2 months ago

“The Blast Shook the Entire Street”: Heavy Damage to Jewish School in Odesa

The Chabad “Or Avner” Jewish school in Odesa has been heavily damaged and rendered unusable following a wave of bombardments. Baruch Hashem, all 124 children of the “Mishpacha Ukraine” orphanage are safe • Read More, Photos

A caretaker on-site described the dramatic moments: “We barely managed to close the shelter door when the massive explosion hit. It shook the entire street—but the speed at which we acted made all the difference.”

Jewish institutions across Ukraine continue to come under attack. The Chabad “Or Avner” school in Odesa, which for years provided Jewish education and a warm environment for hundreds of children—many of them orphans and refugees from across the country—sustained a direct hit and is now out of use.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, Rebbetzin Chaya Wolf, director of the Chabad school network in the city, made an immediate decision: high school students would temporarily relocate and learn together with the elementary division.

“It’s not easy—the heart hurts,” she said. “The older students are sitting in classrooms built for younger children, in hallways and shelters that were quickly adapted this morning to accommodate them. It’s very difficult, but when there’s room in the heart, there’s room in the classrooms.”

The Jewish high school, which became a symbol of steadfast Jewish education even under wartime conditions, has suffered significant damage. Yet Rabbi Avraham Wolf, Chief Rabbi of Odesa and Southern Ukraine, who has built and led this network of institutions for over thirty years, speaks with unwavering determination.

“We rebuilt in the past,” he said. “We will rebuild again.”

The “Mishpacha Ukraine” network—which includes orphanages, schools, elderly care centers, and refugee shelters—continues to operate nonstop, and with even greater intensity since the outbreak of the war. Through every barrage, blackout, and night of uncertainty, including this latest attack, the institutions remain active and committed.

Caregivers’ Quick Response Saves Lives

Powerful explosions and direct hits were also reported near the “Mishpacha Ukraine” orphanage on Bazarnaya Street. At the very first siren, the caregivers were already in motion.

“This wasn’t the first time – and not even the hundredth,” said Rabbi Wolf, the Rebbe’s shliach in the port city. “The moment we heard the alarm, we woke the older children. The caregivers, together with them, helped wake the younger ones. We carried them into the shelter. We had just managed to close the door when the explosion hit.”

“It shook the entire street,” he continued. “We realized there had been a direct and deadly strike right near us. This time, the speed of our response was more critical than ever.”

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Wolf emphasized the exceptional dedication and preparedness of the staff.

“Every caregiver knows her role,” they said. “Every child knows where to run. In the orphanage, we don’t wait for instructions, we respond and act immediately. We’ve done this hundreds of times. This is our reality. And this night, that discipline saved lives.”

By morning, staff gathered with the children to reassure and strengthen them. Damaged windows and doors will be repaired, and furniture in the dormitories replaced, but first and foremost come the children.

“The children are the priority,” said Rabbi Wolf. “Before anything else, we make sure they feel safe—that they know someone loves them, cares for them, and will never leave them. Only afterward do we begin to rebuild.”