Just before Passover last year, Rabbi Mendy Wolff and his wife relocated 120 children and staff from the Mishpacha orphanage in Odessa to a hotel in Berlin, to keep them safe from the war. The temporary relocation was expected to last just a few days—the kids took nothing more than a few changes of clothes. Sadly, conditions in Ukraine did not improve and the orphanage remained in Berlin for a year. The costs of renting an entire hotel to house the children and other Odessians including single mothers and children, became too much, even with generous donors and help from the German Government. As the staff planned their returned to Odessa—with kids looking forward to sleeping in their own beds and being in familiar surroundings, JRNU was busy preparing the facilities. During the year-long absence of the Mishpacha orphanage, the building was used to provide refugees with shelter and meals. Thanks to our supporters from around the world, we replaced every mattress and pillow, and cleaned every nook and cranny of the building. It was heartwarming to see the children with smiling faces as they returned to their fresh and welcoming home. We pray that the city remains safe for the children as the war continues. Whatever the future holds, the Wolff family and JRNU will continue to look after the children to ensure their health and welfare.
