As explosions rock many cities in Ukraine, Shluchim across the country are hunkering down with their communities, many of them providing shelter to fellow Jews in the basements of their Chabad Center, Shuls and homes.
Rabbi Nochum Ehrentroi of Zaparozia is seen on video with members of his community of all ages.
“We are here with many people who have left their houses, due to a few bombs in the area,” he says.
The government has been handing out weapons to residents so they can defend themselves, he said.
He has been getting and distributing food and necessities to distribute to the members of his community, as the situation is very dire.
Rabbi Yisroel Silberstein in Chernigov gave an update from his basement at home.
“Baruch Hashem, we are all hunkering down in the basement, keeping safe, surrounded by bottles of water and dried food goods,” Rabbi Silberstein says.
Currently in the basement of his home along with many Jews who need a place to stay, there is also a group of about 30 community members staying in the basement of the Chabad Shul. “One woman named Esther has arrived with her son with special needs, who had an operation on his spine just two weeks ago,” he says.
Nevertheless, he remains upbeat, as he says, “Baruch Hashem we are all safe and sound.”
A group of Shluchim have come together to ask for help from the Jewish community around the world.
In a letter to the global Jewish community, they tell of the dire situation they are facing.
Basic provisions are scarce, and the broader Jewish community of Ukraine has turned to their local Chabad institutions for help, they said.
“Unwilling to sit idly by, we as a group have taken it upon ourselves to afford this incredible opportunity to the global Jewish community.
The opportunity to truly be there for your brothers and sisters, tragically caught in the crossfire. Please open your hearts, and donate generously,” they ask.
Rabbi Dov Akselrod – Cherkassy
Rabbi Yechiel Shlome Levitansky – Sumy
Rabbi Yosef Segal – Poltava
Rabbi Yisroel Silberstein – Chernigov
Rabbi Zakuta Dan – Kropyvnyrski
Rabbi Mendel Cohen – Mariupol
Rabbi Shlomo Salamon – Kremenchuk
Rabbi Moshe S Thaler – Bardichev
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Wilhelm – Chabad of Uzhgorod and Carpatian
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gottlib – Lviv
Rabbi Menachem Glisnshtain – Chernovitz
Rabi Shalom Gottlib – Nikolaev
Rabbi Shaul Horowitz – Vinntza
Rabbi Mordechai Levenharts – Kiev
Rabbi Levi Yitshak Perlstein – Pervymask
Rabbi Shneor Zalman Schneerson – Rovno
Rabbi Meir Holtzberg – Belaya
Stand by the Jewish communities across these Ukrainian cities, in desperate need of the very basic everyday necessities.
Wish you a lot of hatzlacha in your
shlichus and that everyone should stay safe!!!
They are amazing Chassidim – especially the kids !!!
When reading and viewing the events that have unfolded across Ukraine, it’s not possible to sit idle and not do our part. Some fight, others endure, for all Jewish Brothers and Sisters overseas, who have been spared from uncertainty, we beg of you, with tears in our eyes and a open heart, PLEASE PLEASE give generously so our Jewish family can have what to eat and what they need to survive.