During the war in the Crimea many Jews became refugees, and found shelter in a village founded by the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine • Four years later, the village thrives: "All apartments are occupied; this is a human example, not just for Jews, how to treat refugees"

• "The young guys are constantly broadcasting that there are those waiting, that they should take the reins"

  Photography:

  Rafael Vilenski

Not far from Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, is a well-known village that rings well known. Welcome to Antibka, a refugee village named after the hometown of Tuvia, who became a full-fledged Jewish town after the war with Russia - the first in Europe after World War II. A synagogue, Jewish school, medical center and community center are just some of the institutions built there, and the hand is still leaning.

In 2015, at the height of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Jews fled the battle zones and needed immediate assistance. Rabbi Moshe Asman, the country's chief rabbi, was assisted. "Four years ago, a mayor, 200 km from Kiev, called me and told me that Jews fled with nothing from the areas where they lived and came," he says. "That's why I bought this area and housed these refugees. They came with nothing, even underwear I bought them. "

The town next to the area he bought is Anatuka, where the imaginary story of Tuvia Milk, the hero of the author Heidi Shalom Aleichem, takes place. In the film and musical "Fiddler on the Roof" the name of the village was changed to Antibke, so Rabbi Asman decided to call it the new village. In the area acquired, it turned out, later, was also the grave of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl, which makes it a pilgrimage point for the Hasidim and a visible miracle in terms of Rabbi Esman's people. Here, he said, a Jewish town should be established.

Entebke // Photo: Rafael Vilenski

The Crimean War has long since ended, but the village is only growing, and is gaining the character of a community. Apartment buildings are set up every few months and other projects are in the planning. Those who help a lot in building and sustaining the village are the members of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), chaired by Michael Mirilshvili. It is an organization that helps Jews who are in former USSR states. "Entebbe is a prime example of congressional social activity, with the goal of addressing normative Jewish refugees and families who want to provide their children with Jewish education and be close to Jewish synagogues and institutions," says Haim Ben-Yaakov, CEO . Michael Mirilshvili's son, Isaac, is one of the most prominent figures in assisting the village.

Despite its small size, Entebca actually serves as a large community center for area Jews. Every day, about 300 children from Kiev near the village school come and receive Jewish education. There is also an elderly center, a Sunday school and classes that allow children who are in state schools to get some "Yiddishkeit". Ben Ya'akov: "We provide the money center, study materials and more."

A call to the younger generation

Last week, a first conference of the EAJC was organized in the village with the Jewish-European Parliament, an umbrella organization that unites Jewish communities in Europe. In the various congressional seats, hundreds of delegates from 32 countries in Europe, including Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Albania, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, discussed burning issues on the agenda, of which the subject of anti-Semitism is of course the mainland.

Community life in Antibke // Photo: Rafael Vilenski

Just a day before the big convention, the town's residents were awakened to a painful reminder of a situation closely linked to Antibecca: the statue of the author Shalom Aleichem in Kiev was sprayed with a large swastika, a sign that severe anti-Semitism is not only a problem in Western Europe but also in the East.

At the conference, many attendees discussed the demographic composition of communities and their various processes, along with the possibility of redress. One of the problems, says Ben Yaakov, is the aging of the leaders in the communities. "We are trying to encourage the younger generation to enter community leadership. We are constantly broadcasting to the young guys that there are those waiting in the synagogues and communities that they need to take the reins."

During congressional days, Mirilshvili called on the Ukrainian authorities to transfer the state embassy to Jerusalem. Attendees adopted a declaration of commitment to the Jewish people and the State of Israel, stating that "we believe in a strong and prosperous Jewish diaspora, united around the ancient Jewish heritage and the State of Israel." In addition, action was taken to strengthen the role of youth and to preserve Jewish heritage and the development of Jewish life in the Euro-Asia region, the countries whose territory is divided between Asia and Europe.

Meanwhile, in the small village of Entebbe, which currently has about 150 people, efforts are also being made to integrate the younger generation and bring young couples into the scene. Affordable housing for Jews - a cost to the resident, the Ukrainian version. "There are many people who want to live here but I have no space, everything is occupied. We are building more buildings for the young couples," says Rabbi Asman proudly, and Ben Yaakov points out that this is a single venture of its kind in Europe. "This is the first time a Jewish village has been established in Europe after the Holocaust. We do not know such a thing in Europe, a Jewish village that provides a comprehensive response to residents living there."

Entebke // Photo: Rafael Vilenski

This is not the only surprise to discover who is coming to Antibecca. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani was recently announced by residents as the mayor of honor and even received the city's key from Rabbi Esman. As far as the rabbi is concerned, the fact that Giuliani is assisting US President Donald Trump to help Israel is a reason to honor him in every way possible. "Every Saturday I pray for the peace of Trump's royal at the Great Synagogue of Kiev, I am not ashamed of it," he admits.

Objective: Spiritual Community Center

EAJC members place great emphasis on the issue of advocacy for Israel. "We are organizing meetings where the State of Israel is explained to the elites in their countries. We want to emphasize that Israel is not a war-only state, but rather a leader in technology, culture, start-ups and social initiatives," says Ben Ya'akov.

Rabbi Moshe Asman

"The whole story of this village was born in response to refugees in Ukraine. Jews fled and turned to humanitarian temporary aid organizations. Even today, in light of the country's economic situation, it is necessary to help people, to give them a response."

And in Antibke, they don't mind the yeast. Homes are built there on a monthly basis, and circles and schools open every year. "There is no one who is unimpressed when he comes to Antibke," Rabbi Asman points out, and as far as he is concerned, "this is just the basics." Later, the Museum of Ukrainian Jewry and the Hasidic Museum will be built there. "I hope we will have an impact on the world. Give an example to people, not just Jews, how to care for, help and rehabilitate refugees. The ambition is that Antabaca will be a spiritual, cultural and medical center that will help Jews and non-Jews alike."