Crisis in Ukraine Donations

- Donations to Jewish Federation of Ukraine Crisis Fund
With the Russian invasion now underway and multiple locations under fire, support for the Jewish community is needed urgently. Jewish Federations have allocated some $40 million of the $43.4 million we have raised to 35 NGOs operating on the ground in Ukraine and neighboring countries to support refugees and Jewish communities in their time of need. We are continuing to allocate funds based on the changing needs in the field. These allocations go to the following organizations:

The Jewish Agency for Israel: The Jewish Agency is providing Ukrainian Jews with food, supplies, transport and shelter to facilitate their safe passage by land out of Ukraine. It is enabling the rapid approval of Aliyah for those who choose to move to Israel and provides temporary housing until they receive approvals, at which point they are flown to Israel. The Jewish Agency hotline has received more than 40,000 calls from Jews in the region and their family in Israel. The Jewish Agency is also helping increase security for dozens of local Jewish organizations in Ukraine.

The American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC): JDC’s Hesed system continues to support 21,000 elderly Jews and other members of the community by providing food, medicines, social support. JDC is arranging transport to safe locations, is deployed to welcome Jewish refugees at numerous border crossings and is housing and providing material and social support for thousands of displaced Jews within Ukraine and the neighboring countries. JDC is also supporting local Jewish organizations in Ukraine and ensuring that they can continue to serve the Jewish community in their hour of need. In addition, JDC is providing technical support to the Ukrainian health system.

World ORT: World ORT is supporting the staff, students and families of its six Ukrainian schools who have remained in Ukraine, providing cash, food and medicines for those sheltering in place. ORT is also assisting refugees through ORT schools in surrounding countries.

The Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC): ITC is using its extensive global experience to train Jewish and non-Jewish personnel in Ukraine and the surrounding countries on how to assist those affected by the conflict, many of whom are suffering from severe psychological trauma. ITC is also providing direct care to Ukrainian olim and the families of Ukrainians living in Israel.

Chabad: Through the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS, the extensive Chabad network is providing food, medicines and safe shelter to Ukrainian Jews who are sheltering in place. Chabad is also facilitating the safe passage of those who choose to leave their homes and arranging housing for them upon arrival in the neighboring countries.

Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO): HMO is providing medical equipment to the Ukraine health system. It has also provided training and medical delegations to the Medical University of Lublin in dealing with mass casualties and trauma.

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS): HIAS is working through its partner organization in Ukraine, Right to Protect with a focus on serving the most vulnerable Ukrainian refugees, especially women, girls, the elderly and families. It is providing training and technical support; and cash assistance for accommodation, transportation and the purchase of basic needs.

Hillel International: Hillel International is hosting and providing support to Ukrainian Hillel students and other Jewish refugees in the Hillel Centers in the surrounding countries.

United Hatzalah: United Hatzalah is providing emergency medical services and other relief to refugees as they cross out of Ukraine and into Moldova

Nefesh B’Nefesh: In partnership with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Nefesh B’Nefesh is providing tailored support to Ukrainian lone soldiers serving in the IDF and [GR3] supporting the families of Ukrainian lone soldiers who make Aliyah.

Shma Yisrael: Arranging transportation and safe housing away from the conflict for students of the three Ukrainian schools in the Shma Yisrael school system.

JFNA Professional Volunteer Initiative: JFNA is identifying and recruiting skilled Russian-Speaking Jewish professionals who are willing to volunteer in the countries neighboring Ukraine to assist the refugee assistance work of our partners.

Project Kesher is leveraging its decades of work in Ukraine to facilitate the evacuation of Ukrainian women and children and to help them to receive support in host communities. Project Kesher alumni are providing country appropriate advice and micro-grants to those who are most vulnerable.

JCC Krakow is helping thousands of Ukrainian refugees.  The JCC is housing refugees; providing day care; collecting and distributing humanitarian supplies and medicines in Poland and Ukraine; helping evacuate refugees and arranging transport onwards; and facilitating psychological support.

The Jewish Community Vienna has set up an initial refugee reception center to provide temporary housing and other services. It is also providing longer term housing, food and financial assistance and medical and psychological care for Jewish refugees.

The Emergency Volunteer Project will be using its fleet of mobile kitchens to deliver hot meals to Ukrainian refugees who are being hosted by Israeli families. Meals are prepared and delivered by Israeli and American volunteers.

- Donations to World Central Kitchen
WCK is serving millions of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home as well as people remaining in the country.

On February 24, Russia launched a large-scale military operation on neighboring Ukraine, invading the country on several fronts. Since then, millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes and are staying in cities in the west or leaving for other countries altogether. The journey is daunting, with many Ukrainian families traveling for days without food.

Working at a 24-hour pedestrian border crossing in southern Poland, WCK began serving hot, nourishing meals within hours of the initial invasion, and we are now serving round-the-clock dishes at eight border crossings across the country. Additionally, we are supporting local restaurants preparing meals in cities across Ukrainian including in Odessa, Lviv, and Kyiv. WCK teams are also on the ground serving thousands of meals every day in Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, and Spain.

As the situation keeps evolving, WCK will continue to help in the best way we know how, with a freshly prepared plate of food—and we're ready to expand our support for families in need.

Ukraine is in crisis.

As the devastating conflict rages on, Ukraine’s most vulnerable Jews are in distress and humanitarian needs are continuing to spike. JDC is on the ground, providing aid to those Jews remaining in Ukraine and the thousands of refugees who have fled to neighboring countries.

JDC’s robust response to this emergency situation leverages our past experience confronting regional crises and the COVID-19 pandemic to provide vital services to Ukraine’s Jews in their time of great need including:

• Tens of thousands of vulnerable Jews received lifesaving emergency assistance
• 30,000+ refugees provided with vital necessities
• 14,200+ emergency hotline calls received
•  165+ tons of humanitarian aid delivered
• 11,600+ Jews evacuated

Your gift will provide food, medicine, and other emergency support as a lifeline to Ukraine's Jews at this critical time.

Masorti Olami, together with our partners at The Schechter Institutes, are currently funding and helping to house, feed and meet the travel expenses for hundreds of people in Ukraine and now beyond its borders. With your help we can continues to meet the needs of our communities wherever they are.

Basic goods and supplies are needed by our communities across the country and in their new homes. This includes food, medical supplies, vitamins and sanitary products as well as protective gear and equipment.

Pesach supplies are needed by our communities across the country and in their new homes. This includes food and equipment such as Seder plates, matzah as well as Russian and Ukrainian haggadot in order to celebrate the holiday.

Educational materials and supplies are needed by the Masorti/Conservative kindergarten and school in Berlin, as the institutions have expanded dramatically in order to accommodate the new Ukrainian guest students.

Transport and evacuation to safe communities and houses, both in western Ukraine and in neighboring European countries, as well as Israel, is still needed for those who are fleeing the war. Our community members need to be evacuated to safety, and need accommodation once they reach their destinations.

Long-term support and rebuilding of our Ukrainian communities will be needed. While we deal with the most pressing needs on the ground, together with our partners, we are starting to build a plan for the ‘day after’, when our community members will need to rebuild their lives wherever they find themselves.