Last weekend we hosted the dedicated leaders of Jewish communities across Ukraine who continue to serve their constituents at substantial personal risk and sacrifice. The event took place at the Menorah Jewish Community Center in Dnipro and was organized with support from the city's Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki. Rabbi Levenharts, from JRNU, noted that some of the participants traveled more than 18 hours to attend: “The roads are extremely complicated these days, and the winter weather has been especially harsh, with snow in many cities. It only shows how important this event is for them.”
The hundreds of attendees, including many children, were grateful for the opportunity for fellowship and much needed relaxation after more than 4 years of continuous stress and strain. The leaders in attendance shared experiences over the past 4 years, fostering camaraderie and inspiration to continue their work, caring for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of thousands of Jews across Ukraine. Specific sessions were held on a variety of important topics including security infrastructure, that was led by renowned security expert Ilya Goldberg, of the CWA organization in Ukraine. Special classes and forums were conducted for women as well as programs for boys and girls of different ages.
The weekend meeting provided a wonderful opportunity to thank the rabbis and their families for their hard work and dedication. Collectively they have saved thousands of lives threatened by escalating tensions, power shortages, and lack of essential supplies. Everyone left the event with renewed strength and energy to continue their vital work.
Together we save lives and restore hope.
