The Jewish community of Zhytomyr is dealing with the heartbreaking news that a beloved teacher was killed while defending his country.
Andriy Vitaliyovych Kurovskyy died on May 28, while serving on the Pokrovsk front.
In the early days of the conflict, Andriy was drafted into a drone unit; several months ago he was wounded. Shlomo Wilhelm, Chief Rabbi of Zhytomyr explained, “We helped him recover and heal. Once he regained his strength, Andriy made the decision to return to the battlefield. Today, we received the tragic news of his death.”
Sadly, Andriy's final deployment ended on May 28, when he suffered a fatal heart attack while on duty. Local Jewish leaders offered, “Sincere condolences are extended to his family and loved ones.” The entire community was shocked to learn of Andriy’s death:
“Andriy was one of our most veteran teachers at the school,” said Rabbi Wilhelm, “he was in charge of the entire computer education program — a computer science teacher, a programmer, and deeply passionate about the field, including printing technologies, design, and related areas. He was truly dedicated to the school’s educational mission for many years."
Students and teachers were devastated when they heard the news: “He worked incredibly hard at the school and had a strong bond with the students,” said one of the teachers.
Andriy is not the first casualty from Zhytomyr’s Jewish community since the war began. “Each time, the heart breaks again,” said Rabbi Wilhelm. “One time it’s a teacher, another time it’s a student — the tragedy never ends.”
“There is constant concern,” he added, “since many of our alumni and community members are serving in the military. One must understand that in Ukraine, every man is drafted, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find good teachers.”
Andriy’s funeral took place on June 4th, and it passed through the school building where he taught. Students and teachers participated in honoring his memory.
Meanwhile, the school is preparing for the end of the academic year. This week marks the “final bell” at the school, one of the most established Jewish schools in Ukraine (supported by JRNU), operating for more than thirty years.
We will keep Andriy's family and the entire Zhytomyr community in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Together we save lives and restore hope.
