Ukrainian Jewry Celebrates Sukkos Amid Miraculous Calm

Despite the ongoing war, thousands of Yidden across Ukraine celebrated Sukkos this year, shaking the lulav and spending time in the sukkah, thanks to the dedicated work of the Rebbe’s Shluchim — all amidst a miraculous calm.

For the third year in a row, Jews in Ukraine observed Sukkos amidst the war. However, this time, unlike the previous two years, it was relatively stable. Thanks to the efforts of the Rebbe’s shluchim, serving as rabbonim in their respective cities, tens of thousands of yidden were able to shake the lulav, sit in the beautiful sukkahs built by the shluchim, and participate in joyous Simchas Beis HaShoeva events organized each night across Ukrainian cities.

Chabad’s JRNU network in Ukraine provided essential humanitarian aid for the holidays, alongside various tools for holiday activities. Their massive relief efforts, including distributing 50,000 food packages, allowed tens of thousands of Jews to celebrate the holiday in the best possible way. In addition, dozens of communities received special shipments for Simchas Torah, including festive flags and treat bags for the community’s children.

In Zaporozhye, the Jewish community celebrated during chol hamoed with a siyum sefer torah at the central shul, led by the shliach Rabbi Nachum Ehrentreu. The sefer torah was dedicated to the merit, safety, and protection of the Jews in Zaporozhye and all of Ukraine. The festive event attracted hundreds of Jews from the city who came to share in the joy of the Torah.

After the grand procession, everyone gathered for a celebratory meal in the central sukkah. Additionally, every day during the chol hamoed, a communal Simchas Beit HaShoeva was held with a festive meal.

In Chernivtsi, the Jews of the city enjoyed a large and joyful Simchas Beit HaShoeva in the historic kloyz of Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzhin. “It felt like the Jews of the city were restoring the crown to its former glory with this moving celebration,” said the emissary and city rov, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Glitzenstein.

The Jews of Zhytomyr experienced a Sukkos that was one continuous miracle. “Until Sukkos, there were both heavy rains and numerous sirens due to the incursion of suicide drones into the city’s airspace,” said the city rov and shliach, Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm. “But miraculously, from the moment Sukkos began, there was neither rain nor sirens—an incredibly quiet and peaceful yom tov, may it continue with Hashem’s help.”

This calm drew the city’s yidden to the shul and to the many activities in town. “Everyone here is feeling a spiritual awakening,” Rabbi Wilhelm shared. “People, young and old, are coming to the shul, enjoying tefillah and the joyous activities we have. Our large sukkah is open around the clock, and the simchas yom tov is palpable. Though the community has shrunk, we truly feel that each Jew is a world unto themselves. Thank G-d, despite the circumstances, the community is alive, thriving, and vibrant.”

In parallel with the community in Zhytomyr, Rabbi Wilhelm continues to lead members of his community residing in Ashkelon. Recently, he and his team of shluchim inaugurated a new Chabad center for Russian speakers in the marina area of the city, led by Rabbi Daniel Stoller.

In Mykolaiv, a remarkable phenomenon occurred this Sukkos as crowds of yidden stood in long lines to perform the mitzvah of arba minim. “Despite the heavy shelling in the area, we organized a Simchas Beis HaShoeva celebration every night with a large turnout,” shared the city rov and shliach, Rabbi Shalom Gottlieb. “We also organized special activities for elderly Jews who rarely leave their homes. We invited them to our sukkahs and brought joy to them with various events. For those who couldn’t come out, we brought the holiday to them with a basket full of festive joy. Thank G-d we had a very active and joyful yom tov.”