During his visit to Kyiv, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with shluchim and community leaders, including Rabbi Meir Stambler and Rabbi Raphael Rutman, praising their leadership of hundreds of Jewish institutions and their support for Ukraine’s Jews during wartime.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, currently on a diplomatic visit to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, met with leaders of the local Jewish community. He stated: “On every diplomatic trip, I make it a point to meet with the Jewish community. This is of great importance. We are one people. We must remain united. The Jewish community in Ukraine is strong and diverse. The purpose of my visit to Kyiv is to strengthen the relationship between Israel and Ukraine, but it is also important to reinforce the bond and connection between us.”

The meeting with shluchim and representatives of various Jewish communities in Ukraine was arranged by Israel’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, and was attended by several prominent figures, including Rabbi Meir Stambler, head shliach and chairman of the Jewish communities in Ukraine, his deputy Rabbi Raphael Rutman, Chief Rabbi Moshe Azman, Rabbi Yaakov Jean of Uman, and others.

Rabbi Stambler welcomed the Minister on behalf of Ukrainian Jewry and expressed hope that the visit would benefit both the Jews of Ukraine and the country as a whole. He remarked, “The fact that Israel has destroyed significant Iranian capabilities and resources is a great indirect help to Ukraine. It reduces the military pressure on us. We support you wholeheartedly and expect you to continue doing what needs to be done, for the sake of the Jewish people in Eretz Yisroel, for Jews in the Diaspora, and for Ukraine as well.” He also noted that there are currently 200 Chabad families active throughout Ukraine, and emphasized that the Jewish community expects clearer and more tangible support from Israel, expressed through real action on the ground. “We are hopeful that peace will come both to Israel and to Ukraine, and that we will merit the imminent geula.”

The Minister expressed admiration for the strength of the community and the vast activities of the shluchim and the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, led by Rabbis Stambler and Rutman, which serves the hundreds of thousands of Jews living in Ukraine. He emphasized that Israel stands with Ukraine on many fronts. He also noted that he had chosen Rabbi Stambler to represent Ukrainian Jewry in the “G50” – a special forum he established comprising 50 prominent Jewish leaders from around the world to partner with the Foreign Ministry in shaping the connection with Jews in the Diaspora. The Minister also thanked Ambassador Brodsky for his dedicated work, as well as Yevhen Korniychuk, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Israel.

Rabbi Azman expressed his gratitude to Minister Sa’ar for visiting the country and noted that the Minister’s grandmother was born in Ukraine, which, he said, deepens his connection to the country.

Rabbi Jean shared that preparations are already underway for the arrival of tens of thousands of Jews in Uman for the upcoming Rosh HaShanah. He requested continued cooperation from Israel to help ensure that the crowds can arrive peacefully. The Minister responded that he would raise the issue in his meetings with Ukrainian government officials and mentioned that his staff would soon be traveling to Moldova to discuss the matter with the Moldovan authorities as well.

At the request of the Ukrainians, the Foreign Minister also participated in a memorial prayer ceremony at Babi Yar, where Jews of Kyiv were murdered by the German Nazis and their collaborators, may their names be blotted out. Rabbi Raphael recited Kel Malei Rachamim. As part of his itinerary, Minister Sa’ar is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Photo: FJCU / Office of the Foreign Minister

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