‘The Lubavitcher Rebbe Was Born in Your Country’

During an historic meeting yesterday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu noted the intertwined – and often tragic – history of the Jewish people and the land of Ukraine. Netanyahu mentioned the names of several Jewish leaders born in Ukraine, notably the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who – Netanyahu noted with pride – he shared a personal relationship with.

Among the Ukrainian president’s delegation was Chabad Shliach to Kiev Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch and his wife, who arrived in Israel together with the Ukrainian president and his delegation as part of a tour organized by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and learn about the challenges of special education children.

A moment of Kiddush Hashem occured during the trip when the wife of the Ukrainian President put out her hand to shake with Rabbi Markovitch. The Rabbi politely declined, explaining to her the great esteem and reverence placed by Judaism upon women.

Rebbetzin Markovitch, who founded the only school in Ukraine for children with special needs, shared with the audience her experience building and running the institution.

The entourage visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, as well as many significant historical sites in the Holy Land.