Alone in Ukraine   

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have fallen over the past year, of whom an estimated 80 were Jews. Some were killed during the incessant shelling of cities across the country; others — such as the hero Leonid Krasnov, who received a medal for bravery from President Zelensky — fell in battle on the front lines. And some we haven’t been able to bring to a Jewish burial.

But despite the war, “lev Yisrael eir” — the heart of Israel is awake in Torah and mitzvos. About a third of the 40,000 Jews who fled the country at the beginning of the war have returned. Communities across Ukraine report an extraordinary spiritual awakening, even among people who until now concealed or denied their Jewishness. Now they show up at shul, alone or with family. They want to listen, to return to their roots, to be together, to feel a sense of community, and yes, also to receive help — and they have official documents proving that they are halachic Jews. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge my fellow Chabad shluchim, who have been working 24/7, a source of great kiddush Hashem, even among non-Jews.

That kiddush Hashem was felt at a recent meeting of President Zelensky’s with foreign diplomats. We’d presented a copy of the Tehillim — translated for the first time into Ukrainian — to the president, as part of our ongoing close relationship, which he quoted from a few days later at the meeting.

“Our soldiers are brave and successful,” he told them “but is this just because of human efforts, or because G-d heard our prayers?”