From tubs of ice cream and sour cream to flavored yogurts, cream cheese, and Cholov Yisroel treats for children, shluchim prepare Ukraine communities for Shavuos with a wide range of dairy products, alongside a creative campaign encouraging families to bring their children to hear the Aseres HaDibros.
Against the backdrop of massive attacks and a tense atmosphere in Ukraine, the country’s Jewish communities are preparing to welcome the Yom Tov of Shavuos with a festive array of mehadrin dairy products, fresh off the production lines of specially certified local factories. From family-size tubs of ice cream to sour cream, from flavored yogurts to rich cream cheese—every product has been distributed in recent days to Jewish communities across the country. Thousands of ice creams are set to be handed out during Yom Tov to the children of these communities.
“Operation Shavuos” Under Fire: In recent days, a wide range of Cholov Yisroel dairy products from Eretz Yisroel have been transported by refrigerated trucks operated by the Chabad network in Ukraine, JRNU. The products were produced especially for Shavuos, which falls at the beginning of next week.
This expansive logistical effort includes transporting, cooling, and distributing ice cream and other dairy products to many communities, including those in remote or war-affected areas. Behind every refrigerated truck and every shipment lies a tremendous effort—navigating complex wartime logistics to uphold a Jewish way of life even under the most trying circumstances.
This year’s dairy selection is both plentiful and indulgent, despite the harsh realities of war. There are creamy vanilla and juicy strawberry ice creams, sweet apricot and strawberry yogurts, rich hard cheeses, fresh mozzarella, and gourmet cream cheese. Among the shipments are individual ice creams to be handed out to children in Jewish communities throughout Shavuos, as well as in the upcoming summer camps.
All dairy products were produced under the meticulous supervision of the Ukraine Kosher Committee (UK), headed by Rabbi Pinchas Vishetsky, one of the rabbis of Kyiv.
Rabbi Yehoshua Vishetsky has been directing Ukraine’s ukrkosher supervision network for many years. “Over the years, we’ve faced many challenges when it comes to producing Cholov Yisroel,” he shared.
The brutal war in Ukraine has led to a mass exodus of civilians, including many Jews. In the early stages of the conflict, dairy production came to a complete halt, only resuming last year. This year, in honor of Shavuos, an even wider variety of dairy products was added to the mehadrin production line.
In addition to the dairy distribution, JRNU—together with the shluchim—launched a digital campaign encouraging Jewish families to bring their children to hear the Aseres HaDibros. “We’re waiting for you at shul!” reads the colorful campaign poster.
Children who attend will receive a special treat of delicious ice cream along with a beautifully designed booklet, produced as part of the shluchim’s educational outreach, filled with pure holiness and geared for young Jewish hearts across Ukraine.
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