Chevra USA is a humanitarian arm of the UMJC, connected with Chevra international, which aids Jews in need in eastern Europe and Israel. Chevra USA director Michael Schiffman passed on this report from his colleague, Irek:

I would like to send you a brief message from our last trip to Ukraine.

This time our idea was to bring together youth from Germany and Poland to serve and help Jewish people. We expected to break down barriers on a few levels. During a common experience we wanted bring closer those three nations with difficult history and past. Sharing in actions, praying, and spending ten days together brought us closer to God and each other. In Krakow, Poland, we saw Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter, Schindler’s factory and Jewish historical places.

On the way to the Ukrainian border we have saw the concentration camp Belzec.

In Lvov we have visited the Messianic Congregation, a Jewish kindergarten, and attended a lecture with Professor Juliy Sterenberg about the history of the Lvov area before, during, and after World War II.

In Rovno we saw the memorial of Jewish victims from war time, and visited a Jewish organization, Chesed. The last part of our time there was with the D. family. We have been touched by testimonies how God healed Igor and how all his children serve the Lord.

We also helped one Jewish Family with seventh children, whose home burned up completely in Ozenino. They just had time to save their children’s lives. The only thing left after the fire was a kipah from Jerusalem. We helped them with 4500 Euros.

We had a humanitarian project helping the Children’s House of Vinnitza region. In Zhitomir we started with Sabbath meals with Jewish young people, getting to know each other more and speaking and praying together like one before the God of Israel. Our main work there was to help clean the Jewish cemetery and monuments, and to help poor Jewish families. We had privilege of helping a very poor Jewish father and his daughter, who did not have an entrance in their home. They are eating regularly in our soup kitchen. We cleaned around their house, repaired the stairs and made a handrail. (Photo above shows Irek, with beard, with the father and volunteers.) It was good to see their smiles and happiness in their faces, Misha and Regina were very thankful.

We helped with a new battery for a wheelchair for a handicapped man named Viktor.

We came back tired but very happy and satisfied. We are thankful to the Lord and you—it is great blessing and help.

With Yeshua’s love,

Shalom

Irek