Now is the time to rededicate ourselves to the cause of humanity by helping Ukrainians during
this harsh winter. The Russians are brutal, targeting civilians to bring Ukraine to it’s knees.
Please help by donating what you can to the relief efforts.
Donate here and receive a Kippah to proudly display, like the Menorah in the window, that you #StandWithUkraine. www.RabbiDavidLevin.com/Kippah.
Chag Urim Sameach!
Don’t buy this kippah
In fact, it is not for sale. We are not selling the Sunflower Ukrainian Kippah. Instead, we ask for your contributions to support the overwhelming needs of the Ukrainian and Polish people dealing with the horrible war that rages in Ukraine.
The JCC of Krakow is on the front lines of helping people through this tragedy.
With your donation, we are sending you this kippah as a way of saying thank you for your help and as a way for you to stand publicly, proudly, and Jewishly in support of this humanitarian cause.
Please join us.
#standwithUkraine
I am deeply grateful to bear witness to the important stories coming from my mission to the JCC of Krakow in support of Poland and Ukraine and to bear witness.
Thank you to Rabbi Jeremy Weisblatt of Temple Ohav Shalom in Allison Park outside Pittsburgh and to Rabbi David Ackerman of Beth Am Israel of Penn Valley, PA outside Philadelphia for graciously opening your shuls to me.
Help us help them. Please invite me to share this very Jewish and very human story with your community.
Ha Lachma Anya
The bread of the Poor
Buses unloaded their precious cargo at the intake center, women and children from Lviv and Kyiv. Bewildered, they started the process of finding refuge after escaping terror but leaving husbands and fathers behind to fight for Ukraine. We reached across the language barrier and handed the children lollipops. Like our children, they delighted in this unexpected treat. The smiles and laughter strengthened moms, and together they tentatively walked forward toward the refugee center (I cannot show faces to protect the identities of families left behind).
This is the poor person’s bread- a bread of hope and compassion. HaLachma Anya is the simple but profound gesture of giving something to those who have less, even when we do not have much to share. Together, we are one step closer to redemption.
My nametag in English, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian.
Preparing for a very special visit.
Please support the people in need by giving to these or other humanitarian aid groups.
The JCC in Krakow will be our base of operations when we arrive.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/06/world/ukraine-russia-war-news/jewish-center-krakow
Friends,
As many of you know, I am heading to Poland as part of a humanitarian mission with 25 other rabbis. The Hineini mission, as it is being called, is coordinated by Rabbi Jonathan Orenstein, executive director of the Jewish Community Center in Krakow. We will use the JCC in Krakow as our hub and go to the border helping in whichever ways we can.
My primary purpose is to support Ukrainian refugees and bear witness, listening to their stories and learning from them. I will bring these stories back home so we will all remain aware and committed to the ongoing needed support.
We continue to raise funds and supplies. We are approaching 2 tons of aid in our duffel bags and have $500k in financial donations so far.
The Mishkan was built with the donations of those who desired to give. If you are moved to help the refugees, donate to the JCC in Krakow, https://www.friendsofjcckrakow.org/, and let me know so we can add your contributions to the tally. Donations sent to me at Jewish Relationships Initiative will be forwarded to the JCC Krakow or the JDC.
L’Shalom,
Rabbi David Levin
Friends of JCC Krakow is a 501c3.
