Jewish Relief Network Ukraine

Early Monday morning, waves of missiles and drones attacked Ukraine, with a large number targeting Kyiv, where at least 12 people were killed and 60 others were wounded. Two high rise apartment buildings collapsed, creating fear that people are trapped underneath. Emergency workers combed through the rubble looking for survivors.

This latest attack comes just days after 31 people were killed in Kyiv from a large-scale air assault. Many residents of the capital have been sleeping in subway shelters for protection from the continued onslaught.

The early morning attack on July 6th was one of the worst of the past several years. Thirty residential buildings suffered substantial damage in the strikes, including one where the top 5 floors were destroyed. Workers used ladders to try and extract people from the upper levels, as friends and families waited for news of their loved ones. In another location workers removed the bodies of a family--mother, father, and child--from what had been their home.

The unimaginable tragedies continue as we approach the 4 1/2 year mark of the ongoing crisis. Our leaders, staff, and volunteers work tirelessly to support tens of thousands of people who rely on us for their survival: food, medicine, medical care, shelter, daily essentials, and more. In addition to distributing aid to those in need, we are checking in with people and communicating with their families. Together we save lives and restore hope.

Forty children from Dnipro recently enjoyed 10 days of fun, relaxation, adventures, and connecting with their Jewish heritage and values. The experience was more important than ever to help kids escape the daily stress and trauma of war and enjoy a bit of normalcy.

The theme for this year’s camp centered around the book "Pirkei Avot" ("The teachings of the fathers"), and featured an exciting journey where campers discovered real treasures- knowledge, wisdom, thinking, the ability to make good choices, teamwork, self-worth, and responsibility for self and others. Lessons centered around the story of a mysterious island, and a hidden cave filled with the world’s most important items- not gold and jewels, but knowledge and meaning, which makes a person stronger and wiser.

Each day of camp was filled with workshops and activities for children to not only learn new things and express themselves in new ways, interacting with peers, and fostering relationships. For many kids, the sports and field activities were the most exciting, while others really enjoyed the trips to the rope park, the cinema, and the zoo! Not a day went by that didn’t include a variety of fun summer adventures.

In addition to the participants, the camp offered wonderful opportunities for high school students to intern and gain experience working with children; serving as role models and mentors; and helping create a warm, safe and inspiring atmosphere for children.

"This is not the first year in our community that the J-Summer camp is held with great success, implemented with support from Jewish Relief Network Ukraine," says the head of J-Summer in Dnipro Adina Seldina. “We tried to give children ten days of a wonderful Jewish atmosphere, combining fun with learning, games and important moral values,” she continued.

It is a privilege to help provide the children of Ukraine with an opportunity to enjoy their summer break from school and escape the daily challenges of the ongoing crisis.

Together we save lives and restore hope.

Meals for the elderly are an important part of the work we do in Ukraine. Soup kitchens serve hot lunches five days a week. For those who are unable to travel to the community center to pick up their food, local aid coordinators promptly deliver the meals to the homes. In addition to delivering the thermal food containers, the staff and volunteers check on the health and well-being of the senior citizens, often identifying other areas of need.