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 

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