Jewish Ukrainian citizens do not know what the future holds

Ukraine, Europe’s second largest country, is in crisis and the Jewish population has been affected by the turmoil. The complicated relationship between Ukraine and Russia is not new. Ousted President Viktor Yanukovych claimed his intentions were to balance Ukraine’s relationship between Russia and Europe, but his actions have suggested otherwise.

During his first two years in office, he was faulted for making extensive concessions to Russia and refusing to sign an agreement that would strengthen ties with the European Union.

As thousands of people swarmed the streets of Kiev last month, failure on Yanukovych’s part to reach a compromise or disband the protestors led to a week of deadly violence. On Feb 22, he fled the capital and compared the situation to what happened in Germany in the 1930s when Hitler came to power. “I did everything to avoid the violence on the streets of Ukraine,” he said. “We took all possible steps to stabilize the political situation in the country. But what happened, happened.” Ukraine’s interim government has now issued a warrant for Yanukovych’s arrest and blames him for the murder of more than 80 protesters who died in street disturbances.

Tensions have escalated further since March 1. Russian security services seized control of Crimea, the southern peninsula of Ukraine located on the northern bank of the Black Sea. This territory has been captured and subjugated throughout history. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied Russia’s involvement, but the U.S. State Department says Russia’s actions against Ukraine are in violation of the 1997 Friendship Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

Although only a small population of Ukrainians are Jewish (The Jewish Agency estimates the number to be 200,000), many believe the revolution is also being fueled by anti-Semites. “Jews make up just 0.2% of Ukraine’s 44.5 million population,” said Paul Berger, a reporter for the Jewish Daily Forward. “But to hear activists, analysts and commentators discussing the Ukrainian crisis, a listener could be forgiven for thinking that the fate of Ukrainian Jews is one of the central issues at stake.”

While widespread anti-Semitism has not been reported, there have been several serious incidents in which the Jewish community was targeted. According to the U.S. Department of State, “Jewish groups in southern and eastern Ukraine report that they have not seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents.” But evidence suggests the contrary. In November 2013, a pig’s head was tossed on the building site of a Chabad synagogue in Sevastopol, a major port on the Black Sea. In January, two men were assaulted in separate attacks after leaving a synagogue in Kiev. One man, a kollel student, was stabbed, and the other, a Hebrew teacher, was beaten. On Feb. 23, firebombs hit the Giymat Rosa Synagogue in Zaporizhia (south of Kiev). The synagogue sustained only minor damage, and fortunately, no one was injured. Five days later, graffiti calling for “Death to the Jews” was found scrawled on the exterior of the Reform Ner Timid Synagogue in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea. Rabbi Michael Kapustin continues to light candles at the aforementioned synagogue, even though services have been suspended.

“The city is occupied by Russians. Apparently Russians intend to take over the Crimea and make it a part of Russia,” Rabbi Kapustin said. ”If this were the case, I would … leave this country since I want to live in democratic Ukraine.” Other area synagogues have not canceled events or services. Preparations for Purim and Passover are “continuing as usual,” said Rabbi Menachem Margolin of the Brussels-based European Jewish Association.

Understandably, Ukraine’s unrest during the last several weeks and months has increased global uncertainty. In a March 5 interview, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said, “We agreed to continue intense discussions in the coming days with Russia, with the Ukrainians, in order to see how we can help normalize the situation, stabilize it, and overcome the crisis.”

However, the crisis in Ukraine is not limited to rival political factions or hate crimes. It has also sparked concern on the Jewish humanitarian front. According to the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), a Jewish humanitarian assistance organization, Crimea is home to approximately 17,000 Jews – some of the world’s most poverty-stricken Jews.

The JDC and other humanitarian agencies have responded by providing immediate assistance to elderly Jews and families in need. Mobile units have addressed urgent needs within the capital city, and food packages and medical supplies have been provided to homebound individuals. “Even as we mourn the loss of life in Ukraine and track ongoing changes throughout the country, we are ensuring emergency services for those in our care and the uninterrupted flow of critical supplies at this challenging time,” said JDC CEO Alan H. Gill.

On March 6, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) announced the establishment of the Ukraine Assistance Fund. “As the situation escalates, needs in the Ukrainian Jewish community become even more acute,” said Michael Siegal, Chair of the JFNA Board of Trustees. “It’s critical that we maintain our commitment to provide assistance to the most vulnerable in our community and ensure our Jewish institutions are secure.”

Natan Sharansky, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, said in a statement, “We have a moral responsibility to ensure the safety and security of Ukraine’s Jews.” Moreover, Alex Selsky, CEO of the World Forum of Russian Speaking Jews, told the Jerusalem Post that the Jews of Crimea should emigrate to Israel, “which was created for Jews who are in danger in the Diaspora…. If the Jews feel insecure, they definitely can make aliyha to Israel.”

As of the printing of this article, Putin won’t back down and asserts that Ukraine’s government was outcome of an “unconstitutional coup.” Notwithstanding, the crisis continues.

Although Ukrainian citizens do not know what the future holds, the Jewish community advocates for peace and hopes the turbulence will end soon. “With the rest of the world, we have looked with deep concern on the recent events in Ukraine,” said Rabbi Steve Gutow and Larry Gold, President and Chair of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, in a recent joint statement. “Our hope is that further violence can be averted, and the people of that nation will be free to continue forging a path of independence based on the principle of self-determination.”