Jewish communities in Ukraine prepare holiday packages for Rosh Hashanah
Jewish communities in Ukraine have begun a large-scale distribution of holiday food packages for tens of thousands of Jews ahead of Rosh Hashanah amid intensified shelling. Jewish Relief Network Ukraine (JRNU) is delivering kosher products to communities, including honey, meat, poultry, dairy products and canned goods, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Food trucks have left supply points for dozens of Jewish communities in different cities. After unloading near Jewish centers, the packages are delivered to recipients through an internal distribution network. The kits also include information materials in the local language about the significance of the High Holidays and calendars with materials about community life.
Honey production near Kyiv
According to JRNU, it was decided to produce most of the basic products for the holiday packages in Ukraine in order to depend less on imports complicated by wartime logistics. A kosher honey factory near Kyiv continues to operate, although nearby logistics hubs and large warehouses have been hit and shelled.
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The kosher certification of the honey production was issued by Rabbi Yehoshua Vyshetsky of the Ukrkosher kashrut system. JRNU also reported that some holiday products, including honey cakes and other goods, were delivered by air from Israel. Communities are distributing locally produced chicken, meat and jars of honey.
Record number of prayer participants expected
Chabad emissary in Kyiv Rabbi Simha Levengarts, who coordinates the distribution, said that communities are preparing for an unprecedented number of prayer participants during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. According to him, the situation has become “extreme” in recent days: warehouses in the area were destroyed, store shelves were emptied, and retail chains are suspending operations for extended periods because of air raid alerts.
Chief Rabbi of Kremenchuk Shlomo Salamon said that two drones fell near his home this week. In Poltava, Chief Rabbi Yosef Segal also reported shortages of basic products in stores. Rabbi Dov Axelrod of Cherkasy noted that preparations for the holiday are continuing despite the worsening security situation.
