There is no project too big or too small for our staff and volunteers in Ukraine! From importing 98 tons of meat and 70 tons of matzah for Passover, distributing 110,000 pairs of glasses, and delivering 17,360 kosher food parcels to support communities across the country; to issuing a grocery store voucher to an elderly woman and providing after school tutoring to young children. Our network of rabbis, social workers, deliverymen and much more understand the importance of delivering aid to those in need in a manner that conveys compassion and maintains dignity.
I am Svetlana, from Chernihiv. In the early days of the war, my two children and I spent many long and scary days hiding in the basement. My son once commented, "this is probably our last day." My children and I survived the invasion thanks to assistance from JRNU. The staff and volunteers helped us escape to Chernigov, where we have received physical, moral and emotional support: food, warm clothes, candles and gas burners, and most importantly kind and words and a caring tone.
My name is Snijana, I am 13 years old. I have a mother and a grandmother--my father died after not being able to withstand this difficult war. On February 24, we did not leave Kherson; we survived the occupation of the city thanks to JRNU staff who gave us food and clothes. We were so grateful when Kherson was liberated, and JRNU was still there to help us with everything we need. Thank you very much!
I am Ada, from the village of Malaya Rogan, in the Kharkiv Region. Our village was occupied by Russian troops in the first days of the war, as we watched with horror from our cellar. After 20 days, we packed our belongings, including my two cats. With my two daughters and sons-in-law, and my grandson, we left for nowhere. First, we were hosted by kind people in the Ternopil region, who gave us food and a place to sleep. But with no work available we had to move, this time to Kropyvnytskyi to stay with friends. The Jewish community there and JRNU have been incredible: I was hired into a job and provided all means of humanitarian aid for my family. It is difficult to imagine what it is like to leave your home without clothes and shoes — just grab the cats and not know what tomorrow will bring. My house is destroyed and I have nowhere to return. Knowing I can count on JRNU for my basic needs and the needs of my family, means more than you can imagine.
Hello, I live in Dnipro with my three children: the oldest is 9, the middle one is 5, and the youngest is 2 years old. I am raising the children alone. When war broke out, we did not leave the city because my dad is sick, and I have elderly grandparents who need my help. We haven't had big explosions in Dnipro like in other cities, but we did move from the Pobeda residential area, that was close to a power plant and two bridges that cross the Dnipro River. Now we rent an apartment in a safer area, and we have been fortunate to receive critical support from JRNU including warm blankets, candles, lamps, and items for the children. When we had no light for hours on end, we were not afraid because we had LED bracelets from JRNU. We are very grateful for all their amazing help and support.
The war has been particularly hard for older Ukrainians, many of whom lived through WWII or were born during that time and have endured difficult lives. With meager government pensions, most rely on family members and charity for food and other necessities; even prior to the war their situation was precarious. Nearly ½ of Ukrainian families live with an elderly relative.
Despite the dangers posed by the war, many older Ukrainians are reluctant to leave their homes. Villagers converted their cellars to shelters, stock up on firewood and collect rain water. Those who were forced to relocate inside Ukraine often found the temporary accommodations not suitable for their disabilities, and they have difficulty getting around.
Medical and mental health issues are particularly acute among the elderly population. Fear, loss and isolation combined with food shortages that interfere with proper diets pose special difficulties for individuals with sight and hearing loss, limited mobility, hypertension and diabetes. The Babushkas are suffering, we are doing all we can to help!
JRNU continues to take extra precautions to assist and support the elderly members of the community. Deliveries of firewood, food and medicine; arrangements and transport for medical and mental health appointments; providing heaters and replacing boilers; and much more! Our leaders, staff and volunteers take a holistic approach to the needs of the older and infirm members of the community. With the upcoming Passover holiday, special care will be taken to ensure each and every person is able to partake in a Seder and share a taste of freedom.
For the past few months, rabbis, staff and volunteers have been working hard to bring Passover to Ukraine! With 18,000 food parcels prepared and 142 communal Seders planned, 50,000 Ukrainians across the country will celebrate the full meaning of this important holiday.
Thanks to generous donors and sponsors, we filled our warehouse with matzah, grape juice, meat, and other Seder items. Huge deliveries were received of fish, fruits, vegetables, oil, coffee, tea, and chocolate! We loaded up trucks and delivered these essential Passover goods to Jewish communities everywhere, big and small. Even families in remote villages will receive a Seder kit and food parcel, thanks to the tireless efforts of dedicated rabbis and staff. This Passover the Jews of Ukraine will enjoy a brief respite from the travails of war as they celebrate this season of our freedom.
Kryvyi Rih, an industrial city in the Dnipro Region of Central Ukraine, is home to thousands of Jews who comprise the area's largest ethnic minority. Despite fears immediately after the war began, the city was not invaded, but there were frequent missile strikes. Over the past year, Jewish Relief Network Ukraine has continued to support the community, that is home to President Zelensky's family (the President was born and raised in Kryvyi Rih). Food and medicine have been distributed on a regular basis, along with winter emergency kits, clothes, holiday packages and more! At the large local school and kindergarten, important safety renovations were made, including installation of a large generator. Children returned to their classrooms this fall where they receive much needed emotional support in addition to academic instruction. Afterschool programs provide the children with food and warmth throughout the winter months, as many homes have only intermittent power.
As we prepare for the Passover holiday, 400 food packages will be distributed to families in Kryvyi Rih, where Kosher food is not available this year. For all 8 days of Passover, families will have meat, fruits and vegetables, coffee and tea and more! In addition, hundreds of Seder kits will be shared, with matzah, grape juice, chicken and all the ceremonial items needed to ensure every Jew is able to enjoy this important holiday that celebrates exodus and freedom.
JRNU needs your help to continue our efforts to support the Jews in Kryvyi Rih and all across Ukraine. Together we can save lives and restore hope.
