Members of a New York synagogue traveled to the Ukrainian-Polish border to help refugees

A group of dedicated people from the congregation of the Emanuel Temple on the Upper East Side of Manhattan went to the border of Ukraine and Poland. The mission of the trip was a mission of faith, compassion and concern for the innocent citizens of Ukraine, whose country was invaded and torn apart by Russian forces more than 130 days ago. Fox News.

When most Americans greeted summer on Memorial Day, a group from Temple Emanu-El - New York's leading Reform Jewish community - traveled to Ukraine instead.

What they saw and learned during their travels will forever remain in their memory.

Martin Bell, one of the travelers, said that the inspirational words of Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson made him decide to leave the comforts of home and go to Ukraine to those who are suffering.

“When I read the rabbi's message,” Bell said of the trip and its significance, “I thought, 'How can I not go?'

“As we watch the events unfolding in Ukraine with deep concern,” Rabbi Davidson shared in a message to Temple Emanuel members, “many of us feel helpless in wanting to help millions of people. To those who suffer the cruelties of an unjust war. Individually and collectively, we have sent funds and goods to relief organizations and will continue to do so. And now we have another way to answer the call of conscience.”

The rabbi continued: “Together we will deliver much-needed supplies, offer comfort to those fleeing the war. And we will witness both the suffering and the extraordinary efforts of institutions offering relief from this suffering.”

Bell said the rabbi's message deeply inspired him and others.

“There are three key messages there. One of them is to help end suffering,” Bell said, “and we've seen that. We spoke to one refugee who spent 18 hours traveling with her daughter to the border. And she saw things that were so terrible, the deaths of fellow Ukrainians, that all she said to the group was, “We hate them all,” Bell said. The woman meant the Russians, who tried to destroy Ukraine and brutally killed innocent people.

“You would think it made us mourn,” Bell said, seeing the charitable operations needed by the Ukrainian people. “But it was the opposite. It was so inspiring. At the end, we came back refreshed, seeing how the Polish people support immigrants,” he said. The Poles supported and helped them from the very first days of the war.

“About 5 million people left Ukraine. About 3,5 million of them went to Poland,” Bell said.

A group from the Temple of Emanu-El brought sacks filled with supplies for desperate Ukrainians.

According to Bell, the participants in the trip from the temple had their eyes opened at almost every stop along the way.

“We were right at the border, at the checkpoint where people go through. And right there are dozens of tents filled with volunteers to help the refugees,” Bell said. The tents are filled with food, clothing, medical supplies, mobile phone sim cards and more. Some of these operations are carried out by NGOs, others by ordinary people.

Wherever the group went, they saw ordinary Polish people helping the refugees. “These ordinary people just saw the need and took on the challenge,” Bell said.

Wendy Gerber, another participant of the trip, shared her emotions.

“It was great helping Ukrainian refugees,” Gerber said.

“I made friends with a refugee named Sara, who came from Mariupol. She is 37 years old and has three children, one of whom has autism. And they stayed in their house for as long as they could. But when the shelling came dangerously close to them, they had to go to the basement of the house. There they stayed for more than 30 days along with three other families. The situation continued to worsen, and they understood that they needed to leave, ”said Gerber.

The green corridors were to become safe evacuation zones for Ukrainians. But the Russians were still shooting at the Ukrainians. In the end, they made the decision that they had to go.

“And as they drove out of Mariupol, they passed bodies on the street. And I can't even imagine how difficult it was. I myself have three children,” added Gerber.

She said that the family's first stop on the way back was the synagogue. “When I heard about it, I thought, 'These are really devout people,'” she said.

The woman's husband took Sarah and their three children to safety, but then returned to Ukraine. And he took another 25 people out of Ukraine.

“Sarah and I have been close since we parted ways in Warsaw,” Gerber said. “And almost every day she sends me notes, photographs.”

According to her, the woman saw how her former apartment building was demolished. They managed to escape only with some clothes and documents. “They left laptops, photos, all their valuables,” Gerber said.

On the subject: New York Jews raise millions of dollars to help Ukraine

She shared that Sarah showed her a photo of her 12-year-old son. He still carries a piece of shrapnel in his hand to this day. The boy said to her, "Why doesn't God like me, why did he destroy my house?" But then he also said to his mother, "Maybe God really likes me because I'm alive today."

Gerber said she was extremely touched that such thoughts would come to the mind of a little boy. She said she spent time painting with young children at one of the orphanages.

Rabbi Davidson said at a Friday night temple service, describing this unusual trip, "It was a team effort."

He thanked the members of the community who donated things for the Ukrainians. But there were also donations. He also remembered the heroism of Polish citizens who daily help the Ukrainian people. Day after day they give themselves, bringing people hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Rabbi Davidson also noted that in Krakow the group encountered a growing, vibrant, young Jewish community.

In addition, the group realized that Poland today is not a breeding ground for anti-Semitism, which they could be suspected of due to the history of the 20th century. In fact, there is a growing interest in Judaism in the country due to the importance of Jewish cultural life throughout the centuries of Polish history before the Holocaust.

Finally, he said: “We are all extremely proud of the Polish Jewish community. They care about Ukrainians of all faiths.”