Hamodia Staff
Last week, a group of religious officers and senior officials of the Ukrainian Armed Forces visited the Jewish community in Kyiv, specifically the Beit Menachem JCC Community Center. During the visit, the officers met and conversed with Kyiv’s Chief Rabbi, Yonatan Markovich, and listened to lectures on various topics related to Judaism and military life.
The officers who took part in the meeting, which was part of a professional training programme, came from different units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and some held senior officer ranks.
During his lecture, Rabbi Markovich focused on topics such as Jewish identity during wartime, Jewish values, the spiritual and social challenges faced by Jewish soldiers, and Jewish perspectives on issues related to military life and war. In addition, Rabbi Markovich discussed with the officers the treatment and support provided by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to Jewish soldiers from all walks of life.
At the end of the visit, the officers presented Rabbi Markovich with a letter of appreciation for his outstanding contributions to the Ukrainian security forces in general and Jewish soldiers serving in the army in particular. The letter, issued by the Ukrainian Armed Forces Higher Education Institution, stated that the award was given for the rabbi’s “moral support contributing to the quality performance of combat missions in the defense of Ukraine.”
The visit is part of ongoing ties between Kyiv’s Jewish community and the Ukrainian military. Rabbi Markovich is known for his extensive work on behalf of Jewish soldiers and is highly respected by senior officials in the Ukrainian government and security services.
