A Faith-Based Response to Ukraine

As a fervent believer in the power of faith-based community, I knew something needed to be done to to raise spirits, to strengthen hope, and to offer practical help regarding the current situation in the Ukraine. I struggled to put words together or to craft an adequate plan until I encountered the amazing efforts and powerful words of my colleagues Rabbi Joe Wolfson and Rabbi Mati Kahn at OU-JLIC. I combined some of their language along with my own to produce the following letter I sent out to our beautiful OU-JLIC of Greater ATL family. Feel free to take any parts of it to use for your own communities, and please consider donating to the awe-inspiring work of the Kiev Jewish Community Center:

Dear OU-JLIC of Greater ATL community,

As a faith-based community, we have a responsibility to care for all of God’s creations, as “beloved are humans, for they were created in the image [of God],” and, as we recite in Ashrei, “God is good to all beings, He expresses compassion towards all His creations.” When we hear the terrible news coming from Ukraine, rife with loss of life and millions fleeing for shelter, we cannot remain apathetic to war. Every war is tragic, regardless of whether one considers it justified or necessary.

As Jews, there are multiple ways we know to lend a helping hand. Two particular paths are?aid?and?prayer. Regarding?aid,?Rabbi Joe Wolfson of OU-JLIC of NYU?has a relationship with a Jewish Community Center in Kiev and is raising funds to turn the Center into a shelter for all Ukrainians seeking refuge. They are looking for donations to be sent via Venmo, at “jlicnyu.” If you donate, please write in the description line “For Kiev, from OU-JLIC of ATL.”

The JCC of Kiev is also looking for?any pictures, videos, writings that express support for their safety,?as a way of boosting their depleted morale. Please send those my way and I will forward them.

And, as Jews, times of need (for the innocent on both sides of this conflict) are times for?prayer. The following is a prayer based on Rebbe Nachman of Breslov’s Liqutei Tefilah:

????? ????? A Prayer for peace

????? ?????? ???????????? ?’ ?????????? ???????? ???????????, ???????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ??? ????????.?

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??? ????????? ????????? ???? ????????? ????? ??????? ????????????, ?????? ??? ??????? ????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ??? ?????????,?

????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????? ??? ?????????,?

??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ????????? ???????, ???????????? ???????,?

????????? ??????? ??????????: ”?????????? ??????? ???????? ????????????? ?????? ????????, ?????????????? ?????? ????? ??? ???????, ??????? ??? ???????? ????????????.“?

???????? ?????.

May it be Thy will to put an end to war and bloodshed on earth, and to spread a great and wonderful peace over the whole world,?

“so that nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).

Only all the inhabitants of the world will know and acknowledge the truthful truth,?

which is that we did not come to this world for strife and fighting And not for hatred and jealousy and teasing and bloodshed, God forbid.,

We just came into the world to know and acknowledge You, blessed God, forever.

Let it come to pass in our time, as it is written, "And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down and none shall make you afraid. I will drive the wild beasts from the land, and neither shall the sword go through your land” (Leviticus, 26:6).

And let us say Amen.

May we only know peace.

With care,

Ben and Rachel