First Chabad rabbi dispatched to Ukraine since start of Russia-Ukraine war

ZVIKA KLEIN

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This dispatch followed a rejuvenation of several Jewish communities in Ukraine, a phenomenon spurred by internal migration due to the conflict.
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Rabbi Mendy and Mushky Halperin have arrived in Ukraine, making them the first Chabad emissaries to do so since the outbreak of war in early 2022. / (photo credit: JRNU)

For the first time since the onset of the Russian-Ukrainian war, a Chabad Rabbi and his wife were sent to Ukraine, just ahead of Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish New Year. 

This dispatch followed a rejuvenation of several Jewish communities in Ukraine, a phenomenon spurred by the internal migration of Jews due to the conflict. Rabbi Mendy and Mushky Halperin journeyed to Chernivtsi, a city situated in southwestern Ukraine along the Prut River. 

They are the inaugural Chabad family assigned to this mission post-war and will operate under the guidance of Rabbi Mendy and Pnina Glitzenstein, the chief Chabad emissaries in the region. “We adhere to the Rebbe’s guidance – to spread light,” they mentioned.

In a dialogue with Chabad.org, Mendy shared that he originates from the Chassidic village of Kfar Chabad in Israel. On the other hand, Mushky hails from Riga, Latvia, a former Soviet territory, where her parents are Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries.

Together with their 4-month-old son, Ari, the couple entered Ukraine from Moldova on August 30, as there were no direct flights available. They reached their new home that very day.
Jewish holiday kits are handed out in Ukraine ahead of Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish New Year. (credit: JRNU)

Rabbi Glitzenstein remarked, “We needed more representatives even before the pandemic. However, once the pandemic concluded, the war emerged, altering our priorities.” 

Supporting the Glitzinstein family’s initiatives, the Halperin family aims to primarily engage with the Jewish youth of Chernivtsi. Over time, the Glitzinstein family established a multitude of Jewish institutions in the city, including Or Avner educational centers, Talmudic schools, kindergartens, after-school Jewish programs, and specialized programs for different age groups.

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