For months we have been preparing for Passover in Ukraine. As thousands of boxes arrived at our warehouses, the staff created Seder kits, food parcels, and holiday supply packages (“Kosher for Passover” items). In addition to matzah, the shipments include tons of kosher meat and poultry, some of which is being sent to communities hosting public Seders and operating soup kitchens. A wide range of staple products are also included —oil, sugar, salt, Passover cookies, and nuts. The holiday supplies include toothpaste, aluminum foil, special candles, and wine cups. In many communities, including Dnipro, packages were distributed well in advance of the holiday to allow families to prepare and organize their Seders; extra time is needed due to the many disruptions caused by the ongoing crisis.
This year’s Passover operation required exceptional coordination and commitment. JRNU’s Rabbi Simcha Levenharts, who lives and works in Ukraine, emphasized that despite the ongoing challenges and difficulties reaching certain regions of the country, “Every Jew will receive shmurah matzah,” he said, “everywhere, without exception.”
The delivery trucks making their way across the country, that often include a team of volunteers, bring not only holiday supplies but also a sense of connection and support. “Passover is the Festival of Freedom,” Rabbi Levenharts added. “And for many Jewish families, that sense of freedom begins with knowing they have not been forgotten—with matzah arriving at their door and the essential assistance they need for the holiday.”
It has been an honor and privilege to bring Passover to Ukraine once again, and we are grateful for our many donors who made it all possible. Together we save lives and restore hope.
