A Russian missile slammed into a Shul in the city of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine recently, seriously damaging it. The Israeli ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, acknowledged that the ancient Shul that was built in 1872 had sustained “major damage to its structure in the attack.” This was not the first time the Shul had been hit during the war. In May of 2022, a wall of the building and many of its windows were smashed during a Russian shelling of the city.
Following the recent Russian attacks in the district, COLlive spoke to Rabbi Nachum Ehrentreu, Shliach to Zaporizhzhia for an update on the situation on the ground.
“The Shul that was hit had at one time been a Jewish museum,” Ehrentrau said. “Sadly, it was later converted into an office building for the city municipality, like hundreds of other Jewish sites throughout the country.”
“The Shul is a major part of the Jewish history in the city and it is located near the local Jewish cemetery. With the help of the Shapira family foundation in Switzerland, we have worked to restore it by building fences, maintaining the graves, and preserving it from falling into ruin.”
Describing daily life in the city, Ehrentreu says the situation is very grave. “One walks around knowing that at any moment, a bomb could fall right next to you without any prior warning. Between the power cuts, constant shelling, and a host of other challenges, life is difficult for those living here. On the other hand, we are also experiencing a great spiritual awakening in the community, something we have not seen in the past.”
With the help of R’ Shlomie Peles and Dovid Mundshein, activists who are working tirelessly to help the Ukrainian communities, the community was provided with generators to deliver much-needed warmth and electricity during the power outages. The Chabad House also supports the local Jewish community by providing food, medicine, and various other humanitarian needs.
The Shluchim are also working to uplift the community spiritually with an array of different initiatives. “We resolutely decided to redouble our Shlichus activities to counter the situation we are in. Recently, a Sefer Torah was commissioned to be written for the merit of our community. We established a special Kollel Levi Yitzchok with a chevre tehillim who, as a minyan, recites the entire Tehillim every day between Shachris and Mincha.”
“We have encouraged people to put mezuzas on their homes and already tens of families have answered the call. We focused on strengthening mivtza tefillin and countless individuals have put on tefillin, some for their very first time, over the past few months.”
Despite the difficult circumstances, Chabad of Zaporizhzhia is on track to build a brand new mikvah next to the Shul, and just two weeks ago, the mikvah pools were sealed and completed. Rabbi Ehrentreu sees the building of the new mikvah as a motivating force for his community to remain strong through the crises. A colleague and fellow Shliach of Ehrentreu sent him a photo of a sicha where the Rebbe describes the incredible effect that a mikva has on a city. We have attached the picture of the Sicha below.
Ehrentreu says that recently new families have been flocking to the Chabad House to join and participate in the programs. “They are looking for a listening ear and a warm Jewish environment and as the only Jewish center operating in the area, it is our zechus to care for them.”
To donate to theZaporizhzhia community, click here.