In Jerusalem, Shlomi Peles, CEO of JRNU along with several Shluchim from Ukraine including Shmuel Kaminetzky, from Dnipro, Shlomo Wilhelm from Zhitomir, and Avraham and Chaya Wolff from Odessa, participated in a panel discussion at the Knesset hosted by the Diaspora Ministry. The purpose of the event was to discuss the massive humanitarian relief effort underway for the past year in Ukraine, and the need for additional support as the war continues. One of the highlights of the meeting was Chaya Wolff’s recalling the Mishpacha Orphanage rescue operation in the early days of the war.
The shluchim described the incredible dedication of JRNU and Chabad shluchim to keep the Jewish communities alive and restore hope.
Rabbi Wolff of Odessa: "The synagogue was not closed for even one day, every day there were Shacharit, Mincha and Arabic services. The school was not closed either; kids come to school daily in comfortable transportation, enjoy organized studies, hot and satisfying meals, and of course, during the alarms go down to bright, clean and warm shelters. When the power goes out, the generator automatically turns on. The children don't even feel the difference... Only those who drive home in the evening and arrive at a cold and dark house, and have to keep their coat on even when they go to bed.”
"We are optimistic, full of hope that with God's help we will be granted a miracle and the war will end, as surprisingly as it began. In the meantime, we celebrate all the holidays, not giving up an opportunity to rejoice and add light and warmth.”
Just before Passover last year, Rabbi Mendy Wolff and his wife relocated 120 children and staff from the Mishpacha orphanage in Odessa to a hotel in Berlin, to keep them safe from the war. The temporary relocation was expected to last just a few days—the kids took nothing more than a few changes of clothes. Sadly, conditions in Ukraine did not improve and the orphanage remained in Berlin for a year. The costs of renting an entire hotel to house the children and other Odessians including single mothers and children, became too much, even with generous donors and help from the German Government. As the staff planned their returned to Odessa—with kids looking forward to sleeping in their own beds and being in familiar surroundings, JRNU was busy preparing the facilities. During the year-long absence of the Mishpacha orphanage, the building was used to provide refugees with shelter and meals. Thanks to our supporters from around the world, we replaced every mattress and pillow, and cleaned every nook and cranny of the building. It was heartwarming to see the children with smiling faces as they returned to their fresh and welcoming home. We pray that the city remains safe for the children as the war continues. Whatever the future holds, the Wolff family and JRNU will continue to look after the children to ensure their health and welfare.
The need for humanitarian relief in Ukraine remains high, as the war rages on, now in the 13th month. We continue to provide food, medicine, warm clothing and more to people across the country.
Thanks to our partner, World of Giving, a charitable organization in New York, we recently provided outerwear to medical professionals who provide emergency care, including through disaster relief missions. The pants and coats supplied by World of Giving are brightly colored and highly durable, thereby ensuring aid workers are visible to their colleagues and protected from the elements as they render lifesaving support to people in need.
We are grateful to World of Giving and all of our partners for helping to support the people of Ukraine.
Thanks to our generous donors, people all across Ukraine were able to celebrate Purim.
This evening, Jews around the world will eat Hamenstachen, dress their children in costumes, shake noisemakers, and celebrate the courage and bravery of Queen Esther. In some places carnivals will be held (poster pictured below was prepared by a Bar Mitzvah boy for a carnival in Potomac Maryland).
For many Jews, the holiday of Purim involves more than reading the biblical Book of Esther (the "megillah")--it is a time to share with others, give baskets of treats to friends, and food to the poor. Thanks to generous donors, JRNU provided 100,000 gift packages to the Jews of Ukraine, allowing them to celebrate with millions of Jews in the United States, Israel, Europe and elsewhere. Chag Sameach!
A recent survey of 2,000 Ukrainian mothers from all regions of the country revealed disturbing facts:
• Since the start of the war, the number of children doing poorly in school has climbed seven-fold.
• In December 2022, school studies were interrupted almost every day or several times a week by air raid sirens (68%), blackouts (60%), no internet service (57%), no heat (17%), or lack of a teacher (8%).
• Parental report of child mental health indicates an overall decline. When comparing pre-war to now, data show a decrease from 35% to 11% of those reporting very good mental health.
• Children in front-line regions are experiencing a fifteen-fold increase in mental health issues since the invasion; those in Kyiv a seven-fold increase over the same period.
More than 5 million Ukrainian children have been displaced by the war; some left the country while other relocated inside Ukraine, including within rocket-distance of the war. Sadly, 28% of kids have been separated from a family member in the past year, and 24% experienced some form of shelling or bombing. Thankfully children are resilient and adapt to new surroundings, but thousands of Ukrainian children are showing signs of anxiety, depression and even post-traumatic stress disorder; many children now feel the world is an unsafe place.
Jewish Relief Network Ukraine is helping children. Thanks to generous donors and supporters, we are providing daily necessities and much more: food, clothes, medicine, medical, dental and mental health care, toys, school supplies and holiday treats! We will continue to support families and children throughout the war and beyond.
Sources: USA Today
The health care system in Ukraine continues to function, but is inaccessible to many people. Spiraling costs combined with logistical hurdles and damaged infrastructure make it difficult for individuals to obtain essential products and services. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 5 people are not able to get the medicine they need for critical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart conditions, and pain; they also lack needed sedatives and antibiotics; 1 in every 3 adults sought primary care and ½ of them reported at least one barrier to accessing care, cost being the most common.
JRNU bridges the gap for thousands of Ukrainians, ensuring they receive the medicine and medical care they need, including mental health services.
Trauma, sadness, fear, exhaustion, loss, and anger. Those are just some of the emotions triggered by the one year anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Countless lives have been lost and even more irreparably damaged.
Generosity, bravery, compassion, kindness, those too are words that come to mind today. People in Ukraine and around the world have exhibited extraordinary heroism and support for Ukrainians -- in most cases people they have never met and whose names they will never know.
