In the early days of the war, under the leadership of Rabbi Sholmo and Rebbetzin Rachel Wilhelm, 100 children of the Alumim Orphanage in Zhytomyr were evacuated to Israel, in a harrowing journey through the Carpathian Mountains and Rumania. They have been residing in Israel along with other members of their community. Last week they were treated to a special experience when they visited the ancient city of Hebron. The kids enjoyed a guided tour, in Russian, of all Hebron’s historic sites, including the Cave of the Patriarchs, the tomb of the famous Rebbitzin Menucha Rachel, Beit Hadassah, and the local Jewish museum. There, they prayed for global peace and redemption.
“It was a very exciting, interesting, and especially an emotional experience for all of us,” says Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm, the Chief Rabbi of Zhytomyr and Western Ukraine. “For the children to see the place where it all started with their own eyes –was a touching and everlasting experience. The local Jewish community was very welcoming, and made sure the children enjoyed every moment.”
