Why am I traveling 5,639 miles away from home?

For many today, Ukraine is associated with a war torn country, a place you would never think of going.

Today, I am embarking on a new journey, a 13 day trip that will take me first to Kiyv and then Israel. I will be representing the Jewish Agency for Israel on a mission with professional and lay leaders from Jewish Federations across North America.

On this trip, we will have a chance to directly connect with the important collective impact we have around the world. Before I share more, it’s important to keep in mind the context of where I am going:

During the seven decades of the Soviet regime, the Jewish community experienced severe identity loss. Twenty years after the collapse of the regime only an estimated 20% of the 800,000 Jews across the Former Soviet Union are meaningfully engaged in Jewish life.

A few years ago, as the country was torn by civil war, I remember reading the story of Sasha. Sasha is a Ukrainian born Israeli who returned to Ukraine for the first time in 24 years to be a camp counselor. For some children, meeting Sasha for the first time was not only their first connection to Israel but also to Judaism.

Every year, the Jewish Agency brings many inspiring Israelis like Sasha who devote one summer or two years connecting children to their heritage. They run Jewish camps, help build Sunday schools and so much more.

More on the story: here

Photo credit, Jewish Agency for Israel. Picture of teens at a Jewish Agency summer camp in Ukraine

But we not only connect lives, we also save lives:

3 years ago, I posted on my Facebook page the story of the Urina family who was saved and brought safely to Israel in a fast paced operation put into action by the Jewish Agency in the city of Donestk.

As battle was raging and the airport closed, this couple (picture below) with two twin babies was evacuated to another airport and safely transferred to Israel where they found a new and safe home. Full story here

Photo credit, Jewish Agency for Israel. Picture of the Urina family who was evacuated from Donestk and safely made Aliyah to Israel.

Over the last 3 years, there has been a dramatic increase in Aliyah from Ukraine, especially from the eastern side of the country. Before the war just under 2,000 made Aliyah from Ukraine every year. 

Since then, the number oscillates between 5,800 and 7,300 every year. Despite the shelling and the war, there are dedicated Jewish Agency representatives serving the needs of Jews left in the region and an infrastructure is in place to address it.

On the much quieter other side of the country, where I am going, there is an active Jewish life. The Jewish Agency for Israel runs a continuum of programs: Sunday schools, camping, youth programming, leadership development, community building programs and of course Israel experiences like Birthright or Masa Israel (and more).

It would simply take too long to explain in a few words all what we do and I look forward to bringing you actual stories.

As I was saying lehitra’ot to my children, I explained to them that I will visit a Jewish camp where children will learn about Israel and Judaism some of them for the first time. My oldest, Emma decided to give me a drawing to pass to kids at summer camps. She told me it’s her and a girl in Ukraine. At the end, she got it, it's about building one Jewish people, one person at a time! She answered the question why I am traveling 5,639 miles away from home! 

Shabbat Shalom!