Sign In Forgot Password
Congregation Shomrei Torah

Jewish Response to the War in Ukraine

Below you will find ways to support the Jewish community of Ukraine through these challenging times.

 

World Union for Progressive Judaism

 

In the light of the recent conflict on the Ukrainian border, the World Union for Progressive Judaism launches the Ukraine Crisis Fund. We ask people from all over the world to make donations towards the support of the Jewish community in Ukraine.

Money will be spent on individuals and communities to ensure their safety and well-being. If the conflict escalates further, your money will become crucial and necessary help for many people. If the tension eases, the fund will be spent on the development of the progressive Jewish community in Ukraine.


Jewish Federation

 

The Jewish Federation is committed to being a part of the global Jewish response to this crisis by raising and sending funds to support the Jewish community in Ukraine. Immediate and short-term needs already total $20 million. Whenever and wherever there have been threats to Jewish life, the Federation and our partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee*, have been there to provide critical aid and to help those in danger.

The Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization, ensuring the survival of millions of people and the advancement of Jewish life in 70 countries for more than 100 years. During crises such as the current situation in Ukraine, JDC uses long-developed relationships and systems to put additional supports in place, to meet shifting needs even before, during, and after a crisis. 


Jewish Family and Children Services 

 

JFCS is accepting donations for direct humanitarian aid in cooperation with our colleagues working on the ground there.

100 percent of donations go to humanitarian aid for families in Ukraine.


HIAS

 

HIAS has over a century of experience assisting Jewish and non-Jewish refugees escape war and persecution in Ukraine. Working with partners on both sides of the Ukrainian border, HIAS needs support today to ensure safety and dignity of those fleeing the latest invasion. 


Hadassah 

 

It is the unfortunate reality of war: things change by the minute. Thanks to a joint initiative with Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America and Hadassah International, The Hadassah Medical Organization is on the ground in Poland near that country's border with Ukraine, working to care for fleeing victims flooding in by the thousands.

Your support in this effort is key to achieving the best possible outcome for all of our brothers and sisters fleeing Ukraine. Your gift matters: Please join us in this very powerful and literal expression of one of the most deeply rooted concepts in Judaism — tikkun olam — repairing our world.

Hadassah for the Ukrainian People

Submitted by Sandy Sidorsky

I am a proud, long-time member of Hadassah. I was Region President for Central Pacific Coast, which includes our Chapter here in the North Bay. I am currently on the Region Board and the National Assembly.

When people think of Hadassah they usually associate it with our hospitals at Mt. Scopus and Ein Kerem in Jerusalem and our leading-edge medical research. Many people may not be aware of Hadassah’s Youth Villages at Meir Shfeya and Neurim that have been housing and educating at-risk children since the first plane load of children arrived in 1934 fleeing the Nazi tyranny in Europe.

It is sad, and yet appropriate on the 110 th Anniversary of the founding of Hadassah by Henrietta Szold, that Hadassah is once again sheltering and taking responsibility for youth who need to flee from tyranny. 

Last week, I participated in a webinar that updated Hadassah members about the Hadassah doctors who are in the Lublin, Poland working with Polish doctors. This first team is primarily assessing what the needs will be, since they realize this will be a long process and we will need to keep providing medical staff on an ongoing basis. Medical supplies have already been sent and will continue to go.

Today, however, I want to tell you about the children at Meir Shfeya and Neurim. Children have already arrived and Hadassah has been asked to take in another 100 children, which we will do. For several years there have been children at Neurim from Russia and Ukraine. Their Jewish parents sent them so they would grow up free of antisemitism and become Israeli citizens. When the invasion first started, there was strife between some of the students and Hadassah provided counselors to work with the

kids. These students are now ready to welcome the new arrivals. Counselors continue to work with them to help with their fears and reach out to their families. I encourage all of you reading this to go to www.hadassah.org. Read the news about our medical breakthroughs and watch the videos highlighting patients and the accomplishments of our students. Hadassah was nominated in 2005 for the Nobel Peace Prize because our hospitals are a beacon of equality in a very troubled region of the world.

Respectfully submitted,
Sandy Sidorsky

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784