Rabbi Pindrus at a group meeting
Due to the situation of Ukrainian Jews, the Knesset group that was formed to fortify Diaspora Jewry, headed by Rabbi Yitzchok Pindrus and MK Michal Shir, convened for emergency counsel. The meeting was also attended by government ministers, top officials of the Foreign Ministry, representatives of international Jewish organizations, Ukrainian rabbonim and community heads, representatives of emergency organizations and members of airline companies.
The minister of Aliya and Absorption, Penina Tamnoun Shata, opened the meeting saying, "We generally keep silent on such an issue for many reasons, yet keep vigilant tabs on developments. All pertinent government bodies are primed for a possible absorption of new immigrants."
Nachman Shai, Diaspora Minister, added, "As opposed to Israelis, the situation differs regarding Jewish communities. We are not telling anyone to leave (Ukraine) but neither will we abandon them unaided."
MK Rabbi Uri Maklev stressed the need for necessary publicity to the Israelis in Ukraine and said, "There is a vast gap between the general publicity and what is happening on the ground and we are well aware of this. When there is shooting on the avenues, the headlines cry their own messages, not reflecting the reality, and the population remains aloof. We must ask, however, if the Jewish population is actually aware of the situation. I am not speaking about people in communal positions of responsibility like rabbonim and congregation presidents who remain to support and aid their communities, but of the people themselves. Are they indifferent due to ignorance of the true situation?"
Yoel Leon, Israeli ambassador to Moldova and formerly in Kyiv, addressed the community representatives, "We have been dealing with the Foreign Ministry for the past month and a half regarding the situation. We have organized headquarters [cheder matzav orpi] in Lvov, near the Polish border, staffed with a diplomatic representative and a consul. We reinforced the consulate staff in Kyiv with three additional consuls. We are taking into account the possibility of air access in Ukraine being closed down, and have prepared a program of evacuation of Jewish communities in buses to neighboring countries. For example, we have a tentative authorization from Moldova to permit entry without too much red tape."
