The Jewish community in Ukraine is following with concern the media statements about the possibility of war with Russia in the near future, and many Israelis are already preparing to evacuate the country, residents in the country tell Israel Today.
According to them, although most of the pressure comes mainly from the foreign media, with an emphasis on the Israeli, they do not take any risks.
In Kiev, the capital, there is talk of pressure from Israelis, although there is no fear on the Ukrainian street.
"The general feeling on the street in Kiev is normal, but there is a certain fear among Israelis," says Ariel Markovich, the son of the chief rabbi of Kiev, Rabbi Yonatan Binyamin Markovich.
In recent days, 120 giant screens have been hung on the streets of Kiev in order to calm the spirits, with two quotations, one "Think well will be good" by the Lubavitcher Rebbe and the other "Pray for Peace" as a message from Rabbi Markovich.
"People, even non-Jews, call the community to say thank you and say it makes them panic," Markovich says.
A special Knesset has recently been established in the city of Uman in order to address all the Israelis in the area.
Zion Rabbi Nachman Mauman, Photo: Yehuda Peretz
"We read the reports like everyone else in the Israeli media. It must be said that in the Ukrainian media we do not feel the panic," says Shlomi Elisha, one of the city's activists who heads the special Knesset. "At the same time, we feel the tension in the financial sense .
More than 100 Israelis were supposed to arrive tonight (Saturday night), but when they called I explained to them that it was not recommended to arrive.
"Rabbi Jan's recommendation is to listen to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs - whoever can now leave Ukraine."
In the next few hours, Elisha says, "we will send a letter that will probably announce that anyone who is afraid will return to Israel with his family and wait. We are not burying our heads in the sand. We must not say 'it will be good' and wait. Now is not the time for optimism."
In recent days, the Knesset has been collecting as much data as possible about the Israelis in the city - permanent residents and tourists, and at the same time they have set up an improvised mental health department. "We had several cases of anxiety attacks.
There are people who have their whole lives here, whether it be hotels, factories or other businesses.
"Some people are panicking."
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