A Heartfelt Reunion in Odesa: German Delegation Meets Jewish Orphans They Helped Save
A senior delegation from the German Embassy in Ukraine recently visited Odesa, where they were warmly welcomed by children from FJC’s “Mishpacha” Jewish orphanage. In a moving gesture, the children presented the guests with a symbolic and emotional gift: a framed image of the refugee passport issued to them by the German government during their stay in Germany at the beginning of the crisis • Full Story, Photos
A senior delegation from the German Embassy in Ukraine recently visited Odesa, where they were warmly welcomed by children from FJC’s “Mishpacha” Jewish orphanage. In a moving gesture, the children presented the guests with a symbolic and emotional gift: a framed image of the refugee passport issued to them by the German government during their stay in Germany at the beginning of the crisis. The passport bears the inscription: “Whoever saves one life, it is as if he saved an entire world.”
The delegation, led by Deputy Ambassador Dr. Maximilian Raash, was accompanied by Rabbi Avraham Wolff, Chief Rabbi of Odesa and Southern Ukraine, who directs the city’s Jewish community and Chabad’s extensive humanitarian operations in the city during the ongoing crisis.
A highlight of the visit was a meeting with thirty of the 123 children living at “Mishpacha,” a unique Chabad-run institution that cares for children from across Ukraine—many of them orphans or survivors of trauma.
“The encounter with the children and the work being done here touched me deeply,” said Dr. Raash at the conclusion of the visit. “It was one of the most powerful and human experiences I have ever had. I thank Rabbi Wolff and Chabad of Odesa for their unwavering commitment, compassion, and extraordinary efforts on behalf of the Jewish community and beyond throughout these difficult years.”
Rabbi Wolff expressed his gratitude to the delegation, noting the significance of Germany’s support. “The connection with the German government is especially meaningful,” he said, “as the country opened its doors to our children during their darkest hours, offering them shelter, education, and a sense of peace and humanity amidst the turmoil.”
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