Exodus Ukraine: Latest Update

by Sandy Eller

Stay updated on the latest happenings as we resettle our Ukrainian brethren.

A year after Russia declared war on Ukraine, the images of refugees fleeing bombed out cities have faded to the recesses of our minds, with sporadic news stories serving as reminders that the military conflict rages on.  But for those whose lives were turned upside down and those spearheading the rescue and resettlement efforts, the Russian invasion of Ukraine remains a high priority, even 12 months later.

In the early days of the war, Vaad Hatzalah was instrumental in evacuating Ukrainian Jews to safety, providing them with food, shelter and basic necessities.  In Odessa, Tikva stepped in to fill the void, relocating its entire community to Neptun, a Romanian summer resort with the backing of United Hatzalah.  Tikva community leader Rabbi Refael Kruskal, has seen many miracles as the resettlement effort has forged ahead, including Neptun’s mayor agreeing to convert an unused building into a school for refugee children.

“It turned out that it had once been a school,” said Rabbi Kruskal.  “When we came in, there were desks and chairs and blackboards so we were able to get started right away.”

Odessa’s children have flourished in the Neptun school.  Vaad Hatzalah CEO Rabbi Yitzchak Ehrman visited Neptun as part of a contingent that included Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yehuda Svei and Rav Elya Brudny, with Rav Malkiel taking advantage of an opportunity to farher the boys.

“Rav Malkiel said that kids in Lakewood wouldn’t know the things these boys knew,” said Rabbi Ehrman.  “People imagine that these refugees may light Shabbos candles and are barely traditional, but they are learning the same Gemara we are, the same Daf Yomi and have the same people in kollel. This is a beautiful story about our brothers and sisters.”

Tikva chairman of the board and co-founder Ed Frankel said that the community will be relocated to Bucharest, with efforts made to help the adults find jobs.  He hopes that people will continue supporting the ongoing efforts and noted that people don’t understand why the refugees want to return to Odessa instead of putting down permanent roots in Israel or Romania. 

“These people may be Jewish, but they are also Ukrainians, not Romanians and not Israelis,” said Frankel.  “They had three or four hours to gather one bag and get on a bus.  They just want to go home and get back to a normal life in a place they left behind.”

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