Mykolaiv, a city near the Black Sea in southern Ukraine, has long been important to Jews; among other reasons it is the birth place of the Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson (April 18, 1902). In the 19th century, Mykolaiv became a major Jewish center of the Russian Empire, as it was part of the Pale Settlement (west of the Dnieper River) where Jews were required to live. In 1926, the 21,876 Jewish residents comprised more than one-fifth of city's total population.
On August 26th, 1941, Germany invaded the city, and in September more than 35,000 civilians were killed, many of them Jews. Ilya Leshchinsky was fortunate that his parents and brothers escaped. Less than two months later, on October 3, Ilya was born on a train headed to Talldykorgan. In 1944, together with his mother and older brother, Ilya returned to Mykolaiv where he spent his entire life, including serving in the Ukrainian army. Today he lives alone, bedridden, and is dependent on JRNU for support.
For many years, Mykolaiv was one of the largest shipbuilding centers on the Black Sea. The industry was disrupted when Mykolaiv was attacked soon after Russia invaded, though the city was never captured. Several weeks ago, 5 apartment buildings and 15 garages were hit by air strikes, injuring 20 people, including 5 children. Last winter, the residents of Mykolaiv experienced great hardship as their water supply was contaminated and many utilities were disrupted. We dug new wells and installed generators, but significant challenges remained. Many people spent days in the cold and dark, often hiding in bomb shelters for extended periods. Galina Krasovska spent an entire 8 months in her basement, after her house was badly damaged in two separate missile strikes. She too relied on JRNU for daily survival.
The people of Ukraine continue to demonstrate extraordinary resolve and determination, as they have throughout history. The women still bake challah at the community center every Friday, and last spring more than 500 families celebrated Passover. This summer children attended camps, and in 10 days they will return to their classrooms to being another school year. We look forward to the Jews of Mykolaiv celebrating the High Holidays with gift and food packages, and praying for peace in the year to come.
Thanks to our generous donors we continue our work in Mykolaiv, saving lives and restoring hope.
