Our first Federation mission in over two years departs this week! The participants (and staff) are excited to be heading back to our family in our Partnership2Gether region in Israel. The theme of this trip is Shared Society and we are looking forward to doing a deep dive into this area of our work with our Jewish and Arab counterparts. Another highlight of the trip will be visiting the “Supermarket” for Ukrainian refugees. This is a free “store” where recent olim from Ukraine can pick up essentials (food, clothing, blankets, etc.).
Speaking of Ukraine, our attention remains focused on the crisis. We are continuing to raise money for our overseas partners who are doing the work of providing humanitarian aid and rescue services. To date, our community has sent over 3.86 million dollars.
Two stories particularly struck me this week. First, as I write this, a Jewish Agency for Israel information center was just opened near the Budapest Nyugati railway station. Jewish immigrants who make their way there are provided lodging and a point person who will assist them in filing the necessary paperwork needed to move to Israel. Two of the staff there are Valerie Kaplan, 18, and Ilya Kluzny, 25. They are Ukrainians who attended a Jewish Agency seminar in Budapest about Jewish communities before the war broke out. While at a small gathering celebrating the last day of the seminar, they received word that fighting had begun in Ukraine and they were stuck in the city – completely cut off from family and unable to go back home.“I saw people leaving everything behind. These were my people. So, it seemed fitting that I would stay and help,” Ilya stated.
Meanwhile, Valerie says her father enlisted in the Ukrainian army and her mother was trying to join her in Budapest. “It’s amazing. At the seminar, we discussed the idea that every Jew is responsible for one another. Then, as soon as the seminar ended, I found myself on the ground executing what we were taught.” The border crossing closes at night and the refugees have nothing to do but wait. They receive small portions of food, as well as hot drinks and thermal blankets. But for those having been through severe trauma in escaping under fire, at a temperature that can reach three degrees below zero, the situation at the crossing means another hardship. Amira Ahronovitz, CEO of the Jewish Agency, said while visiting this site, “We have many challenges ahead. We need to change how we work so we can absorb even more refugees. We must locate everyone who wants help because, after all, if a person saves one life, it’s as if they saved the entire world.”
The second story was prompted by an email I received from the JCC in Krakow. As you may know, the Detroit Jewish Federation has a long-standing relationship with this organization.
Federation has conducted several missions to Krakow and we’ve hosted the JCC of Krakow’s CEO Jonathan Ornstein several times in Detroit. We’ve also simulated Krakow’s Ride for the Living since 2017, with with 100% of the proceeds going to support the JCC in Krakow. When I began reading the email, I was blown away by, and so proud of, all they are doing for the people during this crisis – which you can read for yourself here. From collecting and delivering supplies, opening a childcare center, housing and feeding refugees, the list goes on and on. Jonathan inspires me as a fellow professional. Just when you think he must be beyond capacity, he lists five more things they are doing – and he has a baby at home to boot!
I was happy to see that our local Jewish Community Center is holding an event on April 6: Crisis in Ukraine: A View from the Polish Border. All proceeds will benefit the JCC in Krakow. More information and a link to registration are in our events below.
You will also find our Motor City Mission LIVE registration below. We went live last week and already the buses are filling up. I hope that you will be able to join us. L’shana Haba’ah!!