It has been a privilege for JRNU to partner with organizations and individuals who displayed time and again, their devotion and commitment to helping others. We are proud of the work we have done, and hope that very soon the needs will change from emergency rescue and relief to long term rebuilding and refortifying. Whatever the need, JRNU will be there for the people of Ukraine.
With the anniversary just days away, we highlight our ongoing relief work.
On March 6th, ws around the world will celebrate Purim, one of the most joyous holidays of the year. Children will enjoy carnivals with cookies and other treats, costumes and noisemakers; families will participate in reading the epic tale of kings, queens, evil doers and heroes! Baskets of food will be shared with people all around the world as Jews fulfill their mitzvah of giving mishloach manot (portions of food) to friends, family, and those in need. This wonderful tradition intended to ensure everyone has enough food for the Purim and foster friendship and caring among community member, is desperately needed in Ukraine! JRNU is delivering Purim baskets to people all across Ukraine, filled with food, treats, storybooks and more—we are also delivering encouragement and hope for better days to come! Lend your support for this heartwarming project.
The people of Ukraine, old and young, continue to rely on us for help. Throughout the country we provide humanitarian aid of all kinds.
In Kamianske, a boy receives urgent dental care.
In Poltava and Dnipro warm clothes and blankets are provided, and some special items (small toys) are included for the children.
In Chernivitsi food and medicine is distributed.
In Zaporizhzhia, medication packages are supplied.
As we approach the one year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, new challenges continue to emerge. Thanks to generous donors from all over the world, industrial generators are supplying heat and power to thousands of Ukrainians. Community centers, schools, synagogues and other communal buildings are relying on generator power for at least 2 hours each day. At an average operating cost of $30 per hour (fuel), the expense for the 150 generators supplied by JRNU approaches $500,000 each month! The demand for good and services among the people of Ukraine continues to increase as more and more people are unemployed, and have depleted all savings and emergency funds. The food, medicine, clothing, and shelter provided by JRNU are essential--our support is saving lives.
For the past 11 months the people of Ukraine have struggled to maintain their families, their homes and their lives. The winter cold has exacerbated the problem; the need for food, medicine, clothing, and warmth intensified. Thanks to generous donors, JRNU has continued to support tens of thousands of men, women and children in big cities and small towns. In the weeks ahead we will be distributing 50,000 pairs of eyeglasses, to be followed by Purim packages, and then Passover kits.
Please help us continue our lifesaving work.
Ten tons of Matzah arrived at our warehouse in Kyiv, with much more to come. We are amassing items for Seder kits and food packages for 35,000 people in Ukraine.
An update on Kirill, the boy from Mariupol who with his mother fled their home with little more than the clothes on their backs. They resettled in Dnipro while the father was away at war with the Azov battalion that was captured. After months of worry and uncertainty Kirill and his mother learned that father survived the bombing of the prison and remains in captivity. JRNU provides extensive support including speech therapy and other services to address the developmental impact of the trauma Kirill endured.
Galina, 70, from the village of Vinogradovo near Uzhhorod, survived a traumatic ordeal long before the war. In 2003, drug addicts set fire to her house and threw her onto a hot stove. For the past 20 years she has been living with complete strangers, barely getting by. JRNU provides her with food, warm clothing and blankets and much more to improve Galina's quality of life.
Little Eva from Kyiv and her family lack funds for food and other necessities. Like thousands of other children, Eva has suffered emotional trauma from the war, resulting in panic attacks and other symptoms. JRNU arranges for a psychologist to treat Eva on a regular basis to facilitate a return to her happy childhood.
In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which marks the date Auschwitz was liberated in 1945, we bring you stories of Ukrainian Jewish survivors.
90-year-old Olexandra lives alone in Chernihiv (pictured to the left). When the war started, the houses trembled from explosions and glass fell-- she couldn't believe that this was happening in her life again. Olexandra went to the pump with a small bottle, and stood in line with hundreds of people to get water. JRNU volunteers who were delivering medications and food to others, found the grandmother in the basement, where she and her neighbors were hiding from shelling. With tears in her eyes, the frightened woman spoke about the trauma from the second world war that was rekindled in the current crisis. JRNU now provides daily meals, medication and care for Olexandra.
In Israel, JRNU CEO Shlomi Peles and his team met with Rabbi and Rebbetzin Kaminezki, of Dnipro, to discuss the pressing needs in Dnipro and throughout Ukraine. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the war, the demand for support continues to increase, while resources become more difficult to obtain. Rabbi Kaminezki, along with other leaders of JRNU, staff and volunteers live in the communities alongside the individuals we serve, and they know first-hand the day-to-day challenges of life in Ukraine. It is this boots-on-the-ground perspective, coupled with generous support from our partners and donors that allows JRNU to continue to provide services and support to tens of thousands of Ukrainians each month.
Every day we help the people of Ukraine, in big cities and small towns, old and young! We prepare hot meals and deliver them to people who can't leave their homes; we share notes of encouragement from caring donors along with toys and books for kids; we distribute reflector bands to keep people safe at night, and we provide winter clothes and blankets to keep people warm. Thanks to our generous partners and donors, the Jews of Ukraine know they are not forgotten.
You may remember Masha who we first wrote about shortly after the war began. Unfortunately, her life has not gotten any easier. We continue to provide support and care for Masha, as we do for thousands of other Ukrainians; their struggles continue with no end in sight.
Masha, aged 10, has been raised by her single mother under difficult conditions her whole life. She lived in a dilapidated house with no heat, located in a dangerous neighborhood. Masha had no toys and few clothes; even regular meals were lacking. Shortly after the war broke out, Masha was evacuated to Mykolayiv where her grandparents live. They are able to provide emotional support, but they lack the means for necessities such as food, warm blankets or heat in the home. JRNU stepped in to help!
Thanks to your support, we are able to provide for Masha as well as thousands of people in similar situations. Together we will ensure no one is left behind!
