ukraine have what they need to survive the coming year.
To make a donation or find out more about JRNU’s emergency aid to Ukraine, visit: JRNU.org. Every dollar received goes directly to helping the community.
