On the occasion of the opening of the new academic year in Ukraine—known as the “First Bell”—FJCU military chaplain Rabbi Yakov Siniakov presented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with the very first copy of the Tehillat Hashem prayer book translated into Ukrainian.
In recent weeks, thousands of Jewish children across Ukraine received copies of this siddur ahead of the school year. This is the first-ever Ukrainian-language edition of a siddur, published in the Tehillat Hashem format with the authorization of Kehot Publication Society, the official publishing arm of Chabad-Lubavitch.
The siddur was presented to the President during Ukraine’s “National Prayer Breakfast,” a recurring event that gathers senior government officials, clergy, military chaplains, families of fallen soldiers, humanitarian organizations, and youth leaders. The purpose of the event is to set aside political differences and foster unity, faith, and shared values.
The translation of the siddur into Ukrainian is part of a broader shift away from the Russian language toward Ukraine’s official state language—a process that began before the war but has accelerated since its outbreak. Copies were also given to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, and U.S. Special Envoy Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg. Thousands of additional copies have been distributed to Jewish communities across the country ahead of the month of Elul, the season of mercy and forgiveness.
In February 2022, for his 45th birthday, President Zelensky received the first-ever Ukrainian-language edition of the Book of Psalms. Just days later, he cited Psalm 4 in one of his public addresses: “But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head. I call out to the Lord, and He answers me… I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.”
The translation of the siddur, Psalms, Chumash, and other classic Jewish texts—including children’s books—is part of a unique publishing and translation initiative spearheaded by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU). The effort, launched at President Zelensky’s request to FJCU Chairman Rabbi Mayer Stambler, aims to make Jewish foundational texts accessible in the local language. The new edition currently includes the weekday Shacharit service, accompanied by commentary and explanatory notes. With the start of the new school year, thousands of Jewish students—most from the Or Avner school network—received the siddur. Since many of them do not speak Russian, the Ukrainian edition enables them to pray in their own language.
In addition, over 5,000 copies have already been distributed to Jewish communities across Ukraine, and a full edition including Mincha and Maariv prayers is expected to be released soon.
Like other Jewish books in Ukrainian, the siddur was printed at the Kharkiv press of Mikhail Shprintz, with the support of Mark Menachem Mendel Vinarsky. The printing house suffered a direct hit from a Russian missile over two years ago, causing extensive damage.
“We are proud to present thousands of copies of the Tehillat Hashem siddur to President Zelensky, to students beginning their school year, and to Jewish communities throughout Ukraine—so that the words of prayer will be both understood and felt in the heart. We are certain that the prayers of children will not go unanswered, and through them we will merit a speedy redemption here and across the world.”