This weekend brought much tragedy to Ukraine. A nine-story apartment block in Dnipro was destroyed killing at least five people and injuring 60, including 12 children. Twenty people have been rescued but more are believed to be trapped in the rubble. In the city of Kryvyi Rih, 50 houses, three schools, two kindergartens, apartment buildings and an administrative building were damaged in a missile strike, killing one person and injuring another; no additional information is available regarding casualties.
We continue to work around the clock to provide aid and assistance to the people of Ukraine and our thoughts and prayers are with them always.
Generous caring people continue to sustain the Jews of Ukraine. The temperatures in Chernivitsi and other places in Ukraine have dropped to -7°C outside; inside many homes it's nearly as cold, with no heat and no power. Thanks to your continued support, JRNU is able to help, providing people warm places to gather and winter clothing of all kinds including hats, gloves and socks. Hundreds of items were collected from schools in Long Island and Great Neck, NY; Bryn Mawr, PA; and the Jewish community in Detroit. These items were shipped to our partner organization, World of Giving Inc., in New York, who arranged to have the boxes shipped to Ukraine along with other items they collected for us.
On behalf of the Jews of Ukraine, a big "thank you" to the North Shore Hebrew Academy, the Jack M Barrack Hebrew Academy, the Schechter School of Long Island, the Detroit Jewish community and World Of Giving. Working together we ensure no one is left behind.
Our unique vantage point from inside the communities allows us to see the faces of the crisis in Ukraine - the woman in Chernihiv who relies on our vouchers to purchase groceries, and her peer in Zhitomir who needed lights. The entire communities in Odessa and Kyiv turn to us for power and warmth in their community centers and schools, and in Mykolyiv we provide fresh water.
Our staff and volunteers are working around the clock to deliver medicine to nearly 11,000 people, food to 25,000 people, and winter items of all kinds to more than 30,000 people. From industrial generators and fresh water wells to food parcels and hot meals, we are taking care of the Jews of Ukraine, from our hands to theirs, ensuring no one is left behind.
The power supply in Ukraine has become highly unreliable over the past few months, just in time for the frigid winter months. The country now relies on generators for heat and power of all kinds. Foreign countries and non-government organizations have stepped in to help: according to news reports, Israel donated 17 units, UNICEF gave 14, Germany promised 470 (of which 150 have been delivered), and France gave 100. The demand for generators has far outpaced supply and it is virtually impossible to have any new ones delivered before Spring. Fortunately, JRNU identified the need early on and already secured 150 units, mostly large industrial types. These generators are powering communal buildings of all kinds including community centers, schools, and synagogues where people from the entire town or village gather for shelter, warm meals and to charge their electronic devices. This week 5 new units were installed in Chernivitsi and Rovno.
In addition to these lifesaving efforts, JRNU continues to support Ukrainians in a variety of other ways, supplying medicine, food, warm clothes, blankets and more. Over the past few weeks, reflective bands and straps were distributed to citizens to protect them from traffic fatalities while out in the dark cities at night.
Thanks to JRNU's boots-on-the-ground presence in Ukraine we are uniquely able to identify the most urgent needs and address them quickly and effectively. We are helping people all across Ukraine, in the largest cities and the most remote villages. Our current challenge is to secure sufficient funding to cover the cost of fuel and connection fees for the generators.
Your donations will allow us to continue the lifesaving work we do in Ukraine. Together we will ensure no one is left behind.
The war in Ukraine has left a lot of people without access to critical medications. Before the war, the cost of medicine was declining and access to medical care was improving; but that all changed.
According to a World Health Organization survey, the medicines most difficult to obtain have included those for high blood pressure (49%), heart conditions (49%), pain (41%), sedatives (33%) and antibiotics (32%). The main reasons for not getting medicine included the increased price of medicine (84%) and the unavailability of medicines at the pharmacy (46%).
Throughout the war, JRNU has coordinated with medical providers, pharmacies and donors, to address these shortages. Our partner, Americares sent 4 containers of critical supplies into Ukraine, including penicillin, prenatal vitamins, bandages, emergency treatment kits, IV fluids, wound care supplies and more. These items have saved thousands of lives all across the country.
JRNU maintains a database with more then 10,000 individuals we regularly serve with prescription and non-prescription medications to address a broad range of maladies. All items are provided at no cost to the Ukrainians, thanks to generous donors.
The past 10 months have been extremely difficult for the people of Ukraine, and the daily struggles continue. We pray for an end to the crisis and remain steadfast in our commitment to the Ukrainian people. We were supporting the Jews in Ukraine before the first rocket landed, and we will be there long after the last soldier leaves.
The lifesaving work we did together in 2022 will continue in 2023--thanks to you! Evacuations, food, medicine, lodging, generators, school renovations, winter clothing, and more. Your support allows us to help 50,000 people each month. We are grateful for the opportunity to make a positive difference and ensure no one is left behind.
Little Yana was happy to get a new pair of glasses! Her parents could no longer afford to take proper care of her eyesight, after losing their jobs and exhausting their savings.
Zinaida, 84, has little chance to rest, with the constant sirens; she is extremely grateful for food and other essentials we provide.
Warm blankets have been lifesaving, especially for the elderly.
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The joy of a child warms the hearts of everyone--so desperately needed after months of suffering.
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Medical supplies are sent to clinics around the country to provide everything from prenatal care, to treatment for chronic conditions, to the flu.
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Little Maya Arseniy from Chernivtsi receiving a treatment at dentist’s. The family has three kids and this care is a great support for them
Food parcels distributed to communities, such as these in Mykolayiv, are sometimes the only source of nourishment for people, especially during the frigid winter weather.
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The needs of the Ukrainian people are increasing as the cold weather intensifies. As soon as we learn of an infirm elderly individual, a hungry couple, a family in need, or an expecting mother, we respond immediately to assist.
