Ukraine

Ukraine (in Ukrainian: Україна) is a country in Eastern Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the south, Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the north, Poland to the northwest, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, and Romania and Moldova to the southwest.

In the past, the territory of the country belonged to the Russian Empire and was part of the Soviet Union. It gained independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Since the founding of the Chabad movement, there were important Chabad communities in Ukraine. During the Communist rule, the communities underwent severe upheaval and some dwindled, and the Tomchei Tmimim yeshivas moved from city to city. Mass arrests of Chabad chassidim were carried out, and during the Holocaust, the Nazis murdered masses of Ukrainian Jews, including many Chabad chassidim, while others managed to escape to remote places and thus were saved, but this ended the era of Chabad communities in Ukraine. After about 45 years, in the early 5750s (1990s), the Rebbe's shluchim began arriving in Ukraine, initially through the Ezras Achim organization, and in the following years, most united under the Or Avner organization, and today each shliach operates autonomously.

The Chief Rabbi of the country is Rabbi Moshe Reuven Asman.

On 23 Adar I 5782 (February 2022), the Russia-Ukraine war began when the Russian army invaded Ukraine with the aim of conquering large parts of it, but it encountered fierce resistance that made it difficult to continue its conquest, although it still managed to conquer minimal parts of it. The war is currently still ongoing.

History

Kyiv formerly served as the capital city of "Kievan Rus" (a Slavic state, the largest at that time, from which Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine later developed). Over the years, the government weakened, and the country was conquered several times by various princes from Poland and other countries. The conquests by different people led to the division of Ukraine among several princes who converted the religion of the inhabitants according to their religious practices.

In 5329 (1569), most of Ukraine's territory was united with Poland and Lithuania, which received the name "Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth," and the government forced the inhabitants to convert their religion to the way of life of the nobles. However, Polish serfdom emphasized that the commonwealth's economy was based on the forceful exploitation of Ukrainian farmers.

The Cossacks, who despised the forced conversion and felt humiliated by the harsh and degrading serfdom, decided to rebel against the government and established an (unofficial) state, "Zaporozhian Sich." As a result, the Cossacks raised their heads, and under the leadership of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, started a rebellion against the central government and conducted pogroms against Jews and Poles, including the infamous Gezeiros Tach V'Tat (1648-1649 decrees). Their movement led to the incorporation of Eastern Ukraine into Russia, while most of Western Ukraine joined Russia as part of the partition of Poland only in 5556 (1796).

The Period of the Russian Empire and Communist Rule

During World War I, Ukraine declared its independence as the "People's Republic of Ukraine," but opposition forces did not allow this situation to survive for long. On Ukrainian soil, a fierce struggle took place between supporters of an independent Ukraine and its opponents. At that time, Jews suffered greatly from pogroms by gangs.

In 5679 (1919), Stalin conceived the "Five-Year Plan," during which agricultural work was centered around cooperative farms belonging to the Soviet government. The plan dispossessed millions of people from their lands and caused some of the worst years of famine in the world. During the famine years, about 10,000,000 people died (one-third of the country's population).

World War II Until the Dissolution of the Soviet Union

During World War II, Ukraine was completely conquered by the Germans and subjected to Nazi rule. Ghettos were established on its territory, and its Jews were killed en masse in pits by firing squads and Ukrainian collaborators. Many Ukrainians welcomed the German conquerors as "liberators," collaborated with them, and participated in the persecution of Jews and also in their extermination. In total, according to estimates, about 1.5 million Jews were murdered on Ukrainian soil (out of 2.7 million Ukrainian Jews during the Holocaust), one of the most infamous places is Babi Yar, on the outskirts of Kyiv. In 5704 (1944), toward the end of the war, most of Ukraine's territory was liberated by the Soviet Army. During the war, about 5 to 8 million civilians lost their lives. This number includes the Jews of Ukraine and about 2.7 million fighters in the Red Army.

After the Dissolution of the Soviet Union

During the late 5740s (1980s), the demand for independence grew, following the Chernobyl disaster and the fall of the Berlin Wall (which symbolized the end of the Communist era), all of which gave a strong push to the nationalist movements of Western Ukraine. In 5751 (1991), with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine gained full independence.

In Adar I 5782 (February 2022), the Russian army invaded Ukraine and conquered cities and large parts of it. The war is still ongoing and is claiming many casualties. The shluchim remained in place to care for the local Jews until they managed to smuggle them out of the country around Purim. Subsequently, some of the shluchim returned to their cities of shlichus.

Ukrainian Jewry

Ukraine was the main residence of the Jews in the Pale of Settlement, but as a result of pogroms, many Jews emigrated from Ukraine.

Until World War II, the Jewish population was about 5% of the population. Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Jewish population in Ukraine numbered about half a million. Today, as a result of negative migration, the number has dropped to about 200,000. Most of Ukrainian Jewry emigrated in the 5700s (1940s) to Eretz Yisrael.

Today, the number of Jews stands at less than one percent (0.2%). On the other hand, at the end of the second decade of the 21st century, both the president of the country and the prime minister of Ukraine are Jewish.

Chabad History

Many Chabad Chassidim lived for several generations in cities and towns throughout Ukraine, where large and small communities developed.

After the Communist revolution and the beginning of oppression against Torah observance and mitzvos, Chabad activities gradually became secretive. The Chassidim suffered from persecution and imprisonment, and dozens were executed in the basements of secret police stations.

During the Holocaust, Chabad communities in Ukraine were destroyed and many Chassidim were murdered by the Nazis and Ukrainians. The survivors were those who managed to escape to remote areas, and many settled in Tashkent and Samarkand.

Haditch

Haditch is a town in Ukraine where the Alter Rebbe's grave is located.

The Alter Rebbe passed away on 24 Teves 5573 (1812) in the village of Piyena while fleeing from Napoleon. It is said that before his passing, the Alter Rebbe said "Haditch, Haditch" several times, and his family understood that he wished to be buried in this place. Therefore, they transported his holy body to this town on the banks of the Psol River, approximately 300 kilometers from the village of Piyena.

Kremenchug

Kremenchug is a large industrial city located on the banks of the Dnieper River in Ukraine.

The Chabad community in Kremenchug is famous because of the renowned rabbis and Chassidim who lived in the city, including: Rabbi Yosef Tomerkin and Rabbi Rafalovich, the "Beralach": Reb Berel Moshe's (Drobuskin), Reb Berel Mashiyev and Reb Chaim Dober Vilensky, the Gourary brothers: Reb Shmuel Gourary, Reb Natan Gourary and Reb Menachem Mendel Gourary, and the directors of the underground yeshiva and chadarim: Reb Yisroel Noach Blinitsky and Reb Ben-Tzion Maroz. This community flourished and thrived until the Communist revolution, which caused both economic and spiritual destruction. About twenty years passed and the Nazis approached the city, and most of the community members managed to escape, while those who did not flee perished al kiddush Hashem.

Kharkov

Kharkov is a city that was outside the Pale of Settlement on the border of Ukraine, and therefore Jews did not settle there. The first to settle there were craftsmen who received special permission to live there or released Cantonists who were allowed to live outside the Pale of Settlement.

They established a large synagogue there - called 'Meshchansky', near the river - 'Kharkov' because of the mikvah. Over the years, as many Chabad Chassidim arrived, they prayed in the Arizal nusach on the upper floor, and in the Ashkenazi nusach on the lower floor.

On his way to Yalta and on his return to Lubavitch, the Rebbe Rashab stopped for several weeks in Kharkov, where - at Meshchansky - he held farbrengens with the Chassidim and delivered several Chassidic discourses.

In 5675 (1915), the decree was canceled due to World War I, and then thousands of Jews and Chassidim began to flood into it.

Dnepropetrovsk

The city was initially called Yekaterinoslav. The city's name was changed in 5686 (1926) to Dnepropetrovsk, named after Mr. Petrovsky, who was at that time the chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Ukraine, and also after "Dnieper" - the river that crosses the city.

Initially, the city was established in a different location from its current one, but five years after its foundation, it was moved to its current location, on the western bank of the Dnieper River.

When it was moved to its current location, they thought to make it the capital of the new area that was then conquered from the Turks, called "Novorossiya" - New Russia. The city was therefore planned with great care, wide streets were paved, and impressive squares were built in it.

