There is deep shock in the Jewish community of Odessa, Ukraine, following another attack on the city and a direct hit on the historic shul in the Proesepkaya area – which served as the only shul in the city during the communist era. “Nothing will break our spirit,” says shliach Rabbi Avraham Wolf.

By Anash.org reporter

There is deep shock in the Jewish community of Odessa, Ukraine, following another attack on the city and a direct hit on the historic shul in the Proesepkaya area – which served as the only shul in the city during the communist era.

“The shul that was hit is more than just a building; it is a symbol,” says shliach to Odessa, Rabbi Avraham Wolf. “For decades, when Odessa’s Jews were forced into hiding under the communist regime, this was the only Jewish home in the city. And today, it is again under attack. But nothing will break our spirit.”

Rabbi Wolf, who, together with his wife, has been serving the Jewish community for nearly forty years, added, “Even during more than three years of war, we have not abandoned our mission and will not. Not the 124 orphans in the ‘Ukraine Family’ orphanage, not the 45 Holocaust survivors in our nursing home, not the hundreds of refugee families from all over Ukraine, and not the thousands of Jews who depend on us – to live their daily and spiritual lives alike.”

He said that despite sirens, power outages, and repeated attacks, the community institutions continue to operate and support thousands: “This is our life’s mission, and we will remain here as long as needed. We will not give up on a single Jew or a single shul.”

In the coming days, a gathering will be held at the shul following the serious damage. “We are all in pain, but we continue onward in our mission for the Jews of Odessa and the Jewish people, on a path of light,” Rabbi Wolf concluded.

Photos: Dumskaya.net