OUR COMMUNITY

W

hen Jerusalem Post Political
Analyst and Chief Political
Correspondent Gil Hoffman
crossed through four countries in
early March to cover Russia’s war on
Ukraine from Moldova, he saw throngs
of women and children
passing through the border.
Many of the little girls car-
ried pink backpacks stuffed
with as much of their pre-
cious belongings as they
could carry.
“I really felt like I was
traveling back through
time, to a different era that I never
thought I would see for myself,” said
Hoffman in an interview with the JN
from his home in Jerusalem. “These
little girls probably did not have much
time to decide what was put in those
backpacks, and they left not knowing if
they would ever come back.”
Hoffman, who covers the war and
ensuing refugee crisis through an Israeli
lens for the Jerusalem Post, will be the
keynote speaker at Jewish National
Fund-USA’s Midwest Breakfast for Israel,
held virtually 8 a.m. Wednesday, April
6. The free virtual breakfast intends
to update the American Jewish com-
munity on JNF’s efforts on the ground
and in Israel to provide aid and sup-
port for Ukrainian refugees. Register to
attend the free virtual event at jnf.org/
BFImidwest or contact Kim R. Levy,
Executive Director, Midwest at klevy@
jnf.org or (847) 656-8880, ext. 763.

Hoffman will discuss how Israel has
ended up leading the way in the war in
its humanitarian and diplomatic efforts
and will give a behind-the-scenes per-
spective on how this happened.
“The war ended up putting Israel in
a very strange position to be among
the leading countries in the world that
feels the responsibility to try to end the
conflict (it is not directly involved in) as
opposed to being part of a conflict as a
combatant,” Hoffman said.
“Israel made very clear (to Ukrainian
President Zelensky) that it would pro-
vide humanitarian aid but not defensive
weapons aid. That has to do with the
sensitivities of Russia being here on our
border in Syria. It has to do with the
sensitivity that there are tens of thou-
sands of Jews, both in Ukraine and in
Russia, who want to move to Israel.”
As the situation in Ukraine continues
to deteriorate, JNF-USA’s volunteers
have traveled to the Ukrainian border
to support local Jewish communities in
need.
JNF recruited Ukrainian and Russian-
speaking volunteers to facilitate finding
shelter for women and children, distrib-
uted food, baby formula and blankets,
diapers and toys to refugees fleeing
Ukraine.
In Israel, JNF is preparing for the
absorption of immigrants and refugees
from Ukraine by lining up volunteer
families who will welcome them into
their homes. Because they are escaping
from a war zone, Jews making aliyah

from Ukraine are eligible to receive a
larger government aliyah grant, accord-
ing to reports from the Jerusalem Post.
Hoffman saw the on-the-ground
humanitarian work of organizations
like JNF and others as he visited activ-
ities on the Ukrainian border on a trip
funded by the International Fellowship
of Christians and Jews, an organization
aimed at building cooperation between
the two religions and support for Israel.
“I left (Moldova) hopeful because
I got to see incredible humanitarian
efforts by many Israeli and Jewish agen-
cies, including JNF, the International
Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and
IsraAid,” Hoffman said. “These were
the first tents, from these Israeli orga-
nizations, right at the border, tents full
of toys, games, baby food and diapers
to help the women with small children
and babies and provide them with a
safer, warmer space.”
According to Kim Levy, Jewish
National Fund-USA executive director,
Midwest, “Jewish National Fund-USA is
supporting Ukrainian refugees and pro-
viding immediate aid during this crisis.
“JNF-USA is also planning to support
these refugees in the long term after the
Ukraine crisis is no longer in the news.
We will be there for the long haul, ensur-
ing that they have a home and a commu-
nity where they can prosper.”

To learn more how JNF is providing relief to Ukrainian

refugees, go to jnf.org/Ukraine.

JNF to provide update
at free event April 6.

Gil
Hoffman

STACY GITTLEMAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

26 | MARCH 31 • 2022

Representatives of
the Jewish National
Fund have traveled to
the Ukraine border to
provide aid.

JNF

Israel’s
Efforts in
Ukraine