A report from Odessa following the most recent attacks:
Good morning,
A sleepless night.
I’m writing without much order, perhaps even confused – but straight from the heart.
We went through a very difficult night in Odessa.
Once again – missiles, sirens, a frantic race to protect our precious children.
And at the center of our thoughts – the shelters.
The shelters you helped build. Last night, we saw with our own eyes how they simply saved lives.
Just moments before a missile landed right near one of the buildings – the children were already in the shelter. The explosion shattered windows and brought down a ceiling – right on their beds, just moments after they had left them.
Since then – all night and into the morning – we’ve been busy embracing, calming, and dealing with the damage. We didn’t have time to document or take photos, but I’m attaching a few short clips and photos that the teachers and counselors managed to capture along the way. They don’t truly convey the intensity of the moment – the mixture of fear on one hand, and the magnitude of the miracle on the other.
But it’s at least a small glimpse we can share.
On my behalf, and on behalf of all the children –
Thank you. A tremendous thank you. And once again –Thank you. For all the help throughout this time, and especially for last night.
With love and heartfelt gratitude,
Rabbi Avraham Wolff,
Chief Rabbi of Odessa and Southern Ukraine
