From the Rabbi

Our Prayers are with the Ukraine

Dear Friends, 

As Founder and Director of the Spiritual Formation program at Leo Baeck College, the leading rabbinic seminary in the UK and Europe, my students included many from the FSU (former Soviet Union).  Some of them currently serve in the Ukraine. One of my friends, Rabbi Tanya Sakinovich, is from Kyiv, and her son is studying at university there. She couldn’t imagine her son being on his own during this invasion, so she flew from her current home in London to Kyiv to be with him, as she couldn’t get him out.  Kyiv is now being bombed.  When talking with her, one can hear sirens in the background. Colleagues across Europe are working to get rabbis, their families and congregants out of Ukraine.  

We at CMT  have congregants with family in the Ukraine, who are suffering from the bombings. 

I share this message from the European Rabbis Assembly: 
The Board of the EUPJ Rabbinic Assembly, the Association of Progressive Rabbis in Europe, joins with rabbis all over Europe in condemning the unprovoked attack by Russia on Ukraine and our hearts go out to our colleagues working in Ukraine and to their congregants as well as all of the millions of innocent citizens in the region.  This Shabbat our thoughts and prayers are for them and our deepest hope is that restraint and good sense will bring an end to this conflict before it grows and directly affects the whole of Europe.
We call for a Shabbat of Peace this coming Shabbat Vayakhel (Shekalim), and we ask our communities to pray  for a return to diplomacy to bring about stability and enduring peace.

Let us pray for and offer our services towards the wellbeing of our world, and let us believe that truth and love will prevail over lies and hatred.
  
Here are two links through which donations can be made:
 
Click here to donate through World Jewish Relief

Click here to donate through CJP's Ukraine Emergency Fund 

Please watch the USJC Prayers for Peace for Ukraine, that was held earlier today, with Masorti/Conservative rabbis around the world, for prayers of comfort and hope.  Click here to watch.     

I know you join me in praying for all those at risk in Ukraine.  

Please reach out to me if I can be of any support.
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With prayers for a speedy end to this conflict,
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marcia Plumb