Posted on 02/24/22
The main streets in Kyiv were empty, on Thursday morning, February 24, 2022, as warning air-raid alarms sounded. The people financially and physically able to leave had gone already. By 6:30 am, it was too late to drive out of Kyiv for the border as roads were clogged with cars trying to flee. The Kyiv airport and Odesa Port hit by Russian airpower were no longer options to escape. For weeks authorities assured, Putin would threaten, but not attack Ukraine.
Kyiv or Kiev, the capital and most populous city of Ukraine with close to 3 million people before Russian threats, was home to a thriving Jewish community. Hours after the attack on Kyiv, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Markovitch and Rebbizen Inna Markovitch spoke of the situation with a Media Central media interview online session from the Kyiv Jewish Center at 67 Saksaganskova Street. The KJC had ready and prepared for an emergency with 50 mattresses, 6 tons of food, and water for sheltering the community members left behind, those who could reach the synagogue.
Of the thousands of Jews who had lived in Kyiv, Israelis, the wealthy, and the young had gone. The organized Jewish community before the current crisis provided food for 800 daily, mostly elderly. Two hundred of the residents they support are bed-ridden. One 104-year-old woman held the Rebbitzen's hand on a recent visit and tearfully told her of surviving the Nazis.
Rabbi Markovitch was born in Ukraine and came to Israel with his parents as a three-year-old. He served in the Israeli Air Force for 12 years, For the past 21 years he and his wife, parents to 7 children, have lived in Kyiv. Rabbi Ariel and Cherry Markovitch, a son and daughter-in-law (born in France) joined briefly at the end of the interview. The younger couple had packed their bags this morning and came to the synagogue. Reports were that people who tried to get out of Kyiv after 6:00 am were stuck in traffic for hours and had no choice but to return.
With the rumors and fake news, it was hard to know what is true the rabbi said. The Markovitches reported seeing the main streets empty. However, there were lines of cars to fill up with gas and stocking on food in certain locations.
As Rebbitzen Inna mentioned more than once, unlike Israel, in Kyiv, there are no bomb shelters. The alarm this morning was a faint sound, it was the stream of concerned calls from overseas that woke them at 5:00 am. The official response was people could go to metro stations that have sections below ground for shelter. However, she said the nearest one to them is a 20-minute walk.
If the situation continues and food does become scarce, and word gets out the Jewish synagogue has food stocked they are concerned. They did not feel antisemitism was a problem in the past. If there was an issue the rabbi would contact the Ukrainian Interior Affairs or another official on the cell phone and the matter would be resolved. The main concern the couple expressed today was their armed security guard did not show up as planned. Plus another security company doubled the fee.
Ten percent of the local police force is Jewish. There are Jews serving in the military and secret service, but without security, the prospect of angry mobs is a serious concern. In 2014, there were riots and looting. Strangers approaching KJC will be provided a food package on request. But for safety's sake, only known members of the Jewish community will be allowed inside to take shelter.
The Jewish Agency has promised but has not yet provided aid. The Israel Embassy has relocated near the Polish border a 7-hour drive away but has been in contact and provided a map with border crossing points. However, getting out of Kyiv this morning was the problem.
The French Embassy advised their citizens to stay. Others have said to leave. For now, the Markovitch family is taking the situation in Kyiv step by step. First, in a practical manner, serving lunch to the 50 people, including children, who came to KJC already and not planning ahead. As Rebbitzen Markovitch said, we all know the expression of what happens when man plans...
