As part of his visit to Israel, and for the first time since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, Mr. Taras Kachka, arrived this evening (Thursday) together with the chief rabbi of Ukraine, Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman, and the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel, Mr. Yevgen Korniychuk, for a visit and prayer at the Western Wall.

He was greeted by the rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, who explained to him the sanctity of the site and its meaning for the Jewish people throughout the generations who come to the Wall to cling to its ancient stones in times of pain and distress, as well as in times of joy and renewal.

During the visit, the rabbi of the Western Wall and the deputy prime minister recited a joint prayer for the welfare of the Ukrainian people and for the end of the war in his country. The two prayed for the safety of the residents and for the restoration of stability and peace in the region.

The deputy prime minister thanked the people of Israel for their ongoing support of Ukraine and emphasized that the Western Wall – a place of hope throughout the generations – gives profound meaning to this prayer, especially at this time.

At the conclusion of the visit, the deputy prime minister wrote a personal note, which he placed between the stones of the Wall, and signed the guest book: “With faith in peace and prosperity for the people of Israel. Peace to both our nations: the Ukrainian and the Israeli.”

Photo credit: The Western Wall Heritage Foundation