During Ukraine’s “National Prayer Breakfast,” which brings together senior government officials, religious leaders, and families of fallen soldiers, President Volodymyr Zelensky was presented with the newly translated siddur in Ukrainian. In recent weeks, copies had been distributed to Jewish children across the country.

By Anash.org reporter

Rabbi Yaakov Sinyakov, the military rabbi for the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), presented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with the very first siddur ever translated into Ukrainian. 

The Siddur was presented in honor of the start of the school year in Ukraine. In recent weeks, thousands of copies had already been distributed to Jewish children across the country, enabling many of them to daven in their native language.

The siddur was presented to the president during Ukraine’s “National Prayer Breakfast,” held once every few months, which brings together senior government officials, religious leaders, military rabbis, families of fallen soldiers, aid organizations, and youth leaders. 

Copies were also presented to Ukrainian Defense Minister Denis Shmyhal, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, and U.S. Special Envoy for the Russia-Ukraine War, Lieutenant General Keith Kloos. 

Additionally, more than 5,000 copies have already been distributed to Jewish communities across Ukraine ahead of the month of Elul, and a full edition – including Mincha and Maariv prayers – is expected to be released soon.

“We are proud to present thousands of copies of the Tehilas Hashem siddur to President Zelensky, to students starting the school year in Jewish schools, and to Jewish communities across Ukraine,” said Rabbi Sinyakov. “We are confident that the tefillos of these children will not go unanswered, and through them, may we merit the imminent geulah.”

Three years ago, on his 45th birthday, President Zelensky received the first Ukrainian translation of Tehillim. As reported by anash.org, a few days later, he quoted from Chapter 4 in one of his speeches: “But You, Hashem, are a shield for me, my glory, and You lift my head. I cry to Hashem with my voice, and He answers me; I will not fear tens of thousands of people who surround me.”

The translation of the siddur, Tehillim, Chumash, and other Jewish books – including children’s reading books – is part of a unique publishing and translation initiative by the FJCU, which has systematically worked to make foundational Jewish texts accessible in the local language in recent years. This effort was initiated at the request of President Zelensky and supervised by Rabbi Meir Stambler, head of the Federation.

The siddur, which includes the tefillos along with explanations and commentary, was printed at Michael Shprin’s printing house in Kharkiv. The printing house suffered direct damage from a Russian missile over two years ago.