3 months ago

With Determination and Joy: Jewish Ukraine Celebrated Purim

Four years into the ongoing humanitarian crisis, tens of thousands of Jewish community members across Ukraine celebrated Purim 2026 under challenging and sometimes nearly impossible conditions. Despite cold weather, electricity shortages, and continued instability, an extensive logistical effort brought joy, community gatherings, and thousands of Purim gift packages to Jewish families throughout the country.

In Kyiv, the reading of the Megillah at the central synagogue took place as usual, though the sounds of activity in the sky served as a reminder of the difficult circumstances in which the community continues to live – marking the fourth Purim celebrated amid the ongoing crisis.

In other cities, infrastructure shortages added further challenges. In Krivoy Rog, the Purim celebration required careful planning due to severe electricity limitations. “For months, homes have had electricity for only about three hours a day,” explained Rabbi Liron Edri, rabbi of the community and its Chabad emissary. “This means heating systems are often unavailable during harsh winter weather.” Despite these difficulties, more than 200 community members registered for the Purim meal, seeking warmth and encouragement together.

Conditions in Chernivtsi have also been demanding. “At a time when it is dark and cold outside and electricity is unavailable for most of the day, our role is to increase joy,” said Rabbi Menachem Glitzenstein, the city’s rabbi. The community organized a festive Purim meal for hundreds of participants, offering a warm and welcoming space for local Jewish families.

Alongside the celebrations, a large humanitarian operation was carried out by JRNU (Jewish Relief Network Ukraine), operating on behalf of Chabad and the Federation of Jewish Communities (FJC). In the days leading up to the holiday, volunteers completed the distribution of 24,000 mishloach manot packages across 25 major regions and hundreds of remote villages.

The packages included traditional Purim treats such as hamantaschen baked in Israel, groggers, and sweets, while many deliveries also contained essential food supplies including poultry, oil, legumes, and staple products. Due to the ongoing humanitarian challenges, additional emergency equipment—such as generators, fuel, and heating stoves—was included in many distributions to help families cope with the difficult winter conditions.

In major cities such as Dnipro and Odesa, synagogues were filled with families who came together to celebrate the holiday. In Dnipro, hundreds gathered at the central synagogue under the leadership of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, while in Odessa the community celebrated under the guidance of Rabbi Avraham Wolff, Chief Rabbi of Odesa and Southern Ukraine.

Although the celebrations concluded earlier than usual due to local restrictions, the spirit of the holiday remained strong. Across Ukraine, Jewish communities marked Purim with resilience and hope, holding onto the timeless message of the holiday — that even in difficult times, joy and unity shall prevail.