Members of the Jewish communities in Ukraine are preparing for a particularly tense Shabbat, not knowing whether they will end the Shabbat under Ukrainian or Russian control, and where the fighting will end up.
"I have no idea what will happen here on Saturday. The last time an alarm was sounded in this city was probably during World War II," smiles Rabbi Ariel Markovich, rabbi of the Israeli community in Kiev and son of Rabbi Yonatan Markovich, with a bitter smile.
He, his family, and other people are in a Chabad house in the city, where food products and mattresses are concentrated.
Towards Shabbat, the security officer of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine, the umbrella organization in the country that unites the 160 communities across the country, calls on Jews to stay in homes in accordance with the directives of local authorities and at the request of President Vladimir Zalansky.
The federation recommended "that everyone pray at home this coming Saturday."
Preparing to sit in Moldova // Photo: Courtesy of the Jewish community
Rabbi Baruch Efrati explains that since this is an emergency and a state of clear mental supervision, it is permissible to leave the mobile devices on all Shabbat and if necessary, if there is no other solution, also to leave a radio on all Shabbat, at a station that deals mainly with news.
"Jews living in the war districts are allowed to conclude with a gentile friend or a gentile neighbor that if something unusual happens that requires movement or organization, he will call them so they can organize. To do so, they will leave their mobile devices open all Saturday. "For a Jew, then, it is permissible to leave a radio on all Saturday, at a station whose main interest is broadcasting news," he replied.
In an emergency hearing held last night (Thursday) it was decided that the rabbis of the communities in Ukraine will stay in the various cities in order to assist the local population at this difficult time.
At the hearing, it was also unanimously decided that the families of the emissaries would also remain, because at this time it is better to be in houses and not to move on the roads, for fear of a bombing that will, God forbid, cause casualties.
"The Rebbe of Lubavitch educated us to help every Jew and that a sinking ship is not abandoned and we are here to help in every area."
"We stay and pray for the good," said Federation Chairman Rabbi Meir Stumbler. "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 because 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 products - 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 in their homes. "
Equipment warehouse prior to the arrival of the refugees, Photo: The Jewish community in Moldova
In neighboring Moldova, which absorbed more than a thousand Jewish refugees from Ukraine on the first day of the war, they are also preparing to sit down, centered on the need to feed them during the day of rest.
At the center of the Jewish community in Kishnav, they were received by Chabad followers led by Rabbi Yosef-Yitzchak Abelski.
"In addition to the refugees who have already arrived, people are calling us from Ukraine that they want to arrive," said Rabbi Mandy Axelrod, a Chabad emissary in the country.
"Blessed be God, the community's general manager, Rabbi Zosha Abelski, instructed us to prepare in advance, we bought many groceries and the preparations here are in full swing."
Chabad emissaries in Moldova, Rabbi Mandy Gotzel and Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanov, assist in preparations for the absorption of refugees. Rabbi Zalmanov noted that, "It is estimated that hundreds more Jews will arrive tomorrow, most of them Israelis. "Fish and salads to give the answer to everyone. We will also help with accommodation as much as we can."
Rabbi Goetzl added, "We ourselves in Moldova are afraid of a Russian invasion, because we may be the next target. After all, Chabad emissaries remain here in prayer and hope that the war will end soon."
Refugees from Ukraine receive food in Moldova,
On the border between Moldova and Ukraine, members of the Jewish community in Moldova, led by Rabbi Pinchas Zeltzer, operate.
Asked how he intends to drive on Shabbat, the rabbi said, "We treat it as mental supervision, so service is also provided on Shabbat. We are prepared for intensive activities."
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