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18 February 2022
Year-round, Federation works closely with international agencies to meet the needs of Jewish communities in Israel and more than 70 countries around the globe, including Ukraine. Belonging to a global Jewish community means assisting and caring for Jews wherever they are—and whenever they need us. As the world watches Russia and Ukraine, our Federation team remains closely attuned to reports from the region by our global partners at JDC, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), and World ORT.
For decades, these Federation partners have worked tirelessly to ensure that Jewish individuals and families are cared for and connected to Jewish life. With support from communities around the world, including ours, they’ve built new schools, JCCs, summer camps, synagogues, human service centers, and more to rebuild vibrant Jewish communities destroyed by the Nazis and the Soviet Union. But even before the most recent developments, the situation in Ukraine was increasingly daunting, with much of this new infrastructure currently under threat.
The pandemic exacerbated the Jewish community’s already difficult operational challenges. More recently, a dramatic rise in inflation and cost of living put the region’s most vulnerable Jews—including many World War II and Soviet oppression survivors—at greater financial risk.
Through Federation’s Annual Campaign and other grants, we continue to collectively meet the evolving needs of the Jewish community in Ukraine and around the world. We have built the infrastructure to respond urgently, whether to rapid inflation or the horrors of war. And today, we are prepared to act swiftly alongside JDC, JAFI, and Jewish Federations across North America to ensure Ukraine’s Jews are safe and cared for.
While the future remains uncertain, we could not do this continuing, crucial, life-saving work without you. Thank you for caring for our community members around the globe in times of calm and crisis.
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil
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