Rabbi of kyiv: Remember the Jews of the Ukrainian capital when reading the megilla
A chief rabbi in Kyiv is urging those celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim to remember Jews in the Ukrainian capital during the traditional reading of the megillah.
Rabbi Jonathan Markovitch, who returned to kyiv after fleeing the Russian invasion, told the Israeli Walla news site that a private security company and Ukrainian troops were guarding the synagogue and the Jewish community center.
“They sleep with us and eat with us and we feel safe with them and very happy in their company,” he says.
The rabbi adds, “Today it is a risk to read Megillah in Ukraine, but we read it live, not on Zoom… We will read Megillah around the world and anyone who can should remember the Jews of kyiv when he reads it”.
Regarding his decision to return, Markovitch said he wanted to help the Jews of kyiv.
“These are the most miserable people possible. Jews who cannot leave for various reasons. Some are children, women and parents of men of military age who didn’t want to leave them here alone. Some are old, disabled and sick,” he says.
