Despite the difficult days, the constant sirens, and the missiles streaking across the skies of Odessa, the Chabad community led by Shliach Rabbi Avraham Wolf continues to illuminate the ancient Jewish city with the light of Torah and Chassidus. A full day, from start to finish, was dedicated to farbrengens that became a living demonstration of the chassidisher spirit that refuses to break even under wartime conditions.

The day opened with a festive dinner for the children of the Family Ukraine orphanage. Around beautifully set tables, the children sang chassidishe niggunim with warmth and feeling, and took part in a prize-winning quiz on Chassidus. Later, the bochurim held their own uplifting farbrengen.

At sunrise, the younger boys in the small cheder gathered to hear about the unique meaning of the day. From there the farbrengens spread to the Jewish school, and later to the Jewish University of Odessa. In every setting, at every age, the same spirit was felt: outside the situation is harsh, but inside the heart beats with the joy of a mitzvah, with the learning of Chassidus, and with a strengthened sense of connection to the Rebbe.

The highlight of the day was the main community farbrengen, led by Rabbi Wolf, which lasted for many hours. Participants heard about practical ways to strengthen their hiskashrus to the Rebbe, about the Jewish pride needed in such challenging times, and about the growing chassidishe activities in the city. Outside the shul walls lay the darkness of war, but the light shining from within was twice as strong.

“This is what living Chassidus looks like,” participants remarked. “At every age, in every place, even when missiles fall around us – that inner fire stays burning. The mission continues. The unity continues.”

In Odessa, a city struck again and again by attacks, a farbrengen is more than a spiritual gathering. It is a Jewish declaration of life. Children, teens, and adults stand together, proudly lifting the banner of Chassidus.

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