The Jewish world in the age of coronavirus – A special Israel Hayom project
Part XIV: Jewish leaders across Ukraine mobilize to assist community members
When the coronavirus began wreaking havoc across the globe, Jewish communities worldwide, which are known for their sense of community and kindness, mobilized to help their members, the elderly in particular.
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An excellent example of this was Ukraine. With the local healthcare system crumbling, several communities set up their own hospitals, distributed food, and provided medical and financial assistance to help members during the challenging times.
In Odessa, which is situated in northwestern Ukraine, the Jewish community took serious precautions against COVID, and the local Chabad organization brought community life to a minimum.
Its volunteers distributed thousands of food packages to community members, Jewish schools, kindergartens, orphanages, and the local Jewish university.
The Chief Chabad Rabbi of Odessa, Rabbi Avraham Wolf, led the establishment of a temporary medical center for senior citizens with the help of the local mayor and his staff.
The organization moved the students of its boarding school to specially rented apartments and turned the school into a coronavirus ward, which provided those in need with medical and financial assistance.
"At the time when for hundreds of families the situation worsened, the community mobilized, and its effective and heartwarming cooperation far exceeded my expectations," Wolf told Israel Hayom.
Chabad also set up an outdoor synagogue for members who wish to attend prayers and mandated masks and temperature checks before entering.
Meanwhile, Chabad in Kiev is working to establish technological cooperation between Tel Aviv and the Ukrainian capital, considered the country's technological hub.
In recent years, more and more Israelis working in high tech, law, finance, and real estate, have been moving to Kiev and are looking for ways to preserve their Jewish way of life abroad.
Avishai Ankari, VP Tech Lead at Papaya Global, an Israeli company specializing in automated workforce management, moved to Kiev two years ago.
"I decided to settle here because of the established Jewish community that still continues to grow," he told Israel Hayom.
"This safety net has turned the community into my Israeli and Jewish home, a feeling that intensified with the outbreak of the coronavirus."
Ankara, whose partner is Ukrainian and is currently undergoing conversion, had a heart attack recently. "My first call was to Chabad. The community provides us with a social connection, and we do not feel far from our home in Israel."
He stressed that local Ukrainians treated the Jewish community and Israelis with respect and that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who happens to be Jewish, and other parliament members and business people were active in conducting business with Israelis.
Employees of the Ukrainian WIX branch even study Hebrew once a week to connect with Israeli colleagues, Ankari said.
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