Despite the ongoing war and the state of emergency in the city, Ukraine's Jewish community marked Passover this year with a series of events and Seders across the country.
“This year, more than ever, we understood how important it is to reach every Jew, no matter where they are,” said Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Chabad emissary, told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
“Passover is a holiday of freedom, but also of unity and responsibility for every Jew. In the complex reality we are living in, seeing the community come together, people arriving, singing together, and strengthening one another gives us the strength to continue, despite the difficult circumstances.”
Central Seders were held at the Jewish Community Center Beit Menachem and at the Or Avner Perlina school in Kyiv. At the same time, a special Seder was held for Jewish detainees at the Lukyanivka detention facility. Matzah and holiday kits were also distributed to Jewish prisoners in correctional facilities throughout Ukraine, and to soldiers as well.
Markovitch told the Post that in a place such as a prison where a person feels most disconnected "that is where you need to bring light."
Markovitch began his role as the rabbi of the state prisons a few months ago and started sending “Shabbat Shalom” packages to every Jewish prisoner. The packages include challah, Shabbat candles, grape juice, food, sweets, and a prayer book.
After some time, Markovitch said he received a letter from a Jewish prisoner serving a life sentence, who had been in prison for many years.
In the letter, he wrote that the packages brought back his taste for life, after he had already lost its meaning. He shared that he reads and prays daily from the prayer book they sent him.
"This shows how much power there is in small acts, and how important it is not to forget any Jew," Markovitch told the Post.
He recalled one particularly moving moment from this year's Seder - the birthday of Dmitry (Mendel), a 92-year-old Jew whose birthday fell on the night of the Seder.
"He came from far away to take part in the Chabad House events, and we all paused for a moment, sang “Happy Birthday” to him, and wished him well. It was an especially powerful moment knowing that his son is serving in the Ukrainian army and is stationed at the border."
Senior officials from the Office of the President of Ukraine also attended the holiday events organized by the JCC Beit Menachem, including Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov and his deputy Iryna Mudra, who is also a member of the Jewish community.
President Volodymyr Zelensky also received matzah from the Chief Rabbi ahead of the holiday and conveyed a special message of greeting to the community through him. In his Passover message, Zelensky wished light to all those who celebrate the holiday during times of war.
"It is time to restore security," the President said. "It is time for all leaders to act together to create greater opportunities for a normal life. It is time for everyone with goodwill in their hearts to unite so that everyone has reliable protection and a good life."
Markovitch explained that organizing the Passover events for the community was complex. There is a nightly curfew in the city, and people rush to return home before it begins. At the same time, the time for eating matzah was around 20:25, creating a significant logistical challenge for scheduling. Additionally, he told the Post that food prices have risen significantly, making preparation even more difficult.
Most importantly, every gathering place must have an accessible shelter for all participants, because sirens and the sounds of explosions constantly accompany us.
Nevertheless, he said he is seeing "a very significant strengthening of Jewish identity" and a "deep, genuine, internal search that leads to strengthening and renewed connection to Judaism and the community."
Western Ukraine, Odesa, and the frontlines
Across the country, and amid drone attacks in Zhytomyr, missiles in Odesa, and a nighttime curfew in Chernivtsi, tens of thousands of Western Ukraine’s Jews also celebrated Passover.
The Chief Rabbi of Zhytomyr and Western Ukraine, Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm, reported that about 180 Jews gathered for the central Seder in a beautifully arranged hall.
In Odesa, under the leadership of the city’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Avraham Wolff, about 1,000 Jews gathered for large public Seders despite the ongoing sirens and missiles. Children from the local orphanage “Mishpacha Ukraine,” descended into shelters under missile threat, where they continued reading the Haggadah and singing holiday songs until completing the Seder late into the night.
In the frontline cities of Zaporizhzhia and Poltava, several missile and artillery impacts were recorded very close to the synagogues during the holiday.
This, according to Chabad, did not deter participants, and there was a large turnout on the day.
“This year as well,” one Chabad emissary said, “despite the situation, no one was left behind: just as the Rebbe instructed us.”