Wednesday night, during a widespread air attack, the son of the Director of the Jewish Community in Dnipro, Rabbi Zelig Brez, was injured and their home was damaged. A drone struck an open area very close to the residential building, and the force of the blast along with flying debris created the perilous situation. The windows of the house were completely shattered, and shrapnel flew into the house. One of the rabbi's children was injured by glass fragments; he was given immediate medical treatment and is in good condition.
Photos from the scene show a small crater created by the drone, with smoke rising from the ground and holes in nearby windows. Inside the house, a window sill is covered in a thick layer of shattered glass and flower pots are overturned; a prayer book was placed next to shrapnel.
Rabbi Zelig Brez, who works closely with Dnipro’s Chief Rabbi, Shmuel Kaminezki, helps direct one of the largest Jewish Community Centers in the world – the Menorah Center. Throughout the ongoing crisis, Rabbi Brez has worked tirelessly helping thousands of Jewish refugees who arrive in the city from eastern parts of the country, closer to the front lines. He has been a significant force in our ability to deliver large-scale humanitarian aid to the Jews of Dnipro and the surrounding area.
In recent weeks, Rabbi Brez’s work has been especially critical and challenging as the city has suffered frequent bombings. Several deaths and dozens of injuries were reported as a result of strikes on residential buildings and infrastructure. Despite the constant danger, Rabbis Kaminezki and Brez, along with other leaders remain in place lending continual support to the Jewish community. Together we save lives and restore hope.
