As the fighting in the Ukraine continues, Chabad talmidei yeshiva are receiving draft notices for the Ukrainian army. According to the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman, the situation is very serious.
Azman tells the Israeli media that “we are on the brink of war” and that the situation is most serious, hoping to see miracles in the month of Adar. He confirms that talmidei yeshiva are receiving notices calling them to serve in the Ukrainian army.
Yisrael Hayom reports under Rabbi Azman’s guidance, the Ukrainian Jewish community is organizing flights to Israel so that Ukrainians wounded in the clashes can receive medical treatment.
“The Ukrainian ambassador to Israel initiated the flights to Israel and we are helping him with this project,” Azman said. “There are volunteers from ZAKA in Ukraine who are providing first-aid courses.”
Yisrael Hayom adds that Yan Epstein, Israel’s honorary consul in Crimea, said some 11,000 Jews lived there, but that they were not concerned. “All the Jewish organizations are operating as usual and there is no feeling of anti-Semitism,” he said.
According to Maariv, talmidim from the beis medrash of the Chabad Brodsky Shul are being inducted along with talmidim from Yeshivas Orach Chaim in Kiev, with the latter affiliated with Karlin-Stolin under the leadership of Ukraine Chief Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich.
Rav Bleich is quoted saying “they only had to report to the induction center to register but at present, no one is being drafted”. According to members of the community, if there is a war they will be mobilized and they will have no alternative to serving in the army. Some of the talmidim are thinking of traveling to Russia to avoid being drafted Maariv reports, but they are aware the airport may shut down too.
Talmid Meir Povlovsky is quoted by Maariv explaining that if he is called up he is heading to Israel, explaining it is not possible to be religious in the army, which does not offer kosher food, nor may one observe halacha, one must be clean shaven and Shabbos is a day dedicated to cleaning.
Povlovsky explains it is “just like prior to WWII for those talmidim who are drafted will head to Israel but the question is when the gates will shut and it will be too late. Most of the Jews wait till the last moment to decide. At times, one must simply get up and make aliyah to Israel” he concludes.
Although there is very high tension between Russia and the Ukraine, this will not escalate into a full-blown war. You don’t need to be a Prophet, have Ruach HaKodesh, or have inside information, to know this. Even though the two sides may be enemies, I would like to think that, nevertheless, both sides are normal people. Okay, one side may be more normal then the other, but, still normal enough that we can apply a famous military dictum: “nuclear weapons actually brings peace to the world because, if they know you have nuclear weapons, who wants to start a war… Read more »
Can someone please explain how the article quotes Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman and then 5 paragraphs later quotes Ukraine Chief Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich? Are there two chiefs?
Dovid
Iiving in any nation one is vulnerable for conscription during war time. Just because one studies in yeshiva in a foreign land does not exclude you from a draft.
“Some of the talmidim are thinking of traveling to Russia to avoid being drafted Maariv reports, but they are aware the airport may shut down too.” It’s a no win. They won’t draft you there too?! And, you think they care whether or not you are a citizen? This is extremely serious. Whoever can escape safely should do so, immediately! Otherwise, if you are stuck, ignoring a draft order there, unlike America – jail, can be deadly, and the dictum of saving your life docheh es HaShabbos may apply. I would hate to think that Jewish soldiers on the Ukrainian… Read more »
You can live in Israel without making aliya. The only difference is that you cannot vote. For the rest you have many more possibilities and financial advances in Israel as a student or tourist than as a toshav or ezrach.
The IDF provides kosher food and has frum soldiers etc. It can’t be compared to ukraine’s army.
How can you possibly compare serving in the IDF to being in the Ukrainian Army?!
Pls ty
jews part of canada’s armed forces who on behalf of jewish world wide org in FL, NY, and ‘ON Canada’.
arresting other jews while visiting on base to bring Matzah etc.
why?
Is merkos sending bochurim shluchim to ukraine for pesach?
What good would that do you? You’ll get drafted there as well!
It’s all in God’s hands.
The world looked at the protest that just happened in Israel. They can go to Israel but only if they join the IDF
Moshiach NNNOOOWWWW!!!!!
There are ways around silly government decisions…
Moshiach!! may it be today!!!