Hard Cheeses, Mozzarella, and Ice Cream: A White Holiday Celebration for Ukraine’s Jews

Against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in Ukraine, the country’s Jewish communities are preparing for a joyful Shavuot holiday with an array of strictly kosher dairy products—produced locally at specially supervised facilities. From family-sized ice creams to sour cream, from flavored yogurts to rich cream cheese, these items have recently been delivered to Jewish communities across the country. Thousands of ice creams will also be distributed to children during the holiday.

“Shavuot Operation” Under Fire: Using refrigerated trucks from FJC and Chabad’s JRNU network in Ukraine, a wide selection of kosher dairy products was delivered in recent days to Jewish communities throughout the country. These products were specifically manufactured for Shavuot, which begins early next week.

This large-scale logistical operation includes transportation, refrigeration, and distribution—even to remote and isolated communities. Behind every truckload lies hard work, complex logistics under emergency conditions, and a determined effort to maintain Jewish life during challenging times.

This year’s dairy lineup is especially rich and comforting amid the country’s hardships: juicy vanilla and strawberry ice creams, sweet apricot and strawberry yogurts, rich hard cheeses, fresh mozzarella, and premium cream cheese. Among them are individual ice creams that will be distributed to children during Shavuot and at the FJC ‘Gan Israel’ summer camps launching soon.

All dairy products were supervised by the Ukraine Kashrut Committee (UK) under the leadership of Rabbi Pinchas Vishedski, a senior rabbi in Kyiv.

Rabbi Yehoshua Vishedski, head of the “Ukr-Kosher” supervision network in Ukraine for many years, said, “Over the years, we’ve faced many challenges producing high standard kosher dairy.” He noted that the crisis led to a wave of emigration, including many Jews, which initially halted production. It only resumed last year, and this year, in honor of Shavuot, more dairy products were added to the kosher production lines.

In parallel with the dairy initiative, JRNU has launched a digital campaign together with community rabbis and Chabad emissaries to encourage families to bring their children to hear the Ten Commandments. “We’re waiting for you at the synagogue!” reads the colorful campaign.

Children who attend will receive a delicious ice cream and a beautifully designed booklet, part of the educational efforts spearheaded by rabbis across the country.