In Dnipro, at the world’s largest Jewish center “Menorah“, the annual conference of Chabad emissaries — rabbis and spiritual leaders of Jewish communities in Ukraine — is taking place. The meeting is organized on the eve of the 4th anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion and is held against the backdrop of a sharp deterioration in the humanitarian situation, power and water outages, and a new wave of winter cold.
The conference will last until Sunday. Rabbis from different cities of the country participate in it along with their families. This fact is emphasized separately in publications: it is not just a working forum, but about people who continue to live in Ukraine during the war and simultaneously bear responsibility for the functioning of community life — from religious to social.
Dnipro as the center of Jewish life in Ukraine
In Israeli materials, Dnipro is called the third largest city in Ukraine and the largest center of organized Jewish life in the country. A historical formulation is also given: the city was called the ‘center of Judaism in Ukraine’. In the conditions of war, this definition acquires practical meaning — it is here that aid programs, humanitarian initiatives, and emergency solutions are coordinated.
At the same time, the geography of the war remains alarming. Publications note that the active front line is about 150 kilometers from the city. The intensified advance of Russian forces towards the region over the past year has created additional tension and uncertainty.
Against this backdrop, the conference becomes not only a religious event but also a kind of headquarters for coordinating actions.
Opening of the conference: a new Torah scroll for Mykolaiv
The opening of the conference was marked by the ceremonial introduction of a new Torah scroll. It was written and gifted by the Jewish community of Dnipro for the Jewish community of Mykolaiv.
In an official statement by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, it is specified that the writing of the scroll was made possible thanks to the Demchenko family, who dedicated this gift ‘in honor of the ascension of the soul of Dvora Vera, daughter of Yosef Demchenko’.
Participants of the conference emphasized that the writing of the scroll became a symbol of spiritual resilience and unity of communities in wartime.
In Israeli publications, this moment is also presented as a sign of the continuation of life and tradition, despite destruction, cold, and constant threat.
‘Millions of homes without electricity and water’
The central place in the materials is occupied by the speech of the head of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, Rabbi Meir Stambler.
He stated:
‘Over the past year, the civil situation in the country has significantly worsened. In recent months, millions of homes remain without electricity and water — among them tens of thousands of Jewish families.’
This quote sounds like a statement of a systemic problem: strikes on the energy infrastructure have led to outages becoming part of everyday life.
According to Stambler, despite the harsh conditions, rabbis remain in their cities.
‘Despite the natural desire to leave, the need for the help of rabbis and their presence has increased many times over. We are making every effort to fulfill this mission.’
In another publication, this thought sounds even more specifically:
‘The need for the help of rabbis and their presence in different cities has increased sevenfold, and we are engaging with all our might for this mission.’
Thus, it is not about symbolic presence, but about a multiple increase in workload. In the conditions of destroyed infrastructure, rabbis become coordinators of aid, intermediaries between the elderly and resources, organizers of evacuation, supply of generators, food, and medicines.
Cold and threat to the elderly
A separate block of the conference is dedicated to the evacuation of elderly people and Holocaust survivors from cities where the destruction of the energy system makes winter deadly dangerous.
Rabbi Stambler emphasized:
‘Ukraine is now experiencing a new wave of cold. The lives of thousands of elderly people and surviving Holocaust victims are under threat. This is a matter of life and death.’
The phrase ‘a matter of life and death’ in these publications is repeated not by chance. It sounds in other comments of the participants.
One of the community representatives stated:
‘This is an extremely important issue for us. Every day is a real war. For these thousands of people, it is a matter of life and death.’
In the Israeli version, a formulation in Hebrew is also given, conveying the same thought:
‘This is an extremely significant issue for us… it is a matter of life and death.’
It is emphasized that we are talking about elderly people — 70, 80, 90 years old — many of whom are lonely and have chronic diseases. In the absence of heating and electricity, the risk for them becomes critical.
Israeli budget — 4 million shekels
Publications report that the Israeli government has agreed to allocate a special budget of 4 million shekels for the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine.
The funds are intended for the implementation of a project for the evacuation and placement of elderly people and Holocaust survivors in safe places.
Rabbi Meir Stambler expressed gratitude to Israeli officials who facilitated the acceleration of the decision.
It is emphasized that in the conditions of destroyed energy infrastructure, this decision is perceived not as a political gesture, but as a tool for salvation.
Conference topics: humanitarian aid, youth, and education
In addition to evacuation, the conference discusses:
- aid to Jewish refugees
- support for families of victims
- psychological assistance to youth
- development of educational initiatives in the Ukrainian language
It is separately emphasized the need to work with teenagers and young people who have experienced the traumatic experience of war.
Israeli materials note that the conference includes seminars and working discussions of practical mechanisms of assistance.
Why rabbis stay
Publications repeatedly emphasize the idea that many emissaries could leave the country.
But, as emphasized, ‘the need for the help of rabbis has increased sevenfold.’
This figure becomes a marker of the scale of the workload.
It is not only about spiritual support but also about social coordination, organization of temporary housing, distribution of aid, and work with the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Spiritual symbolism and practical reality
The transfer of the new Torah scroll for Mykolaiv in this context becomes not just a religious event.
It is a gesture that emphasizes: communities remain connected despite destruction, power outages, and proximity to the front.
But alongside this symbolism, harsh formulations sound:
‘Millions of homes remain without electricity and water.’
‘The need for help has increased sevenfold.’
‘This is a matter of life and death.’
These quotes form the tone of the entire story.
What this conference means today
The conference in Dnipro is a reflection of a broader picture.
Jewish communities in Ukraine continue to function in the conditions of a protracted war.
Religious leaders become part of the crisis response system.
Israeli support in the form of 4 million shekels is perceived as a real tool for saving elderly people and Holocaust survivors.
The story of the conference is not just a religious plot. It is a chronicle of humanitarian resilience in a country where winter and destroyed infrastructure become a risk factor for life.
And that is why the words spoken at the conference sound without exaggeration:
‘This is a matter of life and death.’