TL;DR: Alex Liberman shares how the Jewish community of Chernivtsi city, a partner of Global Jewry, is working to meet the needs of their community in the face of upcoming challenges. They invite Jewish communities around the world to learn more about Chernivtsi city and support.

Dear friends! We would like to tell you about the Jewish community of Chernivtsi city.

The city of Chernivtsi is located in Western Ukraine and serves as the administrative center of the Chernivtsi region—Ukraine’s smallest region. Our region borders Romania and Moldova, and for 143 consecutive years, it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In those days, Chernivtsi was known as “Little Vienna” or “Jerusalem on the Prut.”

This is hardly surprising, given that at various points in history, Jews made up between 20% and 60% of our city’s population, and there were approximately 70 synagogues in operation. Unfortunately, Jews now account for no more than 1% of the population in Chernivtsi, and the majority are elderly, low-income individuals living alone—most are well over the age of 60, and some were born before World War II, meaning they have firsthand knowledge of pogroms, the Holocaust, and Stalinist repressions. Regrettably, these individuals are currently forced to live on a monthly pension of just $50 to $70, using these meager funds to cover food, medication, and utility bills. Their situation has been further exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for four and a half years; during this time, prices for everything have skyrocketed, and the city has seen an influx of refugees.

Therefore, the primary mission of our Jewish community today is to ensure a decent standard of living for those we support. Several times a week, our volunteers organize the preparation, distribution, and home delivery of free hot meals. Every three months—or more frequently—we deliver large packages containing food and hygiene supplies; these include various grains, flour, pasta, and canned meat, fish, and vegetables, as well as personal care products and other essentials. We also regularly distribute medications—such as antivirals, fever reducers, blood pressure medication, and others—particularly during the colder months.

As the Torah states, “Man does not live by bread alone.” Therefore, we also support Jewish culture and social interaction among Community members. One of our key social initiatives is the “Warm House” program; each week, elderly people living alone gather—either at our office or in a cozy café—to talk, share news and personal experiences, and socialize in a welcoming, home-like atmosphere over tea and sweets. Once a year or more often, depending on resources, the Community comes together like one big family to celebrate major Jewish holidays.

Unfortunately, due to the full-scale war in Ukraine, the challenges involved in helping people continue to mount. We are facing a severe shortage of funds for free hot meals, while the number of those in need—including refugees—keeps rising. With winter approaching—already dubbed a “black winter” due to anticipated missile and drone strikes on power plants and frequent blackouts—there is an urgent need for firewood and heating generators, as well as EcoFlow charging stations and power banks to keep communication devices running, at least for emergencies. And, of course, warm clothing is in high demand. Naturally, we always provide our donors with a detailed account of how any
assistance received is used.

At this point, we no longer have the funds to meet even a part of these needs for members of our community. However, given that the Chernivtsi region is one of the safest in Ukraine, we receive around a hundred requests each month from residents of frontline areas asking for help to get through the coming winter.

They are in dire need of assistance with relocation, housing, food supplies, and financial support. As winter approaches—and with the risk that food warehouses could be destroyed—the situation is becoming increasingly critical; certain food items have already disappeared from store shelves.

We hope that Jewish communities will not remain indifferent to the plight of elderly Jews living alone in a country currently fighting for the freedom and security of the entire West, and that they will find ways to support the Jewish community of Chernivtsi city during these hard times.

We invite you to visit our beautiful city, explore its Jewish history, and meet its welcoming residents, who will be immensely grateful for your support.

Alex Liberman

Jewish Community of Chernivtsi City

Click Here to Follow the Jewish Community of Chernivtsi City on Facebook

Click Here to Read More on the Jewish Community of Chernivtsi City