Ukrainian Jews celebrated their third Sukkos under the shadow of war. Unlike the past two years, however, this one was marked by relative stability.
Through the dedicated work of Chabad Shluchim, who serve as community rabbis in their cities, tens of thousands of Jews were able to shake the lulav, sit in sukkahs, and rejoice in the holiday’s spirit at Simchas Beis Hashoeva gatherings.
The Chabad network in Ukraine, JRNU, provided humanitarian aid as they do for every holiday, distributing 50,000 food packages for the Tishrei holidays.
This assistance allowed tens of thousands of community members to celebrate with dignity. In addition, special Simchas Torah packages with festive flags and treat bags for children were sent to dozens of communities.
In the city of Zaporizhia, Jewish community members gathered during Chol Hamoed for a Torah dedication at the central synagogue, led by Rabbi Nachum Ehrentreu. The dance was dedicated for the security and protection of the Jews of Zaporizhia and all of Ukraine. Hundreds of Jews from the city attended to celebrate Simchas Torah together.
After the impressive parade, everyone enjoyed a festive meal in the central sukkah. Additionally, each day of Chol Hamoed saw a lively Simchas Beis Hashoeva with a festive meal.
In Chernivtsi, the Jewish community celebrated a grand Simchat Beit Hashoeva in the historic kloyz of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin of Sadigura. “It felt as though the Jews of the city were restoring the glory of the past in this moving celebration,” said Rabbi Menachem Mendel Glitzenstein, the community rabbi.
In Zhytomyr, the Jewish community experienced a Sukkos filled with ongoing miracles. “Until Sukkos, we faced both heavy rain and countless air-raid alarms due to incoming drones over the city,” said Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm. “And then, miraculously, from the start of Sukkos – no rain and no alarms. We had a truly peaceful and quiet holiday. May it continue with Hashem’s help.”
This sense of calm brought many to the synagogue and activities around the city. “There is an awakening here,” Rabbi Wilhelm shared, “with men, women, and children coming to synagogue, enjoying prayers and holiday events. Our large sukkah is open around the clock, and the holiday spirit is palpable. Even though our community has diminished, we feel the value of every Jew – an entire world unto themselves. Thank G-d, despite everything, the community remains vibrant and alive.”
Alongside his responsibilities in Zhytomyr, Rabbi Wilhelm continues to lead his community members who relocated to Ashkelon. Recently, Rabbi Wilhelm and his team inaugurated a new Chabad House for Russian speakers in Ashkelon’s marina, headed by Rabbi Daniel Stoller.
In Mykolaiv, an extraordinary phenomenon occurred this Sukkos, with large crowds standing in long lines to perform the mitzvah of the Four Species. “Despite heavy shelling in the area, we organized Simchas Beis Hashoeva every night, drawing many participants,” shared Rabbi Shalom Gottlieb, the community rabbi.
“We specifically reached out to elderly Jews who rarely leave their homes, inviting them to our sukkah and bringing joy through various events. For those unable to come, we brought them a basket filled with holiday cheer. Thank G-d, it was a very active and joyful holiday.”
