In March we (Anne and Elfi) set off on the long journey to the Ukrainian border. This time we took around 600 kilos of relief supplies, including toilet paper, 80 kilos of washing powder, clothes, socks, around 70 kilos of cat and dog food, 100 kilos of food, dishes, a stroller and a baby carrier. In addition to the cash donations, bamboo socks were also donated to the Jewish community in Chernivtsi.
The almost one thousand kilometer long journey from Vienna to Siret, which took us across the Carpathians to the Ukrainian border, was completed in just two days. We had planned our outward journey so that we could reach the synagogue in Oradea on Friday evening for the Shabbat service. It is always a popular resting place for us on our travels together. To our surprise, we learned at the synagogue gate that the service had been moved to Zoom at short notice because several community members were ill with the flu. However, the friendly caretaker led us through the synagogue and we were able to admire the indescribably beautiful lighting of the synagogue as well as the wall and ceiling paintings in earthy colors.
We were also introduced to a new project that has been a dream for years and is now becoming a reality with Israeli support. It is about the construction of a yeshiva (Talmud college) on the grounds of the Jewish community. This is probably a historic event in Romania, as the last institution of this kind was founded in the middle of the last century. The school will accommodate at least 10 – 12 students, who will come mainly from Romania and Hungary. In order to provide them with comprehensive care, the new building will also be equipped with guest rooms and a kosher kitchen.
The Jewish community in Oradea has had very good relations with the Jewish community in Debrecen, Hungary, which is close to the Romanian border, for decades. The ideas of the Debrecen Jewish community were incorporated into the discussion about the yeshiva in Oradea. The president of the Jewish community in Oradea is confident that, in addition to Debrecen, there will be other Hungarian partners with whom this dream project can be realized together.
After visiting the synagogue and the yeshiva construction site, we enjoyed homemade cake that we had received from the Jewish community.
After a good night’s sleep, we set off for Siret on Saturday morning. It was a long day of driving and at times we had to rely on the map as the car’s navigation system wasn’t always up to the task. As it was already dark, a headlamp helped read the map and notes in the car.
After handing over the donations to Tanya at the Siret border crossing on Sunday morning and after her van was refueled, we were able to talk to Tanya and her driver Stefan over a meal for almost three hours. They told us about the extremely innovative use of drones: Since many fields in eastern Ukraine are full of landmines and therefore cannot currently be used as arable land, flower seeds are sown in the fields with the help of drones. Once the flowers bloom, bees are used to produce honey. This honey is called “mine honey”. Ukraine has always been an important producer and exporter of honey.
We also learned something new from a young mother who, after our last trip, received a stroller that we donated for her then 4-month-old baby. The baby is now 6 months old. Unfortunately, the young father returned from the war seriously injured. He has already had several operations and is now waiting for a prosthetic arm and leg to be made. We found out more about this family’s situation so that we can help them even better in the future. Homes are being set up for injured and traumatized soldiers. Some of them decide to stay in these homes and not return to their families because this way they can share their fate with other fellow sufferers and support each other. Animal therapy, among other things, is used as a treatment method in these homes. The therapy dogs and cats enjoyed around 70 kg of animal food that we had brought with us.
Tanya and the rabbi of the Jewish community in Chernivtsi send you all warm greetings from Chernivtsi.
After handing over the relief supplies and our fellowship with Tanya and Stefan, we made our way back from Siret to Oradea. Late in the evening we arrived at our friend’s house in Oradea and went to rest, tired but very grateful. We became more and more deeply aware that we had used certain paths on our journey because God had led us that way so that we could become a joy and a blessing to many people on this journey. A special peace filled us. After meeting friends in Oradea the next day, we drove to Budapest and then back to Vienna.
Thank you, dear friends, for making this aid trip to the Ukrainian border possible. It is our privilege to bring help to many people in need with your support and to meet our friends in Eastern Europe along the way to bring hope and joy into their lives.
Anne and Elfi
(March, 2024)