The Jewish community in Kyiv concludes a lively Hanukkah in the shadow of power outages and shelling • In a complex rescue plan conducted during the days of Hanukkah, dozens of elderly Jews were transferred to a safe shelter in Poland • In a special letter sent by Prime Minister Denis Shmihal, he expressed hope that the victory of Hanukkah will soon take place in Ukraine as well
The eight days of Hanukkah were celebrated in all the Jewish communities in Israel and in the Diaspora, but for the Jews of Kyiv, a special miracle was required to light the Hanukkah candles this year amid the great darkness that the Russians sowed all over Ukraine and in Kyiv, the capital, in particular. The Jewish community of Kyiv entered the Holiday of Lights with a solemn letter of support from the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmihal.
In his letter to the rabbi of Kyiv, Rabbi Yonatan Markovych, the Ukrainian Prime Minister wrote that “precisely in this difficult year, we all need faith and strength. They can try to seize our land, but not the souls and the warmth that beats in our hearts. I hope that the light of Hanukkah will give hope and strong faith in our victory “.
The letter to the rabbi of Kyiv.
The holiday activities included a special rescue operation led by the Jewish community in Kyiv, during which dozens of elderly people were smuggled out of the borders of Ukraine. Staying in Kyiv was a real life hazard for the elderly population due to the lack of electricity and basic heating means. The elderly, who had almost become accustomed to life under complete oppression, were transferred to a safe shelter in Poland where they were able to celebrate Hanukkah as it went and light the Hanukkah candles with joy and warmth.
The Jews who remained in Kiev also managed to defeat the darkness. “Neither the shelling nor the extreme cold prevented us from celebrating Hanukkah,” says Rabbi Yonatan Markowitz, chief rabbi of Kyiv and Chabad emissary in the city. The offices of the energy company that has been bombed several times in the last few months.” The offices of the energy company and the central water facilities of Kyiv are located in close proximity to the Chabad-JCC Jewish community center.
Even for the small children, the sick and the elderly who remained at home due to the weather conditions, Passover did not light. Volunteers from the community went from house to house, distributed menorahs and hot food and lit candles according to the best Jewish tradition.
Another event was held in the building of the German Embassy in Ukraine with the participation of Rabbi Markowitz and the German Ambassador Mrs. Anka Feldhausen. The chief rabbi of Kyiv lit the Hanukkah candles and thanked the ambassador for the help and support in Ukraine. “The Hanukkah candles teach us that giving to another does not deprive the giver of anything, but only increases and intensifies the light” Rabbi Markowitz concluded. “I hope that the small fire that burned in Kiev during the eight days of the holiday, will repel much of the darkness and bring the longed-for peace.”