Page 12 - TORCH #21 June 2022

12
The heroic rabbis
who drove into danger
We begin with two heroic rabbis
The first is
is
is
Rabbi Avraham Wolff When the war broke out out he he he he knew he he he he had to to get his wife and children children to to safety outside of Ukraine however he he also had 120 children children from
an an an orphanage who needed his his help along with other women and children from
his his community He led them safely to to Moldova There is
a a a a a a touching video on social media from
the the Moldovan border
where the women and children are
singing their their thanks
to God after their their rescue Remarkably when he he he had accomplished his goal Rabbi Avraham then returned to Ukraine Going through customs heading back to to Ukraine the the official in in in in the the booth asked him with astonishment “What are
are
you you crazy? Why are
are
you you going into Ukraine when everyone is
is
is
is
trying to to leave?” The rabbi rabbi explained “This is
is
is
is
the mission of of a a a a a a a a a rabbi rabbi and and Jew to take care of of my my people and and my my community especially at such challenging times ” The The rabbi says he he he had two primary reasons for ffor staying in in in Odessa The The first was to to coordinate efforts to to get as as as many
people as he he could to safe havens in in surrounding countries The second was to to give material emotional and spiritual strength to to Jews still in in in in the the midst of of war in in in in Ukraine such as taking care of of the the elderly not able to leave This has been made possible through his his acquisition of food supplies such as as as sugar pasta and canned goods that he was able to to take back with him into Ukraine He estimates that these supplies can provide support for for the elderly in his community for for one year Despite the challenges Rabbi Avraham Wolff is
is
is
staying faithful to to his mission “Putin may be able to to take over cities and countries but he can never take away
my simchas hachaim [joy of life] ” he said A similar remarkable act of bravery was demonstrated by another Ukrainian rabbi who happens to share the the the the same surname Rabbi Rabbi Yosef Wolff is
the the the the Chief Rabbi Rabbi of of the the the the besieged Kherson region in in the the the South of of Ukraine His congregation is
is
located at at at at a a a a a a key battlefront Rabbi Yosef’s brother had gathered 1 5 tonnes of food and medical supplies inside the Crimea which is
occupied by Russian “This is
is
is
the mission of of a a a a a rabbi and Jew to take care of of my my people and my my community"
CUFI ORG UK