Warm blankets delivered to ladies of the Chernivtsi community where the weather is cold and heating is sporadic.
Matching blankets to warm up a young brother and sister in Khmelnytski.
The Zilberman’s from Chernihiv, a couple in their 80’s with no family for support receives a much needed food package.
Zhytomyr, the Center for Prenatal Care, receives a medical supplies, made possible by our partner, Americares.
The people of Ukraine endure great hardships with continued widespread power outages and missile attacks. Their determination and fortitude is remarkable—we continue to support them with food, medicine, shelter, medical and mental health care, winter survival and lots of compassion and encouragement!
Tatiana from the village of Stepove receives wood to heat her home (pictured on the left).
Young Bohdan from Chernihiv receives medications to treat his chronic disease; his family has no means to pay for these critical drugs.
Vlad from Cherkassy receives much needed speech therapy to address his developmental issues.
Bella Isaakovna, 69, lives in Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine, a city that was largely unaffected by the war for many months. But today, virtually every city in Ukraine is dangerous, and the residents live in fear. Bella, the daughter of a holocaust survivor, remembers her father’s many stories of the traumatic experiences during World War II. Until recently, these stories seemed like ancient history, with little relevance to present times. The missile strikes and bombings in Kropyvnytskyi changed all that. Bella, and other elderly residents, run to the basement each time they hear threats of missile strikes; she is afraid to leave her home even for groceries or medicine. The staff and volunteers of JRNU have been a lifeline to Bella, delivering food packages and prescription drugs, and providing support and encouragement.
Bella and her neighbors and friends struggle to get through each day, hoping and praying for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crises. With your continued support, JRNU will ensure that Bella and all the Jews of Ukraine know they are not alone and not forgotten.
Everyone in Ukraine, young and old, needs light and hope in these dark days. In Uzhhorod, hundreds of displaced families were overjoyed to receive Chanukah boxes, a symbol of past holidays celebrated in their homes.
Children are happy to receive comforters and blankets to keep them warm!
Many homes are without heat and the temperatures are dangerously cold. Portable heaters like this one provided to a woman in Mykolayiv are saving lives.
Candles, flashlights, power banks and battery-operated heaters are invaluable items; we are providing tens of thousands of each!
The dedicated staff and volunteers who make our work possible find a way to carry on their critical humanitarian work! In Mykolayiv, with no power, lists and schedules are completed in near darkness.
Thank you for making sure the Jews of Ukraine know they are not alone and not forgotten. Together we will continue to provide food, medicine, shelter, warm clothes and more!
Every day in Ukraine is full of stress, waiting for the next bomb to drop. We are providing individuals with psychological support in addition to regular supplies of food and medicine.
Many people like this woman below struggle to live day to day with no running water; the well we dug in Mykoliav is a help, but it is not enough!
Families spend long hours in bomb shelters, a challenge even for grown-ups who can make sense of the situation. This family is fortunate to have a shelter of their own, but the cold and dark is difficult and scary for people of all ages.
Schools continue to educate children, despite continual power outages and frequent emergency sirens. It is imperative that the children have some sense of normalcy and connection to the world, beyond their war-torn country full of dark and dread.
With your help we continue to support the people of Ukraine and ensure no one is left behind.
Jews around the world are celebrating the first night of Chanukah, grateful for light and warmth in our lives, and for the blessings bestowed upon us daily. We are also mindful of the difficulties and struggles of the Jews in Ukraine, who lack light and warmth on a daily basis, but who are are blessed, nonetheless, with support from fellow Jews all around the world.
Each night when we light candles and say prayers, let us take a moment to think of the Jews in Ukraine and remain steadfast in our commitment to help them. Let us also pray for a resolution to the current crisis and for strength to rebuild the Jewish communities.
Happy Chanukah!
Every Jew in Ukraine, young and old, needs light and warmth this Chanukah!
Ten months of war has taken a toll physically, emotionally, and spiritually. JRNU rabbis, staff and volunteers are delivering 40,000 boxes of special Chanukah items: dreidels, coloring books and gelt for the kids, along with menorahs, chocolate and instruction books. In some cities public menorahs are being lit and community celebrations are held, and in other places families will celebrate alone or in small groups, with visitors from JRNU and the local Jewish community to add festivity, support and encouragement.
As a humanitarian organization, we must take care of people’s hearts and souls in addition to providing food, water, medicine and shelter. For some families, the Chanukah boxes are almost as important as the winter coats, flashlights and power banks! Adults and kids have endured unimaginable trauma for months on end--the joy on children’s faces when they receive the Chanukah packages lights rooms and brings warmth to everyone! Celebrating Chanukah as Jews have done for centuries allows Ukrainians to feel supported and connected to Jews around the world; it reminds them they are not alone or forgotten.
Please join us in continuing to support the Jews of Ukraine.
“It seems like the rest of the world has already forgotten about us.”-- Jewish Community Members in Odessa
On Monday evening, leaders and members of the Detroit Jewish and Ukrainian communities came together to show the people of Ukraine they are not forgotten! The event served as a reminder of the continued crises in Ukraine and to raise funds for Jewish Relief Network Ukraine.
In addition to speakers and videos, the program included recording a Unity Message, complete with yellow and blue light sticks, that will be shared with Jewish communities throughout Ukraine.
Presenters included Ody Norkin from East Lansing, who has personally delivered ambulances and medical equipment to Ukraine, Sam Rozenberg from Detroit, who has facilitated shipment to Ukraine of winter clothes and supplies of all kinds, and Ethan Gross, the event organizer, who visited Ukraine last month and provided assistance to the Mishpacha orphanage in Ukraine and the Jewish community in Odessa. Ethan also facilitated a campaign at his shul, Bais Chabad Torah Center, that raised thousands of dollars for JRNU. Rabbi Mendel Moskovitz provided a video message regarding the impact the war has had on him and thousands of other Ukrainian Jews, and Judi Garrett shared information about the work of JRNU.
