Today I am leaving for Israel. I am honored to travel with my colleagues and other CEO/EDs to represent Boston's diverse array of Jewish non-profits. We join the 300+ person Combined Jewish Philanthropies SPARK Israel experience.
My phone picture memories reminded me that today, in 2019, I was in Ukraine. This was my first trip to Ukraine, one of two in 2019, and the last international trips I would take before COVID and the war. It is surreal to pack today for Israel.
There is much to say about this trip, travel, and the Israel experience, and I hope to share real-time updates with you.
Leading up to Passover, our office has been busy. We were able to ensure all the people we care for in our communities where we can get humanitarian aid into received Passover supplies like matzah, juice, and food. One community even held a very small Passover seder—the first we have sponsored in many years. See the picture below.
We held two events that created a human bridge and connection between people in the US and Ukraine. The first was an extraordinary exchange between high school students here and in Ukraine. This candid conversation brought the teens into discussing everyday life with a war in the backdrop. The question-and-answer segment brought the two groups together. I was amazed that even with the distance, language differences, and very different living environments, the connection between the two groups was evident, and a dynamic conversation could be had.
Our fantastic staff person Ari Zeren organized this. He also coordinates all of Action-PSJ's shipping activities to Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, Ari has overseen the shipment of over 20,000.00 tons of aid to Ukraine. Ari is a high school senior at Newton South.
Right before Passover, in partnership with Rabbi Jim Morgan and Hebrew SerniorLife, we hosted a Passover celebration -Spiritually Together while physically apart. This event was inspired by Action-PSJ's Ukraine-based Community Coordinators' desire to come together for Passover. Our boots-on-the-ground network has become a close support for each other. As we approached the second celebration of this poignant holiday, the wish to be together was great.
This was a unique experience. Mainly held in Russian and Ukrainian with English translations, we were joined by most of our coordinators and a number of our participants across all our communities. An in-person group at Hebrew SeniorLife and several US-based virtual participants also joined.
Along with reflection from the coordinators, there was music, candle lighting between Boston and Dnipro, and excerpts from Action-PSJ's Haggadah supplement.
It is miraculous to me that a sense of community and connection could be established in both virtual gatherings.
The work Action-PSJ does is multi-faceted. Yes, we send stipends for medicine, heat, and food. Yes, we send humanitarian aid. And yes, we provide connection, community, and Jewish traditions. All of these together have an enormous impact. They provide hope, spirituality, and sustenance.
We are blessed to have the support of wonderful colleagues, organizations, and especially individuals like you.
We could not do any of this without your support. You make this happen.
With much gratitude,
Debbie
