Feb 25, 2014
Federation Support Aiding Jewish Community of Ukraine
As political unrest in Ukraine has escalated in recent weeks, many people have been killed or injured. A synagogue in Eastern Ukraine was hit by a Molotov cocktail, and there have been several reports of robbery, attacks and violence. Although individuals in Ukraine’s Jewish community of approximately 300,000 people have not been outright targets of violence, they have been affected and their safety is a concern.
The turmoil in Ukraine has caused food shortages, the suspension of public transportation, and growing fear, especially among the elderly. People are also worried about the state of the national banking system, the closure of businesses and unemployment.
The Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign funds a network of partner agencies at work every day in Ukraine and more than 70 other countries worldwide. Among these partners are the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and The Jewish Agency for Israel, which maintain an infrastructure of vital services in place both in ordinary times and in times of crisis.
Immediately following the outbreak of violence, the JDC activated its emergency response network to:
- Ensure that more vulnerable elderly receive services at home so they do not have to risk their lives to get basic necessities
- Deploy emergency mobile units that deliver food, medicine and other critical supplies
- Provide uninterrupted daily home-care services for the most frail seniors, with some home-care workers spending nights with them in their apartments
- Increase security, as needed, in various locations
JDC’s Alena Druzhynina entered the tense Independence Square area of Kiev to bring a food package to Mihail Solomonovich, an 82-year-old pensioner who has been homebound since the worst of the violence began.
“When Mihail received the food package provided by Kiev Hesed, he said it was one of the most long-awaited and bright visits he ever had,” Druzhynina wrote from Kiev. “[Solomonovich] lives alone in a one-room apartment and barely moves around, but his eyes were full with pride and gratitude,” she added.
To reach Solomonovich in Kiev, JDC's Druzhynina wore protective gear and had to talk her way past barricades manned by vigilantes. She was accompanied on her mission by volunteers Masha, Marina and Lena, who are members of the Jewish community.
“They were so inspired by the visit that they decided to visit Mihail on the regular basis,” reported Druzhynina. “In two weeks, they will be back.”
Through its Emergency Assistance Fund for Jewish communities, The Jewish Agency for Israel is helping to upgrade security at synagogues, community centers, yeshivas, kindergartens, camp venues and day schools in Ukraine. The Jewish Agency is working with its local partners to identify what the upgrades will be and where they are most needed.
Other Federation partner agencies on the ground in Ukraine include World ORT and NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, Baltic States & Eurasia. World ORT is working to increase security at four of its Ukrainian schools, each of which has several hundred students, many of whom travel to class through now-dangerous areas. NCSJ is in frequent communication with governmental, non-governmental and Jewish communal resources to provide updates on the changing situation to concerned parties.
The Annual Federation/UJA Campaign funds more than 110 programs and services in Miami, in Israel and in more than 70 other countries worldwide, educating the young, delivering emergency support to the vulnerable, enhancing Jewish life, securing a strong Jewish community, improving the quality of life for many individuals, and much more. Federation’s daily support of Jewish life and organizations in Ukraine during times of stability enables partner agencies to take immediate action when the need for help becomes urgent, as it is presently.
