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.