Suburban Jews begin Passover with Ukraine in their hearts

After receiving a phone call from a fellow rabbi in Odessa, Ukraine, Rabbi Meir Moscowitz urged his Chabad of Northbrook congregation to come together this Passover in solidarity with Ukrainians by "strengthening our own seders."

"He called it a simple yet profound Passover gift," said Moscowitz of the tradition Jews across the suburbs and world will begin observing starting at sundown Friday.

That's in addition to the practical help his congregation has been providing to Ukrainian refugees in neighboring European countries. "We are providing seders there for those that are displaced," Moscowitz added.

Suburban Jewish community leaders are urging their congregations to keep Ukraine in their prayers during the eight-day holy period. They also are asking families to show support by setting extra places at the Passover Seder this year or by inviting strangers in a symbolic gesture for those thousands of Jewish Ukrainians who can't observe the holiday rituals in peace while war rages in their homeland.

Moscowitz, regional director of Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois, estimates there are about 350,000 Jewish people living in Ukraine, but thousands are displaced internally having fled to safer locations while thousands more have taken refuge in neighboring countries.

Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois has established a Ukraine Jewish Relief Fund at chabadillinois.com/ukraine.

"While we as a community joyfully join together to celebrate the Passover Seder, especially after two years of COVID, we should keep in mind the needs of those suffering across the globe," Moscowitz said.

Passover commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Its rituals include retelling the story of the Exodus and eating Seder meals with wine, matzah (unleavened bread) and maror (bitter herbs).

The 50 Hasidic Lubavitch Chabad centers throughout the Chicago area and suburbs will be using shmura (guarded) matzah handmade in Ukraine during the first two days of Passover this year. That includes centers in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Elgin, Glenview, Gurnee and Vernon Hills, Moscowitz said.

"One of the largest matzah bakeries is in Ukraine," Moscowitz said. "Some of the matzah that we are using is from there that we were able to get out before the war. It is the primary part of the Seder. Many of the Chabad centers have community seders, and we are also providing (the matzah) for the people that have their own family seders."

In Jewish tradition, the matzah is called "the bread of faith" and "bread of healing."

"At this time, hope and healing are desperately needed," Moscowitz said.

This year, the tradition of retelling the story of the Exodus will be much more poignant in the current context, said Rabbi Karyn Kedar of Congregation BJBE of Deerfield.

"We were slaves and then we were freed," Kedar said. "The Ukrainians, they are living the Passover Seder. They are being oppressed with hope for redemption and all peoples around the world are reacting to that oppression with compassion and generosity. The obligation to be compassionate is ... to welcome the stranger in your midst."

A part of the Seder tradition is to open the door for the Hebrew prophet Elijah, who is a symbol of redemption.

"Jews all over the world will physically open their doors and say out loud 'let all of those who are hungry come and eat,'" Kedar said. "It wouldn't surprise me if many Jews had a seat empty at the (Seder) table or a cup for the Ukrainian that couldn't come."

Kedar's congregation has been collecting essential supplies for Ukrainians, including canned goods, medicines, and hygiene products that are being distributed there through the JDC, a global Jewish humanitarian organization.

The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago also has been working to support roughly 200,000 Ukrainian Jews since before the war began, and particularly during Passover.

"We are organizing seders for refugees in hotel rooms across Europe," said President Lonnie Nasatir. "We are sending Haggadahs (book about Passover Seder rituals). And then we are making sure to also deliver kosher food to those that keep kosher. People are being mobilized. They provide a safe and comfortable Seder meal for those that are wanting to celebrate in neighboring countries in Eastern Europe."

While thousands of Jews have fled Ukraine, there are 40,000 of "the most vulnerable Ukrainian Jews" still there," Nasatir said.

"And we are not forgetting about them," said Nasatir adding, many of those who remain in Ukraine are homebound elderly. "We are so focused right now on just survival and getting them what they need."

The group has been providing aid and other essential services through partner humanitarian agencies on the ground in Ukraine.

"We have raised close to $7 million just in Chicago for Ukraine relief," Nasatir said.

The money goes to help with evacuation from Ukraine and provide temporary housing in neighboring countries.

"There have been 10,000 people who have been flown outside of Ukraine to Israel in the past few weeks to start a new life," Nasatir said. "Israel is providing safe harbor for people who are fleeing."

More than 20,000 Ukrainians, including non-Jews, have arrived in Israel so far, he added.

Nasatir said the prevailing theme for Passover, "this year we are slaves and next year we will be free," might resonate with all Ukrainians.

"These words have never been more true in our lifetime than it is right now," he added.