We are grateful for the support of the people of Detroit who are ensuring the people of Ukraine know they are not forgotten.
More than 30 tons of much needed winter clothing is being distributed to the people of Ukraine, thanks to Chabad UK, the Orthodox Union, the United Synagogue, Jewish Futures and JGift. As the temperatures continue to drop and power supplies are interrupted, the warm clothing and blankets are saving thousands of lives!
Thanks to Schmerling Chocolate, thousands of Ukrainian children will have something to smile about this Chanukah! Nearly 2,000 pounds of chocolate was donated to JRNU and will be used to create special holiday packages; other donated items such as strawberry filled cupcakes and peanut butter cups will be included as well. For many children there is little to smile about this year--they have been in the cold and dark with limited power and internet, separated from family and loved ones--lots of children even lost their homes. This Chanukah, the tradition of giving tzedakah (charity) has new meaning for all of us; we are doing what we can to show the children of Ukraine they are not forgotten.
Americares is a health-focused relief organization that saves lives and improves the health of individuals affected by poverty or natural disasters. For healthy individuals, war and its consequences are difficult, but for those with health conditions, it is even more challenging as it disrupts access to medical supplies and medical treatment.
At the start of the war in Ukraine, Americares responded immediately to our requests for support; within days they made arrangements to ship an entire container of critical supplies including penicillin, prenatal vitamins, bandages and emergency treatment kits, IV fluids, wound care supplies, and more. These life-saving supplies were received by the Jewish Medical Center in Dnipro, one of the largest hospitals in the country which serves tens of thousands of individuals.The supplies were then shared with other clinics and hospitals around the country. The supplies were quickly depleted and within weeks Americares sent a second shipment of supplies, and then a third that arrived in the nick of time! The winter season has created even more health challenges for many individuals and the aid from Americares is having a tremendous impact, everyday.
Since the war began, Americares has sent over 242 tons of medicine and medical supplies valued at over $48 million to health facilities throughout Ukraine. The generosity and efficiency of Americares has resulted in tens of thousands of lives saved and suffering averted. We are grateful to Americares for their ongoing generous support.
Peanut Proud donated 35,000 jars of peanut butter to the people of Ukraine through JRNU partner World of Giving. This essential food item arrived in the nick of time, as Ukrainians across the country are having to choose between heat and nourishment. We are distributing the jars to tens of thousands of men, women and children throughout Ukraine who are grateful for the support and are glad to know they are not forgotten.
The residents of Kherson have been struggling for weeks, with no access to water or power. Today JRNU delivered 20 tons of food and life saving supplies; not a moment too soon, as most of the country is in the cold and dark.
Yesterday, chief rabbis from Jewish communities across Ukraine and JRNU leaders, were hosted by philanthropist George Rohr, President of NCH Capital, Inc., for a meeting with representatives from the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York, including Chief Executive Officer Eric Goldstein. The rabbis shared first hand experiences from the ongoing crises in Ukraine; Rabbi David Eliezrie, Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency provided valuable context. Throughout the war, UJA and Mr. Rohr have been incredible partners of JRNU, funding food and supplies along with holiday packages and much more. Without the support of generous partners like these, tens of thousands of people in Ukraine would be hungry and now, cold.
The city of Mykolaiv (Nikolaev), located in Southern Ukraine on the Southern Bug River, is a major shipbuilding center of Ukraine due to its proximity to the Black Sea.
Nikolaev has a rich history of Jews dating back to the 19th century when Jews were banned from living east of the Dnieper River. By the end of the 19th century, the city was home to 20,000 Jews, 14 synagogues, and 15 Jewish schools. It is also the birthplace of the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
Today the people of Nikolaev are struggling to access clean water after missiles ruptured two pipelines that supplied water to the city. It is not possible to restore pipelines while the war is ongoing. JRNU staff and volunteers are digging a well to provide a ready source of water, eliminating the need for people to travel long distances for this critical resource needed to survive.
Check out Ethan's blog for live updates from Ukraine! After raising thousands of dollars for JRNU, Ethan travelled to Berlin and to Odessa to see first hand the critical humanitarian work we are doing. Ethan Gross, JD, is CEO of Globe Midwest Adjusters International, the largest public adjusting firm in the Midwest and an active member of the Detroit Jewish Community.
JRNU sustains more than 1,000 people with hot nutritious meals. Many of the individuals are elderly, or suffer with health issues or disabilities. These meals are part of our comprehensive food program that includes grocery store vouchers and food packages. JRNU volunteers deliver meals and packages to people who are unable to leave their homes, and seek out those who are unable to find assistance on their own.
We currently operate 15 different soup kitchens throughout Ukraine. As people evacuate from more dangerous areas into safer parts of the country, they are provided food and other support from JRNU at our many community centers and other distribution sites.
Our staff and volunteers continue to work around the clock to ensure that no one is left behind!
The City of Zaparozhye, on the banks of the Dnipro River in Southeast Ukraine, is known for its nuclear power stations, industrial facilities, and advanced transportation systems. For the past 27 years, Rabbi Erentrau has established and maintained an active Jewish community supported by a shul/community center, school, soup kitchen, and mikvah. Presently, more than 700 people, Jews and non-Jews alike, are living in the center, and relying on JRNU for food, medicine and more. During the holidays, Rabbi Erentrau coordinated production of kosher honey and prepared thousands of very special packages for Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot.
Sadly, this is not the first time that war has touched the people of Zaparozhye. Nearly 80% of the Jewish population (that numbered 30,000) was killed during World War II. Today, the people are struggling to prepare for winter with often disrupted power supplies and rising costs. Rabbi Erentrau and JRNU are a lifeline for the community, with friendship and fellowship as well as shelter and basic necessities.
JRNU is bringing much needed joy to the Jews of Ukraine, to celebrate Simchat Torah. Special flags were made in the country in recent days and distributed to thousands of children. Tonight everyone will dance with the festive flags and Torah books.