Kaminskoye

Kaminskoye (formerly Dneprodzerzhinsk) is a city in Ukraine. The Rebbe's shliach and Chief Rabbi of the city is Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Stambler. In 5768 (2008), the shluchim inaugurated the Chabad center in their city, which was built in the model of Beis Chayeinu 770. The building was built with the donation of philanthropist Mr. Bogolyubov.

Kherson

In the city of Kherson in southeastern Ukraine, there was a community of Chabad Chassidim and a Tomchei Tmimim yeshiva.

This city was included in the Kherson region, which included the cities: Novapoltavka, Alexandria, Romanovka, Brislav.

Rabbi Alexander Sender Yudsin, one of the founders and heads of the yeshiva in Kherson

Chabad synagogue in Kherson today

Important baalei batim lived in the city, who were wholeheartedly devoted to the welfare of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, including Reb Yisroel Chertok, the Bezpalov brothers (sons of Reb Yaakov Mordechai, the famous rabbi of Poltava), their uncle Reb Nota Henzburg, Reb Aryeh Leib Nanes and his wife, the Platkin brothers, Reb Avraham Yaakov Shklyar and Reb Moshe Charitonov.

Karlowitz

Karlowitz is a town located in northern Ukraine near the town of Konotop. Karlowitz is considered a kind of 'center' for the surrounding villages because of the station where the train that travels on the Kiev-Moscow line passes. In the past, Karlowitz was a Jewish town steeped in Chabad influences. Simple, straightforward Jews lived there, all observant - some were Torah scholars and yeshiva students, and some were simple Jews. Their common denominator was their closeness to Chabad Chassidus. The prayer nusach in the synagogues was according to the Arizal nusach, and the customs were Chabad customs. No wonder that many defined Karlowitz as a "Chassidic town."

The population of Karlowitz numbered about ten thousand people, including about two hundred Jewish families. Relations between Jews and gentiles were generally proper. In general, the atmosphere in Karlowitz was calm.

Anipoli

Even during the leadership of the Maggid of Mezritch, Rabbi Zusha settled in the city of Anipoli and began to lead the Chassidim who gathered around him. He had close friendly relations with the city's rabbi, and during times when he was not wandering between towns in Russia and Ukraine, he sat in the city and guided his Chassidim in the service of Hashem.

When the Alter Rebbe returned from one of his visits to the Maggid of Mezritch, he extended his journey and traveled to visit nearby Anipoli, where he presented to Rabbi Zusha the new form of letters that their rebbe had instructed him to correct.

In the later years of the Maggid of Mezritch, in 5532 (1772), a severe epidemic broke out in Mezritch, and the Maggid began to wander, until Rabbi Zusha risked himself and took the Maggid to his home, despite the opposition of the district governor who feared the settlement of subjects coming from areas infected with diseases and viruses in his territory.

Besides Rabbi Zusha, Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaCohen, author of the book 'Ohr HaGanuz', who also engaged in leading Chassidim, settled in this city.

In the final months of the Maggid of Mezritch's life, his disciples came to stay by his side, and for a period, great Chassidic leaders lived there, such as Rabbi Avraham the Angel, the Alter Rebbe, and others.

Russia-Ukraine War

Extended Article - Russia-Ukraine War

The Russia-Ukraine War is a military conflict between Russia and Ukraine that broke out in Adar II 5782 (February/March 2022) when Russian forces attacked Ukraine and invaded its territory from the north, east, and south. The war has continued for several years.

Course of Fighting

In 5782 (2022), the ground invasion of the Russian army began from several directions. As the war progressed, the ground attacks moderated, and currently the Russian army primarily uses missiles and unmanned aircraft to attack Ukrainian cities and the Ukrainian army.

Jewish Soldiers Killed

• Vladislav Shein, a 21-year-old Jewish young man from the city of Dnipro in Ukraine, was killed during his volunteer service in the Ukrainian army in its war against the Russians.

• Mattityahu Asman - grew up in a Jewish orphanage and was adopted by Rabbi Moshe Asman. He was drafted into the Ukrainian army and was killed in 5784 (2024).

