Chabad Shluchim Gather in Dnipro Ahead of the Fourth Anniversary of the Full-Scale War
Chabad Shluchim from across Ukraine have convened in Dnipro on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, meeting to coordinate humanitarian and spiritual support amid a worsening civilian crisis • Full Story, Photos
The annual congress of rabbis is being held at the Menorah Center, widely described as the world’s largest Jewish community centre. Spiritual leaders representing Jewish communities from cities across the country are taking part. The central focus of this year’s gathering is assistance to vulnerable populations as humanitarian conditions deteriorate.
The congress opened with the ceremonial dedication of a new Torah scroll, written and donated by the Jewish community of Dnipro to the community in Mykolaiv. The scroll was created specifically to support the Jewish population in the southern region, which has faced sustained shelling. The participants said the writing of the scroll symbolised spiritual resilience and communal unity in wartime.
Rabbi Meir Stambler, the Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), said the civilian situation has deteriorated sharply over the past year.
“Over the last year, the situation for civilians has worsened significantly,” he said. “In recent months, millions of homes have been left without electricity and water. Among them tens of thousands of Jewish families.”
Despite the challenges of the war, he said, rabbis have remained with their communities.
“Despite the natural desire to leave, the need for rabbis and for their presence has increased many times over. We are making every effort to fulfil this mission,” Rabbi Stambler added.
Particular attention at the Congress has been given to the evacuation of elderly people and Holocaust survivors from the cities where energy infrastructure has been heavily damaged.
“In these days Ukraine is experiencing a new wave of cold weather. The lives of thousands of elderly people and Holocaust survivors are at risk. This is a matter of life and death,” Rabbi Stambler said.
He also announced that the government of Israel had agreed to allocate budget for the evacuation project and the relocation of vulnerable individuals to safer areas.
The congress is due to continue until Sunday, with the discussions focusing on humanitarian aid, support for affected families, psychological assistance for young people and the development of Ukrainian-language educational initiatives.
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