Lighting candles under fire: Jews in Ukraine receive Shabbat during the attack

While Ukraine is under attack for the second day in a row, the Jews living in it gather together and mark the holy day under heavy bombardment.

The umbrella organization in the country that unites the 160 communities across the country issued a statement to all Jewish rabbis and leaders to stay in the country.

"Our job is to calm down and help"

Yoav Itiel

25/02/2022

Friday, 25 February 2022, 16:50 Updated: 17:24

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In the video: Ukrainians receive Shabbat under Russian attack (official website)

In Ukraine, Shabbat enters at this time, while it is difficult for the citizens of the country, and for the Jews who mark the holy day.

"Because Putin stays at home and does not go to kindergarten," says 4-year-old Zeldi, the daughter of Rabbi Moshe Weber, a cantor and Gabay of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky's Golden Rose Synagogue in the city of Dnepropetrovsk, after lighting the candles.

The synagogue is considered one of the most beautiful synagogues in Ukraine, opened in 1800, and converted into a theater during the Soviet period, which suppressed expressions of religious worship.

The Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine, the umbrella organization in the country that unites the 160 communities across Ukraine, announced to all rabbis and community leaders that the rabbis - most of whom had Israeli and American citizenship who could escape - would stay in the various cities to be with the local population.

This is a continuation of the implementation of the decision from last week, according to which the rabbis will not leave the country.

The discussion also raised the issue of women and children, and it was unanimously decided that the families would also stay, because at this time it is better to be in houses and not move on the roads, for fear of bombings that will cause loss of life.

"The Lubavitcher Rebbe educated us to help every Jew, and that a sinking ship is not abandoned, and we are here to help in every area," they said.

The community association's committee asked to call on the Jewish public in the country, eight 250,000 people, to stay in homes in accordance with the directives of the local authorities, at the request of President Volodymyr Zalansky and accordingly the federation recommended "everyone pray at home this coming Saturday."

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4-year-old Zeldi Weber from Dnepropetrovsk (Photo: Official Website)

Federation Chairman Rabbi Meir Stumbler said that “we stay and pray for the good.

Our job is to be with the communities, to help and reassure as much as possible in this war.

There is already a shortage of groceries, people are hysterical that despite everything no one believed that there would indeed be a comprehensive attack on Ukraine.

We organize water and food medicines - including flour and dry goods - that will last for a few weeks and distribute them to Holocaust survivors, the elderly, the disabled and the disabled so that they can stay at home. "

In addition, the Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine decided to invest resources And the Jewish institutions in the country, in order to prevent looting and harassment by anti-Semites. "It is time to call on those who can help with this, we need help financing the many expenses."

The rabbis and leaders of the communities in Ukraine called on the Jews of the world "to add in spirituality - prayer, charity and good deeds. We are sure that every good deed will bring the coming of the Messiah. The battle between Russia and Ukraine is undoubtedly a sign of redemption.

4-year-old Zeldi Weber from Dnipropetrovsk.

February 25, 2022 (Photo: courtesy of the photographers)

"Since this morning we have been debating whether or not to have a quorum, and the community has been divided on this," says Rabbi Weber candidly.

Missiles

and Katyushas were ready to listen, but thank God not yet, so let's take advantage of that. Maybe this is a last chance.

And he did that too.

Another Jew said that if the books of the Torah are safe enough and they stay in the synagogue, the Jews can also feel safe.

So it was decided with us that those who live far away would do minyanim and the synagogue would remain open to those who came.

Rabbi Shmuel Kamintsky, rabbi of the city of Dnipro on behalf of the Association of Jewish Communities in Ukraine, even said that "every Jew will do what he wants but I will be there."

"The feeling is not easy this Saturday evening," he says, "there is light, and everything is starting to blossom and we are in the month of Adar, and in the morning like the morning we woke up to explosions. Do not hide it. Some have panic attacks.

Our feelings are mixed.

150 righteous people are buried here in this country and Jewish blood is shed here like water and we have re-established this empire here.

I was on vacation in the country and came back here even though the family wanted me there.

I returned with complete faith.

What gives me the power is the belief that not everything we see we understand.

And we with the help of the name seem to be that it will still be for good and blessing.

These days we need to be strong and leading here so we are strong and strong and this resilience is given to the people around us.

I went down today with my hat on and the suit, and one gentile woman approached me and said, "Thank you very much for being here, you do not even know how much encouragement you give us." One man approached me and said, And there was such a summary but it shows that our presence here with them is very important to the Gentiles as well.

"We may not have prepared enough in time," he adds, "but for 40,000 bedridden old men in Ukraine, many of them Holocaust survivors, we are now sending food home. We have prepared rich food baskets for them. We have prepared the Menorah House, our center that we have turned into a shelter. We equipped the basements with sandbags, brought mattresses and chairs for an entire floor of 2,500 square meters.

Those who arrive will be able to stay there.

The Gentiles, too. "

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