Of course, of course, the situation in Ukraine is very much on our minds and hearts.
Ukraine may be far away, half-way across the world, but in many ways it hits much closer. The many thoughts and feelings and concerns… Especially for those of us who grew up with (or at the end of) the Cold War, the fall of the Soviet Union and a hopeful New World Order, this feels like a major regression (or as a student put it – less idealistically: circumstances that show us that it hasn’t ever progressed), a world of complex realities that seems to plunge us backwards – (almost) helplessly, and (hopefully not) hopelessly. Beyond the current grave threat in Ukraine itself, there may be short & long-term global ramifications and impacts of the world’s hesitant and limited actions. And Israel for one, sees that one can not rely on talk and international assurances and has to what it needs to do for its own security.
And Jewishly, Ukraine is no backwater. Not everyone realizes that! It is one of the world’s largest Jewish communities with hundreds of thousands of Jews. Many of the synagogues and communities have been rebuilt and restored after the long communist era and the devastation during the Holocaust. There are 200+ Chabad families (others as well) active in Jewish communal leadership, with many multifaceted religious and service organizations, from soup-kitchens to orphanages, Torah study programs and day-schools. Many may not know this but the world’s largest Jewish communal building (50K Square Meters of space!) is the Menorah Center of Dnipro. This is an area rich in Jewish history, sadly Jewish blood, and also a resurgent vibrant Jewish present until this invasion…
(As of this writing) Many of our Chabad colleagues in Ukraine have largely decided to stay put. Many of these families have American or Israeli passports and could have left, but made the decision to stay with their communities, and to be present to be of assistance in any way they possibly can. We both (Raizy and Mendel) have classmates and friends in places like Kharkiv (Charkov), Sumy, and Dnipro, and extended family (thorough marriage) in Odessa and Poltava and other places there. Mendel once sat at the Chabad Conference with the Shliach to Rovno.
Mendel has a yeshiva classmate named Rabbi Chaim Ela L. in Kharkiv. Despite all the angst and worry, physical and emotional challenges, literally living in a war-zone, this man has tremendous reservoirs of faith and trust, and somehow maintains calm and positivity. He shared inspiration with us – American friends living far away from the war-zone. While not ignoring the realities on the ground, he is living embodiment of “Shabbat”, the ability to somehow be able to detach himself from the everyday external realities, and connect with something inner, higher, transcendent.
We all can learn from him to not be victim to our realities, not to allow ourselves to be defined by our circumstances. Each of us can do this, in our way & at our own level. We can/ought to carve out Shabbat in our week, whether it means for all of Shabbat or part of Shabbat, it could be putting away our phones, choosing not to work, or deciding not to worry. We can pray more, learn more, sing more. The world can wait for us, see you Sat night. We saw a picture online of a young Chabad girl lighting candles in Charkov this Shabbat (its earlier there), in all the turmoil, they have the headspace and time out to light Shabbat candles. And so can we.
People have asked us how they can be supportive, especially in a time like this when aside for prayer it can feel helpless. If you’d like to help support the general fund for all the Chabads in Ukraine, or Chabads operating n individual cities – click here: Chabad.org/Ukraine
Wishing one and all, especially those in Ukraine, a Shabbat SHALOM!