Israeli officials visit Donbas Jewish refugee camp near Kyiv

The Israeli Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Faina Kirshenbaum, the head of the department for population registration Amnon Ben-Ami, the Ambassador of the State of Israel in Ukraine Elie Belotzerkovsky, deputy ambassador Itzhak Kagan, and other guests visited a camp for displaced persons from southeast Ukraine on 10 September 2014. Rabbi Yosef Azman, the son of Rabbi Moshe Azman from Kyiv’s Brodsky Synagogue, welcomed the delegation.

During their visit the guests met with refugees personally and learned about their troubles and sorrows. The burning question regarding the simplification of the repatriation process to Israel was discussed. Many refugees lack the necessary documents confirming their right for repatriation.

Kirshenbaum expressed her admiration for the Jewish Community of the city of Kyiv and her spiritual mentor Rabbi Moshe Reuven Asman. She emphasized that in such difficult times, it is very important to find in the heart a place for empathy for the pain of others.

Shimon Briman