After terrible attack on Poltava that killed 50 civilians, two mohalim traveled over 24 hours to perform brisim on one baby and three adults, who refused to be hindered by the hostile events, and proceeded with the courageous act of displaying their Yiddishkeit proudly.
Two ballistic missiles struck a hospital and military academy in Poltava, Ukraine this past Tuesday causing injuries and killing over 50 people. Despite the tragedy and fear it inspired, two mohalim came to Chabad of Poltava where shliach Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Segal leads, and performed brissim on three adults and one newborn baby.
The missle attack hit shortly after 9:00 am, while a minyan was at Chabad finishing up their morning tefilos.
“We were in the shul in the middle of singing Aleinu at the conclusion of shacharis when it happened,” Rabbi Segal told Chabad.org. “The dead, the wounded, it’s hard to describe how gruesome it was. It has been generally very quiet here in Poltava- this was, in many ways, like a city of refuge,” he said. “This attack has shaken that feeling.”
One missile landed a quarter of a mile from the Or Avner Jewish preschool. “All of the children were outside in the courtyard just a few minutes earlier, but they were inside when the missiles hit,” a tired-sounding Segal said. “Some of them thankfully did not even realize that something had occurred.”
Despite the horrifying attack, the shliach did not slow down or change any of the plans for the Jewish community. They had a quadruple bris planned for a baby and three adults, and the mohalim Rabbi Yoel Gelber and Rabbi Mendel Cohen, traveled over 24 hours by air and land to come perform this great mitzva.
“Especially during this difficult time, Jews are drawing closer and feeling a stronger connection than ever,” shared the shliach.
Wow! Yasher Choach! משיח כאו בחסד וברחמים!