Ukraine

B”H
Shalom Aleichem!

This Sunday from 7:30-9pm will be a pre-Purim wine tasting for alumni (21+). Thanks to Zvi Bushwick & Shlomo Adika for putting the event together and thanks to Suhag Wines for sponsoring! Check out their new website; they now ship (if you order from them, please mention that you know me).

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I have to admit that I do not fully understand what is going on in the Ukraine right now. I do know that the situation is serious, including for the Jewish communities.

The 100 Chabad representatives in 35 cities are continuing their work and assisting their communities. They operate synagogues, mikvahs, 20 days schools, 7 orphanages and 32 soup kitchens. Time are always tough; all the more so with the recent chaos and uncertainty.

Although Ukraine was not historically known for its love for the Jewish communities, Rabbi Yechiel Shlomo Levitansky of Sumi reports that they have not experienced any specific acts of anti-Semitism, asides from a few isolated incidents. Let’s hope it stays that way.

In most cities, they have had no choice but to increase their physical security, at enormous cost. Many banks have frozen accounts, making it very difficult to operate.

If you would like to assist our brothers and sisters during these trying times, you can donate at www.fjc.ru/ukraine. All money will be sent directly to the local communities. If you prefer, you can donate here and I will forward every penny to Chabad in Ukraine (please write “Ukraine” in the memo).

May we all be blessed to experience true joy!

Shabbat Shalom,
Shaul