Immediately after the invasion, in February 2022, Avraham Wolff, Chief Rabbi of Odessa and Director of the Mishpacha Children's Home in Odessa (supported by JRNU), instructed his staff to take all of the children from the orphanage and flee to safety. They loaded the kids, ages 0-18 years, on a bus and headed to Germany, where they had been offered temporary refuge. The hope and expectation was that they would return after a week or two, but that did not come to pass.
The escape was nothing short of miraculous, as there was no time to gather the documents ordinarily required to transport the children out of the country. The orphanage directors managed to arrive in Germany safely with all the children as well as many family members. Once there, the German government along with the local Jewish community welcomed the Mishpacha Children's Home with open arms, and the helped with all the necessary arrangements. Unfortunately, the ongoing crisis made it too dangerous for the children to return home for more than a year. In fact, it wasn't until March of 2023 that they returned to Odessa. During their absence, the home was used to house internally displaced persons and underwent needed renovations.
This week, a senior delegation from the German Embassy in Ukraine visited Odessa, where they were welcomed by children and staff from the Mishpacha orphanage. The children presented the guests with a framed image of the refugee passport issued to them by the German government during their stay in Germany. The passport bears the inscription: “Whoever saves one life, it is as if he saved an entire world.”
The delegation, led by Deputy Ambassador Dr. Maximilian Raash, was accompanied by Rabbi Wolff. The visit was a moving experience for everyone:
“The encounter with the children and the work being done here touched me deeply,” said Dr. Raash at the conclusion of the visit. “It was one of the most powerful and human experiences I have ever had. I thank Rabbi Wolff and the Jewish community of Odessa for their unwavering commitment, compassion, and extraordinary efforts on behalf of the Jewish community and beyond throughout these difficult years.”
Rabbi Wolff expressed his gratitude to the delegation, noting the significance of Germany’s support. “The connection with the German government is especially meaningful,” he said, “as the country opened its doors to our children during their darkest hours, offering them shelter, education, and a sense of peace and humanity amidst the turmoil.”
Together we save lives and restore hope.
