Dispatch From Kiev II: Preparing for Passover Amid Tragedy
The following was written by Daniel, a 21-year-old staffer at the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish community in eastern Kiev, who has been devoting night and day to caring for the elderly and other vulnerable people in Kiev’s eastern flank, known as the “Left Bank.”
He is among the hundreds of Chabad staff in 32 cities who have been a lifeline for their communities, providing food, shelter and transportation to safety to those in danger due to the war in Ukraine.
Like his colleagues, even as death and destruction abound, he continues his work of feeding, encouraging and caring for those around him. Those wishing to support his work can donate directly at this link. What follows is a translation of Daniel’s most recent dispatch from the field (you can read his first dispatch here).
Hi!
It’s Daniel. You may have read my last message, in which I shared what it was like getting ready for Purim here in Kiev.
In a very strange way, Purim was beautiful. Since there was a curfew in place on Purim eve, I read the Megillah in the Chabad House sanctuary all alone and prepared a festive meal.
The following day, we had quite a crowd at the Megillah reading and even held a minyan for Minchah and Torah reading. Thank G‑d, everyone who came managed to do the four mitzvahs of Purim.
Much of the work here is the same as it has been for the past five weeks. I prepare bread and food for our brave soldiers, who must eat and drink like the rest of us.
We also help in organizing and delivering groceries, as well as fully-cooked meals and challah for Shabbat.
During the month of March, we delivered aid packages to 400 homes, feeding 1,000 people, most of them elderly.
But things are getting more and more difficult, and it is challenging to move around the city.
So many people are turning to me, asking for medicine, but I’m having a very hard time getting what they need.
Prices continue to skyrocket in gas stations and shops, and there is precious little to purchase in any case. Everywhere there are huge queues.
I can no longer get vegetables in the stores, as the shelves are completely empty. Instead, I source them in markets at very high prices. Even flour and yeast for bread have become difficult to find.
For security reasons, I will not make any mention of military operations that I have witnessed. The only thing I want to note is that peaceful civilians are dying—women, children and the elderly. Dying like the soldiers of Ukraine and Russia.
On social media—like in my real life until the invasion—I have friends both here and in Russia, and there is much debate about the situation. But while people are arguing, there are more and more deaths. At some point, there may be no one left to argue.
But I will leave you on a positive note.
The month of Nissan has arrived. And this means that spring is coming, and the world is ready to flourish.
Passover is coming soon, and even as the war continues, we need to get ready. We will do what we can. We will prepare the kitchen with the same effort and care that we do every year.
I hope that handmade round matzah will come to us here in Kiev. The matzah bakery in Dnipro is still functioning, but I have not gotten any information on how or if the matzahs will come to us here.
Nissan is “the month of our redemption.” Pray for peace and for miracles.
With G‑d’s help, I hope that everyone will be able to gather to celebrate this holiday in their own cities, together with our families, friends and rabbis, classmates and colleagues—our dear ones whom we miss so much!
