OUR COMMUNITY

14 | MAY 19 • 2022

The trip was slow-
going and marked by 21
checkpoints by Ukrainian
military, who at one point
held them for several hours
for questioning.
“It was a pretty grueling
all-nighter, and we were
delayed a lot because
of curfews and other
humanitarian trucks going
across the border,” explained
Norkin. “But we had help
from our hosts in Odessa
because they helped us
communicate with the
military staff at each crossing
point and roadblock. It was
a bit challenging to explain
why two guys who did not
speak Ukrainian were headed
to Odessa in the middle of
the night and traveling by
ambulance.”
By April 8, the ambulance
was officially under the
ownership of the Tribes of
Israel Unity, the umbrella
organization of the Jewish
Community of Odessa.
After having the
satisfaction of handing the
ambulance keys over to
Rabbi Wolff, Norkin realized
that what he thought was
a cold he had contracted
during his travels turned out
to be COVID. Though he
wanted to come home after
being away for four weeks,
a positive test at the airport
in Bucharest sent him into
quarantine for 10 days.

A SECOND MISSION
Norkin returned to the
United States on April 20
only to head back Bucharest
on May 2 to continue his
work with Katz. By then,
Katz had already secured a
second ambulance, which
will be used for trauma relief
for the residents of Dnipro.

Once again, the Federation
of Greater Lansing is raising
money and is also reaching
out to Metro Detroit’s Jewish
community to participate in
the cause. To donate, go to
www.jewishfederationlansing.
org/ambulance-for-ukraine-
relief.
Of this second mission,
Norkin explained: “We
have put a new set of tires
on the ambulance and are
procuring more equipment
and medical supplies. Now,
once again, we are at the
mercy of the Romanian
government to change over
the ownership titles. We are
not sure if we are going to
drive it all the way there, and
maybe someone will meet us
halfway.”
When asked if the two had
any security or are concerned
for their safety on these
missions, Norkin and Katz
agreed that with their years of
training in the Israel Defense
Forces, they are the security.
“Before we head out, we
do we do a lot of diligent
research,” Norkin explained.
“We continue to network
to ensure that we don’t get
ourselves into a situation
where we shouldn’t be. But
clearly, anytime you go into
Ukraine, there’s some risk
involved. But we both feel
this is something we must do.
And though the ambulances
are being given to the Jewish
communities, the ambulance
workers give emergency
care to anyone who needs it.
Just like the Israeli Magen
Adom ambulances that are
in Ukraine, the Ukrainian
military know it is to help
all who are in need. It’s just
heartwarming to see the
amount of cooperation going
on.”

continued from page 13

ABOVE: Ody Norkin in Bucharest to help Ukrainian refugees on their
way to Israel
TOP: Ody Norkin delivering the first ambulance in Odessa. He is
standing with Nelli Kuznietsova from the synagogue in Odessa and
Marco Katz of the Zionist Federation of Romania.