11 months ago

“It Was An Open Miracle” – Home of Dnipro Shliach Directly Hit By Russian Missile, Family Unharmed

Over Shabbos, the Russian military launched hundreds of missiles and suicide drones toward Ukraine. One missile hit the apartment building in the city center, home to the Rebbe’s Shliach, Rabbi Moshe and Shoshi Weber. Miraculously, the family emerged completely unharmed. He told Chabadinfo “I attribute the miracle to the merit of the Rebbe’s Shlichus here, carried out with mesirus nefesh.” • Full Story, Photos

By Chabadinfo Reporter

In a massive escalation over Shabbos, the Russian military launched hundreds of missiles and suicide drones toward Ukraine, in one of the most intense bombardments seen in recent months.

Dnipro – known as the capital of Ukrainian Jewry – was hit with over 100 rockets and UAVs. One missile struck the top floor of a luxury apartment building in the city center, home to the Rebbe’s Shliach, Rabbi Moshe and Shoshi Weber.

Two people were killed in the explosion and dozens were injured. The Webers’ apartment was partially destroyed, with the balcony and parts of the home taking a direct hit, miraculously, the family emerged completely unharmed.

Rabbi Moshe Weber, one of the Rebbe’s veteran Shluchim in Ukraine, serves as the director of Kolel Torah – a global network of structured Torah learning programs, particularly active throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union, with over 5,000 participants worldwide.

Rabbi Weber spoke with Chabadinfo and shared some details of the harrowing experience:

“It was an open miracle on Shabbos. The missile hit our building – the balcony and parts of our home were destroyed, but Baruch Hashem, we are safe and uninjured. The upper part of the building caught fire, alarms went off, and we had to escape into the street in the middle of the night with the children.

“We stood outside in pajamas for several hours until the fire was brought under control. Only after the building was declared structurally sound were we allowed back in. It was a miracle beyond nature.

“I attribute the miracle to the merit of the Rebbe’s Shlichus here, carried out with mesirus nefesh. We had just returned from Poland a few days earlier, after running a summer camp there for hundreds of Jewish children from Ukraine. Coming back from peaceful Poland into a warzone wasn’t easy – but this is our life as Shluchim: to be here for every Jew who needs us.”

Speaking about the tragedy, he added: “Our hearts go out to our neighbors who were killed and injured. Together with the Jewish community of Dnipro – the largest organized Jewish community in Ukraine – we’re doing everything we can to help those affected.”

Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine (FJCU), who has lived with his family in Dnipro since the 1990s, told ChabadInfo: “It was one of the most difficult nights in Dnipro. Despite regular missile attacks in recent years, I don’t recall such an intense and large-scale bombardment since the war began. The situation has clearly escalated in recent months, and civilians are paying the price.”

He noted that this is the second time in recent weeks that a Shliach has been saved miraculously. “Just two weeks ago, a UAV struck the vehicle of Rabbi Yossi Wolf, Chief Rabbi of Kherson – and Baruch Hashem, he too emerged unharmed. It’s time for this war to end. Enough of the terror that is taking innocent lives week after week. The Rebbe’s Shluchim are here – no matter what – to assist every Yid, b’gashmius u’beruchnius. It’s not easy. It’s a challenge. But the Shlichus is non-negotiable. We pray for peace and for the coming of Moshiach, now.”