Nearly one year ago, on February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has caused tens of thousands of deaths and has instigated Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II.
Moshe from Donetsk
One such story: When Russia invaded Donetsk in 2014, nine-year-old Moshe S., and his family were forced to flee their home city in Eastern Ukraine and escape to Kyiv. Then, when the devastating war broke out once again last year in his country, Moshe (17) narrowly dodged the bombings and miraculously escaped to the United States.
As Moshe recounts, “There were missiles, explosions, fighting, and death. I was very young and it was so scary and heartbreaking. My family and I moved to Kyiv where we started our lives all over again. My mom opened a small bakery and my father found a job as an ordinary worker. I went to school. We were rebuilding our lives. Then, last year, this scary and awful war happened again. My family fled again. We left everything we had behind and came to the US. We did not speak English or have any money. We didn’t have a home to go to, and we knew almost no one here.”
With nary a dime in their pockets, Moshe and his parents arrived on the west coast of Florida, to the city of North Port. There they discovered the Chabad rabbi of that area, Rabbi Sholom Schmerling, who provided them with food, clothing and temporary shelter. The rabbi, however, wondered how he could help young Moshe in a more permanent way and aid him in becoming acclimated to his new foreign surroundings.
Rabbi Schmerling heard about the incredible work being done for teenagers at TAG Academy, a unique school that opened last year in Cooper City. In its short history, the school of 45 students from across the globe has already gained a stellar reputation for success, as it focuses on each individual’s personal growth, ability and potential.
With the ability to provide much needed housing and schooling, Schmerling felt TAG would be the perfect setting for Moshe, and contacted its dean, Rabbi Pinny Andrusier. TAG promptly enrolled Moshe as a student and in fact ordered all the books he would need in his native Russian tongue, to make his transition to the new school easier.
“In the few days since he arrived, he has already opened up so much and embraced this new opportunity,” explained Rabbi Aizik Chanin, Educational Director at TAG Academy. “Emotionally, he is really doing well. He is such a sweet soul and is thriving in this new environment.”
“It is also heartwarming to see how all the other students of TAG have adopted him as a fellow brother and are making him feel so welcome,” said Chanin.
Sasha from Kharkov
Located in northeast Ukraine, only 40 km from the Russian border, Kharkov has been perhaps the city most under attack since the onset of the war last year.
Alexander Feldman is a member of the Ukrainian parliament and resides in Kharkov, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Feldman also serves as a prominent board member of Chabad in Kharkov.
When fatalities became a daily occurrence due to the constant bombs falling upon its homes and citizens, and a bomb exploded in the front yard of Alexander’s son Sasha’s home, Sasha and his wife Yulia grabbed their young daughter Alisa (4) and fled across the border to Romania. After brief stops in Hungary and Germany, they continued traveling through Europe till they finally arrived in Spain.
With the limited funds they had left, they managed to board a ship headed for Florida, USA. Their boat arrived on June 26, 2022.
Without money or a destination upon disembarkation in Florida, Sasha’s father frantically called his spiritual leader, Rabbi Moshe Moskowitz, Head Chabad Shliach of Kharkov, desperate for his help with any connections he might have in the Sunshine State.
Aware of Chabad SW Broward’s new campus in Cooper City which offers retreats amongst many other community programs and services, Rabbi Moskowitz called his dear friend and colleague Rabbi Pinny Andrusier, seeking refuge for Sasha and his family.
“They need a decent place to stay right after getting off the boat tomorrow morning. They are arriving at 7am at the ship terminal,” said Moskowitz.
Rabbi Pinny welcomed the young Feldman Family and offered them free lodging, daily meals and whatever else they needed to make their unfamiliar surroundings and temporary housing more comfortable.
Upon settling in, Sasha assured his father, “We moved in. Everything is amazing!!!”
Sasha and his family have remained on the Chabad campus for nearly seven months. For a brief while they were able to find an affordable apartment in Miami but have recently returned.
“My English is not so good, but I so appreciate and am very grateful for what Rabbi Pinny and Chabad did for me when I escaped the war and came here,” said Sasha. “I knew nobody and they welcomed me and my family and made us feel so welcome.”
Koby Lerner, campus administrator, states “Many Ukrainian families are in the same position as Sasha and Moshe. They arrive in America as foreigners with nothing but a suitcase of clothes, and the hope that they can find good people who will take them in.”
“Many have been separated from family members. Many are still having nightmares when they arrive. We provide a place for people who have nowhere else to go. They receive dignified and comfortable lodging, daily meals, counseling and friendship.”
The story of Sasha is one of many since Chabad began its Ukrainian relief effort. In fact, it has been very helpful having Sasha, who himself experienced a similar harrowing experience, available to mentor, communicate and comfort Moshe, the young teenager who arrived here alone.
To enable Chabad to continue housing Ukrainian refugees and afford to keep Moshe enrolled in the school, we greatly appreciate any and all generous contributions to ChabadSWB.com/HelpUkraine.
In addition to the heartwarming success of assisting Ukrainian families and the tremendous results they are experiencing at TAG for teens who in the past struggled in school, the Cooper City Chabad is witnessing overwhelming growth and success in so many other areas of development as well.
Just last week, they began construction on a new 2000 sq ft building which will house a gorgeous new women’s and men’s Mikvah. They totally gutted the former 7,000 sq ft High Point baker-act prison and are transforming it into a state- of-the art Reggio preschool. The new Little Jems Preschool will be directed by Chana Esther Freund and is scheduled to open in June, 2023.
In addition, daily and Shabbat services are mostly filled to capacity, and community programs and events are constant thanks to the masterful work of the Chabad Rebbetzin Gitty Andrusier and Directors of Community Development, Rabbi Shmuly and Devora Hurwitz.
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