Kiev – Chief Rabbi Calls On Separatists To Cease Fighting As Ukrainian Jewish Center Hit By Rockets

Kiev – A building housing a Jewish social welfare center in eastern Ukraine was hit by rockets on Tuesday during a barrage that has killed at least seven people in the government held city.

Two rockets hit the nine story building housing the city’s local Hesed branch but failed to explode, according to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, which runs the network of community service centers in the former Soviet Union.

“This latest development is another stark reminder of the harsh conditions on the ground that impact the lives of the most vulnerable in Ukraine everyday. As we mourn the loss of life, our staff on the ground are tending to the elderly and poor Jews we serve in the city to ensure their safety. We remain vigilant and dedicated to delivering humanitarian aid to the thousands in Ukraine who are facing violence, scarcity of food and medicine, and the harsh winter months,” JDC CEO Alan Gill said in a statement.

According to the JDC, the center in Kramatorsk provides services to more than 560 elderly and poor Jews.

While the social service network usually deals with issues of poverty, especially among the elderly, during the course of the Russian-backed insurgency, it has increased its operational tempo to provide services for over 4,600 Jews in the war zone and 2,400 internally displaced persons.

Kramatorsk, which now serves as the interim regional capital for the Donetsk Oblast, was retaken from separatist forces by the Ukrainian army in July.

It appears that the rockets were fired from separatist-controlled Horlivka, Tamya Shapkovsky, a member of the local Jewish community, told the Jerusalem Post by telephone Tuesday evening.

Twelve residents of the city, five of them children, have been killed in the rocket attacks, she said, alleging that rebel fire had been directed at schools and kindergartens.

“I can’t say we are nervous or scared but we all have our bags packed,” she continued, explaining that she was waiting on the results of talks between European and Russian leaders in Minsk on Wednesday before deciding on a course of action.

“If there will be any hot situation or more conflict probably we all have to leave the city.”

In Mariupol, another government held city in eastern Ukraine, some members of the Jewish community expressed their intention to flee after a late January rocket barrage killed thirty people, including one of their own.

“There’s turmoil in the community, but we continue to function. Additionally, we are trying to persuade everyone who is willing to leave the city for Zhitomir and other places where we may be received. The move will be organized with our help,” Aaron Kaganovsky, the assistant to city Rabbi Mendel Cohen told JewishNews.com.ua at the time.

In response to Tuesday’s violence, Ukrainian Chief Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich called on the separatists and their Russian backers to negotiate with Kiev and cease fighting.

“It is very unfortunate that lives are being lost and I cannot understand why the sides cannot get together and stop the killings. They are senseless. The terrorists, the separatists are not gaining anything,” he told the Post.

“I don’t understand what Putin wants. Poroshenko offered an unconditional ceasefire if they stop shooting. Let’s stop the fighting and get to the table and see what we can do. People are losing their lives for no reason now.”

Russian and foreign media have speculated on Putin’s long-term goals for Ukraine. Some say Putin wants a “frozen” or unsolved conflict in the east that allows Russia to retain influence in Ukraine, while others say that his goal is continuing instability to weaken Ukraine’s pro-western leaders.