By COLlive reporter
A Russian drone attack struck Odessa in Ukraine on Sunday, causing direct damage to its historic synagogue located in the Peresyp area.
The synagogue, which served for decades as the only functioning Jewish house of worship during Communist rule, is now once again under attack—this time from above.
Chief Rabbi of Odessa and Southern Ukraine, Rabbi Avraham Wolff, responded to the incident with a message of strength and unwavering faith to his community.
“The synagogue that was hit is not just a building—it is a symbol,” said Rabbi Wolff. “For decades, when Judaism in Odessa was pushed underground by the Communist regime, this was the only home the Jews of the city had. And now—once again—it is under attack. But nothing will break our spirit.”
Rabbi Wolff, who has served as Chabad shliach in the region for nearly 40 years, emphasized the resilience of Odessa’s Jewish institutions even in the face of continued hardship.
“Throughout more than three years of war, we have not left our post—and we will not leave. Not the 124 orphans in our Mishpacha Orphanage, not the 45 Holocaust survivors in our senior home, not the hundreds of refugee families from across Ukraine, and not the thousands of Jews who rely on us to live their daily and spiritual lives,” he said.
Despite the danger, air raid sirens, power outages, and repeated attacks, the community’s institutions remain open and operational. “This is our life’s mission—and we will remain here for as long as we are needed. With love, with responsibility, and with determination—we will not give up on a single Jew, nor on a single synagogue.”
A special prayer gathering will be held in the coming days at the damaged synagogue. “We are all in pain,” Rabbi Wolff concluded, “but we continue forward in our mission—for the Jews of Odessa and for the Jewish people, with the light of faith and purpose.”
