Supporting the Pursuit of Jewish Life in and Beyond Ukraine

Since early 2022, we have all been witness to the atrocities happening in Eastern Europe as result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Tens of thousands of people have died in a brutal struggle that shows little sign of slowing down. While we cannot get involved on the battlefield, as the collective voice of Women of Reform Judaism– and the Reform Movement worldwide – we are able to make a difference in the lives of Ukrainian Jews experiencing constant violence and great upheaval in their lives during this difficult time. Through our pillars of sisterhood, spirituality, and social justice, WRJ has been able to mobilize our members and donors to bring together Progressive Ukrainian Jews and their North American Reform counterparts for connecting (sisterhood), praying (spirituality), and supporting liberal democracy (social justice).

Our collective impact started when, in early 2022, WRJ immediately sent $5,000 to the World Union for Progressive Judaism’s (WUPJ) relief efforts for Ukrainian Jews. Soon, there was an outcry from WRJ members, who wanted WRJ to establish a pipeline to which women could donate to support Ukrainian Jews. Guided by our social justice values – repairing our broken world, or tikkun olam – our members felt a calling to do what they could to support those suffering. Many gave quickly and generously, and WRJ was able to send an additional $15,000 in special grant money to those in need: $5,000 to Jewish Immigrant Aid Service (JIAS) for Canadian Resettlement Efforts; $5,000 to HIAS for Resettlement Efforts in Israel, or where needed most; and $5,000 to the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) for Reform Movement support for Ukrainian refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers. The following year, with Russia’s continued war in Ukraine, the number of new immigrants (olim) to Israel from these nations greatly increased. WRJ provided another $15,000 grant to IMPJ to help fund two congregations and community hubs for Ukrainian- and Russian-speaking immigrants (olim) and refugees.

We continued our commitment when WRJ’s Executive Committee approved a $10,000 grant to bring Ukrainian Jewish women to WUPJ’s Connections conference in Jerusalem in spring 2023. Without WRJ’s financial support, these women would not have been able to join for this meaningful and spiritual experience. Despite language barriers, the Ukrainian women easily felt the connection with their WRJ North American counterparts – sisterhood. You can read more about WRJ’s funding for Ukrainian Jewish disaster relief and the WUPJ conference cohort’s attendance in Executive Committee member Jane Taves’ blog from spring 2023 after she attended the WUPJ conference and chaired the WRJ Wilkenfeld International Women’s Leadership Seminar in Israel, where she met many of these incredible Ukrainian women.

In addition to these timely crises that WRJ members rallied to respond to, we also provide financial support – via our YES Fund Grants – to the Shlichei Tzibur program. WRJ, WUPJ, and The Center for Small Town Jewish Life - Colby College partnered on this initiative, which focuses on training prayer leaders in smaller communities all around the globe, including in Ukraine. This is a key piece of our spirituality pillar. You may have seen the name Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny in Jane’s blog linked above. Jane mentions that Rabbi Dukhovny led the Ukrainian delegation at the WUPJ conference. As they went up for an Aliyah on Shabbat morning, he spoke about bringing the group to Jerusalem and the critical role WRJ played in making that possible. Rabbi Dukhovny is the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine and Kyiv of the Progressive Jewish congregations. He shares his sentiments with us, below, in which he remarks upon not just WRJ’s most recent support for the Ukrainian delegation and relief efforts, but also WRJ’s support – in the 1990s – during his rabbinical education:

For five years of my rabbinic studies at Leo Baeck College in London, I received financial support and attention from WRJ. Now, 25 years later, I will say from the bottom of my heart, as I do so often: Thank you, Women of Reform Judaism! I am only one of many examples of that support.

This year, WRJ supported the Shlichei Tzibur program [to train prayer leaders] for Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, which is very important at this challenging time. In September, I traveled to Ukraine to lead the High Holiday services at eight Ukrainian Progressive congregations, including in Kyiv. As Jane Taves mentioned, lay leaders from some of these congregations attended the WUPJ Connections 2023 conference in Jerusalem. They were able to do so with WRJ’s financial support.

WRJ is contributing to the need for sisterhood by sponsoring opportunities to gather in community during these trying times in Ukraine and by providing long-term, ongoing leadership training for spirituality. WRJ grants scholarships for rabbinic and other students and funds the Shlichei Tzibur program, ensuring that Reform/Progressive communities are not left without prayer leaders.

WRJ’s three pillars are truly exemplified in the remarks from some of the Ukrainian women who joined us in Jerusalem earlier this year. Here are some of their experiences, in their own words:

Galina Polskaya, Chair of the "Chaver" Cherkassy Progressive congregations, Ukraine:

"It was my first trip to Israel. I always dreamed of visiting my historic homeland. Specially at this terrible time of the war in Ukraine. WRJ has made my dreams real! Thank you!"

Evgeniya Nozhenko, Chair of the "Beth Am" Poltava Progressive Jewish congregation, Ukraine:

"It is so difficult to feel and to face the horrible events of the war. My husband, who served in the Ukrainian army on the front line, is heavily wounded. At the same time, my daughter, Zhenya, is in the Israeli army. I have not seen her for a few years. I am so grateful for the support from WRJ and the honor to attend the WUPJ convention together with my daughter.”

Olga Kozyrska, Cantorial soloist, and Tatyana Plotnikova, Head of the volunteers' center at the Volyn' Progressive Jewish congregation, Lutsk, Ukraine:

"We both would like to say the same: Thank you, dear Women of Reform Judaism! Our dreams came true: together with other attendees of the WUPJ convention, we prayed at the egalitarian section of the Western Wall. We prayed for peace in Ukraine and in our families!"

In reflection of a WUPJ mission trip to Ukraine, WUPJ Board Member Andrew Keene shared the following:

“The WUPJ Mission Trip to Ukraine was incredibly enlightening – it showed us the impact of the funds raised to date by WUPJ communities and partners around the world, like WRJ. It also uncovered several areas where we need to increase our commitment and support as well as identify partners who can help us best deliver on our mission. The support of the World Union extends beyond the borders of Ukraine and with significant numbers of Ukrainians starting new lives in Israel, we will continue to support their absorption into Israeli society and offer meaningful and thoughtful ways to celebrate Jewish life and holidays in Israel. “

We must remain hopeful that better days are ahead in Ukraine. In the words of Rabbi Dukhovny, “I hope peace will come soon, and that justice, kindness, tolerance, equality, and inclusiveness will flourish all over the globe. That is what WRJ stands for!” And we know that WRJ women are not those who sit idly by and just hope for things to happen – we make them happen. We raise our voices in unison, we take concerted action, and we advocate for our shared values. And, perhaps most importantly of all, we donate our collective funds to help shape the world we want to see: a world of peace, love, and compassion, all around the globe. Ken y’hi ratzon, may it be God’s will.