The President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), Rabbi Mayer Tzvi Stambler, has written a letter to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán thanking Hungary for taking in Jewish refugees from Ukraine and expressing his hope that peace will soon be established in Ukraine.
In Europe, terrifying and bloody war is raging and millions of people are forced to leave their homes in the hope that they will find a safer place and future. This is why we consider important that from the first moment of the crisis, Hungary has set an example in helping Ukrainians in need, including the member of the Jewish community, emphasized the rabbi.
In a time of instability and uncertainty, we need friends and mutual support more than anything else, he continued. Unfortunately, in recent times we see the Bible’s ominous prophecy come true:
‘In the morning you will say: If only it were evening! and in the evening: If only it were morning!’ [-because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see. (Deuteronomy 28:67) –Ed.]
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU) operates as a comprehensive charity that covers the whole country with 162 communities, 36 synagogues, 29 Jewish schools, 33 kindergartens and 4 yeshivas.
The outbreak of the war suddenly ended this extraordinary and flourishing prosperity and the developments we coordinate – laid out his sorrow rabbi Mayer Tzvi Stambler. He also highlighted that Hungary’s humanitarian activities are especially precious to them in these turbulent times.
The Hungarian government provided Jews fleeing Ukraine a large area on which they could set up a temporary kosher refugee camp
He recalled that the Hungarian government provided Jews fleeing Ukraine a large area on which they could set up a temporary kosher refugee camp. An 18-hectare resort village in Balatonöszöd [near Lake Balaton] shelters almost 500 refugees with special care to take specific religious requirements into account. They get kosher meals; they can conduct children’s education, and care for women and the elderly who had to leave their male relatives at home. Those Jews who were forced to leave the war-battered Ukraine could also get assistance to integrate into Israeli or local Jewish communities.
Since the outbreak of the war, more than 9 million Ukrainian has fled the war-torn country, and around 950,000 refugees have crossed Hungary’s border. Since day one when the first displaced Ukrainians arrived in Hungary, the country has stood as one to give aid and assistance to those who are in need. Beside the government’s security and social measures including setting up a humanitarian transit centre, launching a fundraising programme, and sending out aid cargos to Ukraine within the framework of Bridge for Transcarpathia, Hungarian NGOs, charities and individuals have also provided selfless assistance to the refugees.
