Dear Friends,
What a week this has been! It began for me with the much-anticipated and extremely exciting engagement of my son Judah to his beloved, Tamar. Much Joy!
Then on Wednesday I had a medical procedure to relieve pain in my right hip — the removal of a cyst situated at the hip joint. Now I am recovering quietly at home, grateful for Cantor Steve’s tremendous help and thankful for my wonderful husband Bob, for taking good care of me (and for our three dogs, Sophie, Faye and Goldie, for hanging out with my while I am useless for a few days.)
Then, of course, events across the world in Russia and Ukraine have gripped our hearts with concern. We are praying for peace, even as we are trying to find ways to help. The international Jewish community, from the Joint Distribution Committee with the Jewish Federations of North America have started funds to help the Ukrainian Jewish community, as have the USCJ, and other organizations (links below.)
Today, I was recalling my visit to Kyiv and Cherkassy, Ukraine, with the Jewish Federation of MetroWest, NJ about 15 years ago. I was asked to join MetroWest Federation lay leaders who were supporting the Ukraine Jewish community in social services and emerging Jewish education. My role was to visit several sick and elderly, bringing them our gifts and support, and to lead Shabbat services. The highlight of my visit there was officiating at the b’nai mitzvah of 14 kids in the Cherkassy Jewish community who do not have a rabbi in residence in their community. To my delight and surprise, the rabbi who serves the wide network of progressive/Reform communities under the auspices of the World Union of Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) was able to join me and share the event. His name is Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny.
Rabbi Dukhovny and I kept in touch for a long time, but, as time passed, we haven’t been in touch in a while. Today he was front and center in my thoughts, and thanks to WhatsApp I was able to send him a text to communicate my concern and support and prayers for him and his community. To my surprise, he wrote back right away. No matter the stress of our situation, caring friends across the world matter.
Kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh — Our rabbis taught “All Israel is responsible for each other.”
Our hearts and our prayers are with the people of Ukraine. We have the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of caring for those beset by war by offering financial support for organizations mobilizing for Ukraine’s vulnerable, and the Jewish community-- our family. In addition, it occurred to me that, given this direct connection I have with my colleague, our community could share our prayers and love with the Jewish communities of WUPJ and the Jewish community of Ukraine, to Rabbi Dukhovny.
I created a GoogleDoc for you to add your wishes and love that I could send to Rabbi Dukhovny.
May they be safe and secure and may the world help their country to find peace.
B’yedidut,
Rabbi Amy
Links to relief organizations
USCJ Prayer for Ukraine is below:
