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