“Explosions didn’t stop; everything shook,” said Rabbi Simcha Levenhartz, a leader of the Jewish community in Kyiv, describing the largest air attack on the city since the war began. “The smoke was thick and lingered for hours after the bombardment ended,” he added. Air raid sirens blared continuously throughout the night as the synagogue’s shelter filled with people—Jews and non-Jews alike.
The shelter, constructed in the basement of the synagogue, is one of the few relatively safe havens in the area. It is well equipped with restrooms, adequate lighting, furniture, and drinking water. Unfortunately, many people in Kyiv lack access to proper shelter, with thousands of people forced to spend nights in subway stations.
There were no reported casualties within the Jewish communities, though many homes were damaged. Miraculously, more than 200 miles away in Poltava, a city in central Ukraine, a young man narrowly escaped disaster. While briefly detained at a Ukrainian military facility (regarding his draft status), he stepped outside for a moment to smoke a cigarette. At that exact moment, five drones struck the building, causing immense damage. Unharmed, the young man went immediately to the synagogue and offered prayers of gratitude.
In Kremenchuk, southeast of Kyiv, drones struck another military facility near the local synagogue. “We do everything to maintain continuity in the Jewish communities—holding prayer services, classes, and community activities despite the hardship,” said one local rabbi. “This war has lasted over three years, but we feel its impact anew every day.”
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Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine