Khmelnytsky, a city in Western Ukraine, situated along the Bug River, is notorious for atrocities committed against Jews, dating back to 1648. The city is named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky, a Cossack who led the rebellion against the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Jews. As leaseholders (arendators), the Jews were seen by the peasants as oppressors, and they became the targets of violence resulting in irreparable harm to the Jewish community. The city was originally known as Ploskirov, and part of the Kingdom of Poland. It was conquered by the Ottoman and Russian empires before becoming part of the Soviet Union in 1920. On the 300th anniversary marking the end of the uprising, the name was changed to Khmelnytsky, in honor of the Cossack rebel.
The violent history of the Khmelnytsky continued long after the tragic uprising. In 1919, 1,500 Jews were killed in a pogrom on Friday night, February 15th. On July 8, 1941, the town was occupied by the Nazi Germans who remained in place until March 25, 1944. On November 4, 1941, more than 5,300 Jews from the city and surrounding villages were shot and killed. The next month, all surviving Jewish residents were forced to move into a newly formed ghetto and perform manual labor. In 1942, the residents of the ghetto were killed. In all, the Nazis killed more than 9,500 Jews in Khmelnytsky.
While Khmelnytsky was part of the Soviet Union, the population of the city doubled, from 62,473 in 1959 to 112,959 in 1970, and then it doubled again by 1989 when the population exceeded 237,000. The city continued to grow after Ukraine gained its independence, reaching a total of 274,452 just before the invasion in February 2022.
The city sustained heavy damages in the early days of the current conflict, when a military base was targeted, resulting in one death and several injuries. A few residential buildings were damaged in the attack as well, including a kindergarten. Additional deaths and injuries have occurred as the conflict continues.
The Jewish community in Khmelnytsky is small but vibrant. We provide regular support and assistance to more than 1,000 people. The industrial generator we installed in 2022 has been a lifeline, powering the community center where people gather for warmth and light. We distributed hundreds of pairs of glasses to residents of the city and outlying areas. Our regular distribution of food packages has sustained the young and old for more than 3 ½ years, along with clothing and other essential items. Our dedicated staff prepare hot meals for those in need and deliver them directly to the elderly and infirm. Recently we provided backpacks filled with supplies for children returning to school, and in the weeks ahead we will complete our holiday food and gift package campaign.
We hope and pray the people of Khmelnytsky will enjoy peace and joy in the year ahead. Together we save lives and restore hope.
