Ukrainian-American Jews pray, wait for news
Following news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been scary in a personal way for Rabbi Menachem Shemtov and his wife, Racheli. Racheli grew up in Kyiv, where her father, Rabbi Jonathan Markovitch, is referred to as chief rabbi. Markovitch and his family had the opportunity to leave recently but chose to stay.
“They felt it was their duty to be there for their community,” said Shemtov, the director of Chabad Georgetown in Washington, DC.
Markovitch has kept his synagogue, the Kyiv Jewish Center, open and is trying to stock as many necessities—flour, water, sleeping bags, mattresses, and clothing—as possible. He has no way of knowing whether supply chains will hold or when the situation could deteriorate further.