The upcoming holiday of Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah will be joyous inside synagogues all across Ukraine, with singing and dancing, and the traditional “hakafot” to celebrate the completion and beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle. For many individuals and families in Ukraine, the joy of coming together and celebrating with their community members is more important than ever, as their days are filled with fear and uncertainty. Just this week more than 80 rockets landed in Ukraine, causing severe damage in Kyiv, as well as Dnipro, Kharkov, Zhitomjer, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia and Lviv. Miraculously, families survived devastating blasts that destroyed apartment buildings such as the one pictured, in Zaporizhia.
Thirty percent of the country is without electrical power and many lack water as well. Winter has arrived and people have been advised to don warm clothing and stock up on blankets as power is not expected to return anytime soon. JRNU staff and volunteers accompanied the Chabad rabbis going door to door in each community, checking on the residents, providing assistance where needed. Sukkot services were held at every shul, giving people a brief respite from the frightening chaos they have endured, and a little sense of normalcy. We continue to provide food, medicine, housing and more to the people of Ukraine.
We wish everyone a joyous holiday with friends and family, and ask that we continue to remember those who are suffering. We all look forward to better days ahead.
Thanks to many brave and dedicated Chabad rabbis, JRNU staff and volunteers, tens of thousands of Jews throughout Ukraine were able to celebrate with prayers and rituals, despite the very difficult times.
As we look forward to celebrating Sukkot, the festival of harvest gathering, we are mindful of the thousands of people in Ukraine who have lost their homes and belongings and have little to gather. Many people are struggling to keep warm in apartments with damaged windows and limited hot water.
Working with our network of more than 150 rabbis throughout Ukraine, we are able to spread some joy to the Jewish communities. In addition to the holiday packages for Rosh Hashanah, with honey, cookies and cakes, calendars and coloring books, we distributed thousands of beautiful packages for Sukkot, with a Lulav, Etrog, Hadasim and Aravot. At the shuls and community centers, the rabbis are creating a festive environment, despite the challenging circumstances, inviting people to gather for prayer and observance of traditional rituals.
JRNU is able to support the Jews of Ukraine during these difficult times thanks to you! We all are grateful for the generous support and fellowship from people around the world continuing to remember those in need. And we appreciate all our friends and families with whom we share this most holy and meaningful time of year.
After rockets landed in the Lyapin family’s home town of Kramatorsk and damaged their only car, they immediately fled, heading west. Upon their arrival in Dnipro, JRNU staff repaired the front and rear windows of the car, and sent the Lyapins on their way. Between the lack of side windows, fuel issues, and severe cold, the Lyapins needed to make frequent stops.
During a stop in Kropyvntsky, Natalya, 68 years old, broke her hip while trying to get out of the car. The family was forced to remain in Kropyvntsky while she underwent surgery and rehabilitation. During medical testing, they discovered that Natalya has cancer and may need additional treatment right away. Sadly, Natalya’s daughter, Svetlana, underwent cancer treatment just two years earlier.
The Lyapin family was embraced by the Jewish community of Kropyvntsky. JRNU is taking care of their daily needs: their rent is being paid, a monthly voucher for food and other items is provided, and medication will be supplied as needed. Additionally, arrangements were made for Svetlana’s seven-year-old daughter Tina to attend a Jewish camp with other children.
JRNU continues to give essential aid and support to the Lyapin family during these difficult times.
As the new year begins, the people of Ukraine are facing new challenges on top of the existing difficult situation. The cold has started to set in and heating systems may not be turned on until multiple consecutive days of extreme cold have been reached. Many people's homes are uncomfortable, and even dangerous for the elderly and infirm. Heating costs are skyrocketing, warm blankets and heaters are difficult to come by, and people are very scared.
In Dnipro, an entire family died when their house was bombed, in the center of the city; 100 buses were destroyed in another bombing.
In Zaporizhzhya, civilian cars and volunteer buses were destroyed even as people were trying to provide humanitarian aid to others or trying to flee the “grey” zone to safety.
JRNU continues to be a source of support and aid for the people of Ukraine; they need our help now as much as ever.
Our partner organization, Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to crises all around the world, has come through for the people of Ukraine for a second time in just a few months.
As the situation inside Ukraine worsens, partners like Americares allow JRNU to continue to provide life saving support to people in 35 communities around the country. The medicine and medical supplies will directly impact the lives of thousands of men, women, and children who rely on JRNU for support, as well as mony other individuals throughout the country.
Thank you Americares!
Remember the Jews of Ukraine! Donate a holiday package today!
As we are busy preparing for High Holiday celebrations with our family and loved ones, JRNU has been preparing thousands of holiday packages for the Jews of Ukraine. Rosh Hashana gift boxes with honey cake, honey, a jewish calendar, grape juice, honey cookies, a children's book and a holiday handbook; and beautifully wrapped Sukkot packages from Israel with a Lulav, Etrog, Hadasim and Aravot . These very special deliveries will allow families to celebrate this most holy time of the year, even as they endure enormous hardship. Many Ukraine Jews are among the millions of displaced persons, living in temporary housing with no source of income and no way to provide for their daily needs. We continue to provide food, medicine, housing and more to 30,000 Ukrainains each month.
These wonderful gift packages will allow our brothers and sisters to share in the traditions of our forefathers. With your help we can give thousands of suffering Jews some joy and hope for better days to come.
Please buy a package for a family in Ukraine and make their holiday a special: $60 buys a Rosh Hashanah box and $45 buys a Sukkot package.
Last week, the Executive Director of JRNU, Shlomi Peles, along with Rabbi Moshe Moskowitz – Chief Rabbi of Kharkiv, Rabbi Nachum Erntroy – Chief Rabbi of Zaparozehe, and Rabbi Mordechai Lavanhartz – from Kyiv, welcomed the Minister of the Diaspora, Mr. Nachman Shay, for a visit to Kfar Chabad.
