continued on page 20
OUR COMMUNITY
L
ast week, I stood in the Polish town of
Medyka at the border with Ukraine,
a site where thousands of refugees
have streamed through daily as they flee the
devastation of the Russian invasion. As CEO
of the Detroit Federation,
I— along with Leah Trosch, a
volunteer leader and past pres-
ident of Federation’s Women’s
Philanthropy — was asked
to represent our community
there, bearing witness to the
humanitarian crisis now play-
ing out. I can report that it was
one of the most difficult and moving experi-
ences of my life.
Virtually all the refugees are women and
children, since military-aged men are forbid-
den from leaving the country. It is hard to
describe the combination of fatigue, despera-
tion and relief on their faces as they cross the
border. Weeks ago, they were living an ordi-
nary life as teachers, doctors and shop own-
ers; today, they are escaping with nothing
more than a suitcase and cell phone. Their
primary concern is simply finding food and
shelter for their families.
The very first tents they encounter at the
border are those operated by our interna-
tional partners, JDC and JAFI. The agencies
are there to welcome both Jews and non-
Jews alike, offering immediate care as well
as longer-term support. One of the most
extraordinary images I saw was that of the
Israeli flag flying prominently at the crossing
to Poland, a symbol of our people’s commit-
ment to not just fellow Jews but to the heal-
ing and betterment of the world as a whole.
It was also incredible to see that many
of the aide volunteers had come from Israel
— including individuals who made aliyah
at some point in their lives and now feel an
obligation to help others in return. They
were not just there for Jews: Again and again,
I was told that this is how we repay the “righ-
teous gentiles” who put their lives at risk for
us during the Holocaust, 80 years ago.
Everywhere I went I saw the power of
tzedakah in action. In Poland, I visited two
processing centers — entire hotels which
our partner agencies have transformed into
free shelters for refugees. There are daycares
in the open conference areas, mental health
counselors on staff and several rooms filled
with donated funds for families to use as
needed.
UNFORGETTABLE PEOPLE
Of the many people I met, two stories stuck
in my heart.
The first was Bella, an 87-year-old woman
who had been forced to flee Odessa — for
the second time. The first was in 1941, at the
age of 7.
Bella was taken to Siberia with her moth-
er, where they had to begin a new life with
nothing. She fought back tears as she told
me how she never imagined this would
happen again; she worries that she is too old
to start over. I assured her that this time it
will be different and that we are here to help.
Thanks to JAFI, Bella will be making aliyah
to Israel soon.
I also met Shana at a JDC hotel. Shana
ran a Jewish nursery school in Kharkiv,
Ukraine, until, after weeks of heavy bomb-
ing, she finally decided to flee.
She now runs the daycare program as
a volunteer at a Hampton Inn in Warsaw,
where refugees stay while they try to figure
out where to go next. Shana told me of a
LEFT: Steve Ingber takes a selfie in Poland at the border with Ukraine. MIDDLE: A volunteer stands with Bella, who is fleeing Ukraine for the
second time. RIGHT: A daycare program in Warsaw for refugees.
Federation CEO Steven Ingber relates his experience
representing Metro Detroit in Poland.
On the Poland-Ukraine Border
Steven
Ingber
18 | APRIL 14 • 2022
Complete the degree in
as little as 18 months
Learn from the world’s
leading minds
Take courses online with
scholarship support
Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2023! Learn more at YU.EDU/FishMA
FISH CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST
AND GENOCIDE STUDIES
NEW! ONLINE M.A.
IN HOLOCAUST AND
GENOCIDE STUDIES
Become a Holocaust Educator
BUILDING TOMORROW, TODAY
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY