It is now over 300 days since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
At the beginning of the war, the Chabad community in Berlin welcomed over 100 children from the orphanage in Odessa, and an additional 400 people, many of them single mothers and children. Close to 500 people have since then been taken care of by the community in Berlin.
On the first night of Chanukah, a special concert with singer Yishai Lapidot took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. A night dedicated to joy, to singing and dancing for the Ukrainian refugees.
The joyful emotions and the atmosphere was exhilarating. The children and young families were just simply so happy and joyous. Yishai Lapidot managed to bring the crowd so much happiness, and as the night went on the children got more and more involved and nobody wanted it to end.
Rabbi Yehuda Teichtel, Shliach and Chief Rabbi of Berlin, said, “the goal of this event was just to bring them happiness and pure joy especially in the year of Hakhel. Thank G-d, with the Rebbe’s Brachos it was successful beyond expectations.”
Words of greeting and a Dvar Torah were were said by rabbi Elisha Pavlovsky. Rabbi Pavlovsky has been appointed by Rabbi Teichtel to be responsible for the refugee families, arranging classes and programs for them on a daily basis as part of the Chabad Berlin community. The Menorah was lit by Rabbi Mendy Wolf from Odessa, Rabbi Wolf is the rabbi and director of the orphanage while they are in Berlin.
A beautiful buffet was set up. At the conclusion of the concert each child received a beautiful gift for the Chanukah holiday.
The evening was an unforgettable joyous Chanukah experience.