Minister Shay's visit began in the village’s etrog orchard where he was received by the Chasidic farmer Elazar Garlick who told him about the history of the orchard that provides thousands of beautiful etrogs every year. From there, Minister Shai continued to the village’s beehives, where he was received by the Schneerson family. The minister was shown the honey production process in the factory.
At the heart of the Diaspora Minister’s tour was a visit to “770” house – a replica of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s house in Brooklyn, where the minister donned tefillin and offered a prayer. Rabbi Nachum Erntroy – Chief Rabbi of Zaparozehe, sounded the shofar.
The visit concluded with Rabbi Peles awarding a “Token of Salvation” to the Minister of the Diaspora, and all the rabbis expressing their gratitude for Minister Shay's ongoing support of the Jewish communities in Ukraine.
After months of generous hospitality at the Jewish National Fund Nes-Harim campus, JRNU’s ‘Alumim’ Children’s Home and Orphanage of Zhytomyr, Ukraine, is relocating to Chabad’s educational campus in Ashkelon, Southern Israel.
Hundreds of the institution’s refugee children, together with many Zhytomyr community members, that have been staying in Nes-Harim ever since their urgent evacuation from West Ukraine, are currently resettling in the Southern city of Ashkelon. They will integrate into Chabad’s local network of communal and educational institutions and initiatives, headed by Rabbi Mendel Lieberman.
A special welcoming ceremony, attended by dignitaries, community members, and dedicated professional services, welcomed the refugees at the beginning of the new academic year as they arrived. Knesset member, Alexander Kushnir, who joined the event and lives in the city, warmly blessed the new arrivals and spoke about the Israeli commitment to their wellbeing.
“It was a very exciting moment,” says Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm, the Chief Rabbi of Zhytomyr and West Ukraine. “A hundred children and eighteen families are opening a new page. Some are in dormitories, others have already found apartments and a few are in hotels, yet all feel something new and refreshing is happening – a new home surrounded by loving and caring individuals from the warm Chabad community.”
As the war continues it's easy to forget about the day to day problems of families in Ukraine. For example, Zhenya Lizhnik, a young man from Kamianske who has had dental issues his entire life. For three years he endured various procedures and contraptions including dental bridges to correct issues with his upper jaw and protruding teeth that caused tremendous pain while eating. The treatment was successful, but almost immediately Zhenya began to have serious problems with his wisdom teeth. They were not only very painful but were threatening to undo all the improvements to his jaw and teeth. Accordingly, on August 29th, JRNU arranged for an emergency operation to remove four wisdom teeth, and covered all the costs.
The Lizhnik family has been struggling financially for some time, even more so during the war. They lack sufficient funds for food and necessities; paying for dental treatment and oral surgery was out of the question, even with the real threats to Zhenya's health.
For the Lizhnik family and thousands of others, JRNU is there to provide support of all kinds. We have been a part of the communities long before the war, working with people to understand and address their many needs; we will be there long after the war ends.
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Today is the first day of school in Ukraine. Eighteen hundred Jewish children return to school after a summer sheltering in bunkers and taking refuge in other towns to which they have fled.
Many students come from underprivileged backgrounds, and school serves as a critical support system for them and their families. Recognizing the desperate need for these children to return to school, to improve their physical and mental wellbeing, as much as their educational needs, the Chabad rabbis and Jewish Relief Network Ukraine were determined to open the doors of as many schools as possible on September 1st.
The Ukrainian government mandated that all schools have accessible bomb shelters complete with generators, furniture, food and water. JRNU worked hard to disguise the ominous shelters as colorful and welcoming classrooms or play areas to avoid further traumatizing the children. Schools in Kyiv, Odessa, Zhytomyr, Vinitsa, Bila Tserkva, Chernivtsi, Kamianske, Kryvyi Rih, Cherkasy, among others, opened in person, while others are hoping to open soon; the students attend online classes in the meantime.
The Agudath Achim congregation of Bradley Beach, NJ, is sponsoring three families in Ukraine. Their generous donations will ensure the Ivashchenko family, the Grinchenko family, and the Chernaya family have food, medicine, and other necessities.
The Ivashchenko Family from Mariupol, Ukraine
“We have two children, Anya, 7 years old and Maxim, 12 years old. Before the war, as it turned out, we had a wonderful life. The children had many friends, were very sociable, went to school and attended Jfuture, Enerjew and SmartJ classes. But one day our life completely changed. We lost everything: our house, friends and relatives, jobs and our beloved city. I still don’t have any news from my brother in Mariupol and I cry everyday. Fortunately, we evacuated and survived. Now we live in Dnipro in a hostel. After all, we are learning to live again.”
The parents lost their jobs, their home and all of their belongings. They are in need of support to rebuild their lives.
The Grinchenko Family from Zhytomyr, Ukraine
Svetlana is a single mother who was raising her two boys, Bogden (15) and Nazar (11) in Zhytomyr. They were forced to evacuate, leaving everything they had behind in Ukraine. They currently live in Haifa, Israel, with relatives, but need to rent their own apartment. The family is in desperate need of support to begin their new life.
Natalia and Mikhail Chernaya from Vinnytsia, Ukraine
Natalia is an English teacher and works at a local Jewish school to provide for her son. Mikhail is struggling with the effects of the war and need psychiatric care. These issues have caused him to lag behind his peers in school, and he need tutoring. The war has crippled the family’s financial situation and they are in need of support for food, medication and psychological care.
There are thousands of families just like these who desperately need help, please contact us to sponsor a family!
Thanks to JRNU, hundreds of residents of Vinnytsia are getting much needed food, as they recover from the recent severe bombing.
Team member Victor Nikolayets shares, “This is the time you can not stand aside. We are to be strong and united. I can not think of anything but our Jewish people being in extreme need and I try to do my best to help”
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