An appeal
This week whilst in Israel I watched with horror as the events unfolded in Ukraine. At difficult times such as these, our Teffilot must be increased in quantity and quality as well as our acts of kindness and Tzedakah.
The humanitarian crises that has been caused by this Russian aggression is worsening by the hour and in addition to the terror and horrific conditions endured by millions of Ukrainians we have a few hundred thousand Jewish brothers and sisters who are suffering.
Just a few days ago a Rabbi originally from Manchester with his wife and seven children were trying to flee Odessa together with other members of their congregations which really brought home to me how close we are to this conflict.
The bravery shown by the Jewish leadership in Ukraine is beyond words. They are courageously looking after the needs of their communities whilst being fired upon indiscriminately. At the start of the war not one Rabbi – most from Israel and America- left his post to their home country.
As a Jewish community we are called upon to help our fellow Jews who are suffering.
I appeal to you to contribute what you can to https://charidy.com/HelpKyiv/rebbebenarrochclass
This charity will be setting up a refugee camp for the Kyiv Jewish Community who have had to flee the war zone.
Our Jewish tradition teaches “Anyone who saves a life is as if he/she saved an entire world”.
In addition to the help we provide our Jewish brethren in their time of need, we are showing Hashem that despite all the many differences amongst the Jewish people, in essence we are truly one soul.
This unity of soul, mind and heart has tremendous spiritual power to bring salvation to the Jewish people and ultimately bring redemption to the world itself.
We are in the month of Purim when we commemorate the victory over the evil Haman who sought to destroy every single Jew; men, women and children and failed. The Talmud teaches that the key reason or trigger for the salvation of the Jewish people was when Esther gathered every Jew and mandated a fast for three days to spiritually prepare for her potentially deadly mission of coming before King Achashverosh without having been called.
It was that spirit of unity and solidarity amongst the Jewish nation that provided the spiritual merit for God to unfold the events we read in the Megillah that brought about the downfall of Haman.
Whilst the Jewish people this time are not the direct target of Putin’s regime, the principal of unity remains the same.
May Hashem protect our Jewish brethren who are in danger and bring them to safety, healing, prosperity, and hope.
May Hashem give strength to the brave men and women of Ukraine who are fighting for their freedom and their very lives.
And May Hashem bring a swift end to the reign of evil thuggery and bring about the final redemption of the Jewish people and the world.
Shabbat Shalom |