Chabad During the War

Rabbi Asman receives a certificate of appreciation for his help in the Russia-Ukraine war

During the first days of the war, many of the shluchim (emissaries) along with their mekuravim (those they had brought close to Judaism) and also orphanages, left their places of shlichus (mission) due to security concerns for their lives in view of the Russian advance and fear of complete chaos. However, as the danger passed, some of them, especially the head shluchim, returned to their homes and communities.

Even at the height of the tremendous pressure and great uncertainty, several shluchim in the country did not leave their posts, including: Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, the shliach and Chief Rabbi of Dnipropetrovsk, Rabbi Moshe Reuven Asman, and the shliach Rabbi Meir Stambler.

In the first two months of the war, the shluchim, together with other Jewish and Israeli organizations, were engaged in evacuating Jews from the front-line cities to the interior of the country. Many refugees moved to refugee camps set up in countries surrounding Ukraine, and some even made aliyah to the Holy Land.

One of the central figures at the beginning of the war was Rabbi Moshe Reuven Asman, the Rabbi of Ukraine. On one of the first days of the war, he approached the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark) and removed the Torah scrolls, which he transferred to a safe place, while crying out with a great and bitter cry. Like other shluchim, Rabbi Asman dedicated much time to provide humanitarian aid to Jews, including during times of fierce attacks.

Attack on School in Kyiv

During the war, there were attacks near Chabad institutions and homes of shluchim, some of which suffered minor damage.

In the month of Tishrei 5785 (September/October 2024), a UAV hit a Chabad school in Kyiv, causing damage.

The Shluchim in Ukraine 5785 (2024-2025)

Most of the shluchim have not returned since fleeing Ukraine. In each major city, the head shliach has returned, and in some places a few additional shluchim have joined. A significant portion of educational institutions in Ukraine, including Chabad schools, are either closed or operating on a partial basis. The synagogues operate according to the guidelines of the military and authorities in Ukraine, and some of the worshippers who used to attend the synagogues before the war have left their city of residence or Ukraine altogether. Activities are carried out despite all the challenges and difficulties, under the shadow of shelling and especially UAVs launched remotely at cities in Ukraine. Most are intercepted, but sometimes there is damage and casualties.

These are the shluchim currently operating in Ukraine:

• Dnipro - Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki and Rabbi Meir Stambler
• Kyiv - Rabbi Moshe Asman, Rabbi Yehonatan Binyamin Markowitz, Rabbi Pinchas Vishetsky
• Kharkiv - Rabbi Moshe Moskovitz
• Kherson - Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Wolf
• Odessa - Rabbi Avraham Wolf
• Zhytomyr - Rabbi Nachum Tamarin (Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm manages the "Alumim" orphanage in Ashkelon and visits Zhytomyr from time to time)
• Kremenchuk - Rabbi Shlomo Solomon
• Haditch - Rabbi Shneur Deutsch
• Poltava - Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Segal
• Chernivtsi - Rabbi Menachem Mendel Glitzenstein
• Mykolaiv - Rabbi Shalom Gottlieb
• Cherkasy - Rabbi Dov Axelrod
• Berdychiv - Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Taller

For Further Reading

• Menachem Bronfman, Judaism in Ukraine, alongside an extensive review of the activities of our Rebbes for Ukrainian Jewry, Kfar Chabad Weekly 1949, page 61
• Menachem Zigelboim, A Year of War and No End in Sight, Beit Moshiach Weekly, Issue 1349, pages 18-23 (5783/2023)
• Fleeing for Their Lives, Beit Moshiach Weekly, Issue 1302, pages 28-35, Rabbi Shlomo Vilhelm tells about the rescue of Zhitomir Jews and the orphanage, Ukrainian shluchim (emissaries) tell about rescue missions at the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war

External Links

• Tag: Ukraine
• A Chanukah That Won't Be Forgotten in Kiev ● Giant Gallery - on Chabad Info website
• Celebrations in Ukraine: Series of Events Marking 50 Years for Rabbi Asman - on Chabad Info website
• Which for the Sword and Which for Peace, Mishpacha Newspaper, Tishrei 5783
• The Rescue of Ukrainian Jewry, 'BaKehila' Magazine, Pesach 5783, comprehensive interview with the Rebbe's shliach to Chernowitz, Rabbi Menachem Glitzenstein