Having Never Known Quiet, 127 Children Return to School

The new school year opened this week at the Ohr Avner Chabad school in Odessa, with 127 children from the Mishpacha children’s home attending the school. Some of the children were born just before the war began and have never known a single day without air raid sirens, shelters, or the fear that has become part of daily life in the city.

Despite the circumstances, the atmosphere at the school was upbeat. The children gathered beneath a large sign reading, “We are all one family,” singing and dancing with their educators, whom many of the children affectionately call “abba” and “ima.”

Rebbetzin Chaya Wolff, who directs the children’s home together with her husband, Rabbi Avraham Wolff, Chief Rabbi of Odessa and South Ukraine, spoke about the significance of the day.

“These are children who grew up into a reality no child in the world should have to know,” she said. “This week, despite everything, they took a big step forward, toward their future, toward life.”

Rabbi Wolff added that each child beginning first grade represents a victory for the community.

“Every child who goes up to first grade today is a victory of life against anyone trying to extinguish our light and our hope,” he said. “We are here to make sure these children get what every child in the world deserves: education, security, and above all, childhood, joy, laughter, hope, and faith that tomorrow will be a better day.”