1.09 On the Tragedy in Ukraine (with Oksana Galkevich)
As tragedies continue in Ukraine, Joshua & Rabbi Shira dedicate this episode to the 200K+ Jewish people who live there and are in harms way. The episode begins by letting people know the ways they can help and what Jewish relief organizations are lending their support. Then we are joined by Oksana Galkevich, born in Ukraine and as of the past few years living in Israel, who has assisted the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) with many operations in Ukraine and the Former Soviet Union.
Episode Timecodes:
(05:30) Rabbi Shira’s quick primer on the Jewish Worldwide Relief Organizations
(07:58) Interview with Oksana Galkevich
(27:40) Special Joint Meditation reading
Show notes:
2) JDC
3) HIAS
4) Chabad
5) Hillel
6) Joshua Malina's Cameo to support HIAS refugees
8) JDC hotlines:
Ukraine (FSU): +38 094 711 11 04
Hungary: +36 30 541 8771
Poland: +48 509 135 836
Romania: +40-735-33-7777
Slovakia: +421-917-711-896 (help@uzzno.sk)
9) Poem from Rebbe Nachman (1772-1810) of Breslov from what is now Ukraine:
May it be Your will,
Holy One, our God, our ancestors’ God,
that you wipe out war and bloodshed from the world
and in its place draw down
a great and glorious peace
so that nation shall not lift up sword against nation
neither shall they learn war any more.
Rather, may all the inhabitants of the earth
recognize and deeply know
this great truth:
that we have not come into this world
for strife and division
nor for hatred and rage,
nor provocation and bloodshed.
We have come here only
to encounter You,
eternally blessed One.
And so, we ask your compassion upon us;
raise up, by us, what is written:
I shall place peace upon the earth
and you shall lie down and no one shall terrify you
and I shall rid the land of vicious beasts
and the sword shall not pass through your land.
but let justice come in waves like water
and righteousness flow like a river,
And let God’s presence fill the earth
as the waters fill the sea
So may it be.
And we say: Amen."