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16 | JUNE 2 • 2022
United States, found the tree. In
the Soviet Union, it was forbidden
to have any contact with relatives
in the West, and therefore keeping
a relationship wasn’t possible.
Before the war began, we rees-
tablished our relationship. Strong
roots and traditions allowed our
family to pick up right where we
left off. Now, our Zlatopolsky fam-
ily is in touch with us every day.
They support us and help us. It’s a
connection that goes back many
decades — during World War II,
our grandparents also helped one
another survive.
SAVE ONE LIFE, SAVE
THE ENTIRE WORLD
When we arrived in Dnipro,
our family arranged help for us
from the Federation of Jewish
Communities of Ukraine. We
were called by a representative
immediately upon reaching
Dnipro, offering us any assistance
we needed. Now, we’ve joined
their cause.
The Federation of Jewish
Communities of Ukraine has cre-
ated a hotline to provide human-
itarian assistance and evacuate
civilians from all parts of Ukraine.
Their call center works around the
clock to process a huge number
of applications. This is where we
began to volunteer, answering calls
and arranging help for civilians
trapped in war.
On the other end of the phone
calls are frightened people whose
emotions are familiar to mine. I
remember a call from a woman in
Kharkiv who asked for help evac-
uating. She lived in an area under
heavy shelling with her disabled
mother, who doesn’t have legs,
and with her son, who is ill with
cerebral palsy and can’t move on
his own.
These people can’t run into their
basement or leave without outside
help. Yet the Federation of Jewish
Communities of Ukraine was
ready to jump in and organized a
special flight for people who can’t
move independently. I remember
the day the Federation sent this
evacuation flight to Kharkiv. The
entire call center rejoiced.
I also remember the words
of Rabbi Meir Zvi Stambler, the
ON THE COVER
Volunteering at a call
center (Iana, Igor and
other volunteers).
BELOW LEFT:
Iana’s nephew, Lev
Syrotnikov, age 8,
draws a picture for
Ukraine troops. Lev’s
drawing was delivered
with lifesaving
supplies to Ukraine
troops.