By COLlive reporter
Tisha B’Av, marking the exile of the Jewish people and dedicated to fasting and davening for redemption, was commemorated by Jews living across Ukraine.
Many Shuls in Ukraine remain empty due to the continuing attacks by Russian forces and the mass fleeing of Jews out of the country.
In Zaporizhzhia, some 17 Jews showed up at the beautiful local shul on Motzoei Shabbos for the reading of Eicha and the beginning of the fast day.
“Last year, we had 70 Jews here in shul on Tisha B’Av,” noted the Shliach and city’s Rabbi Nachum Ehrentreu. “Now there are sirens all the time and the situation in the city has totally changed.”
On Friday, explosions rang out at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power complex, the biggest of its kind in Europe, reigniting fears of a potential disaster.
Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of shelling the plant, which was taken over by Russian forces in early March, along with the town of Enerhodar, where the complex is located, CNN reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Moscow for the attack, calling the strikes a “brazen crime” and an “act of terror.”
Chabad Shluchim in Ukraine have their eyes set on reopening the new school year for the children that did remain behind.
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Geulah Now…
far away but we are all family 💔