World Union for Progressive Judaism raises £1m for Ukrainians in need
More than 6,000 individual donors from 26 different countries have contributed to the Ukraine Crisis Fund
A Jewish fund has raised over £1 million for Ukrainians suffering and fleeing from the continuing bombardment by Russian forces, it was announced on Tuesday.
The Ukraine Crisis Fund was established by the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) in partnership with the European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ), to address the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and support refugees fleeing the country.
More than 6,000 individual donors from 26 different countries have contributed to date, WUPJ said.
The cash will be used across a range of projects, including transportation and security for Ukrainians seeking safety across borders, direct financial assistance to those in need and support to refugee centres and congregations in Europe facilitating the relocation of Ukrainian refugees.
Rabbi Igor Zinkov of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue and Deborah Blausten of Finchley Reform Synagogue travelled to Poland to work with the fund.
Zinkov said: “Many of those who donate have written to us to say that ‘it’s good to be able to do something, however small.’
“I understand them. It is painful and scary to watch the war, humanitarian catastrophe and refugee crisis unfold. You want to scream, cry, and pray for its end. But the war does not end despite our voices, tears, and quiet conversations with ourselves.”
Blaustein and Zinkov visited the WUPJ/EUPJ funded Refugee Centre near Warsaw and another nearby centre run by the JDC/Polish Jewish Community, a local group that supports refugee children.
They also met with Rabbi Stas Wojciechowicz of Warsaw’s Ec Chaim Progressive Synagogue, where the congregation are part of a crisis group coordinating support efforts.
Looking to the future, Zinkov said: “The Ukraine Crisis Fund is a Jewish international fund. We hope that one day we will spend this money on building synagogues and communities, training rabbis and Jewish educators, musicians, organising seminars, summer camps and many exciting programmes.
“But all of that will come later. Now we must do everything we can to help and support those in need – people in Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. Although the fund is Jewish, we help everybody.”
Elsewhere, Jewish refugees from Kyiv and Odessa were able to celebrate Purim in Oldenburg, Germany, after being helped to safety there by the fund.
The service was led by Rabbi Alina Treiger and Rabbi Julia Gris and mirrored those for refugees in many other countries.
Alexander Gaidar, executive director of the Religious Association of Progressive Judaism of Ukraine, said: “The war has made all of us, people of different nationalities and religions, who lived in a peaceful, prosperous Ukraine until February 24, a single nation – Ukrainians.”
Sonja Guentner, Chair of the European Union for Progressive Judaism, added: “We are deeply grateful to the many donors who have contributed to the joint WUPJ/EUPJ campaign.
“They enable us to provide help to those who need it urgently, the Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons, as well as the EUPJ congregations in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic who have opened their doors and hearts and are going out of their way to provide shelter, support and comfort in so very many ways.”
To donate to the WUPJ Ukraine Crisis Fund, visit www.wupj.org
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