Hanukkah during the war: what is happening in the Jewish communities of Ukraine and the meeting with Zelensky

Jewish communities in Ukraine are preparing to celebrate Hanukkah amidst the ongoing war. The fourth winter of the full-scale invasion is marked by attacks on energy infrastructure, risks of power outages, and a complex humanitarian situation. Despite this, religious and community activities continue.

The Israeli publication Ynet reported on the preparations for Hanukkah in Ukrainian Jewish communities.

Conditions of Preparation

The winter period in Ukraine remains one of the most vulnerable stages of the war. In several regions, there is a risk of power and heating outages, especially in frontline and regularly shelled areas. The economic burden on the population remains high: prices for food and utilities have risen, and many families live with reduced incomes.

Jewish communities operate in the same reality as the entire population of the country, combining religious life with addressing basic humanitarian needs.

Humanitarian Aid for Hanukkah

In preparation for the holiday, international Jewish organizations and partner funds are involved. Aid is being sent to dozens of communities across the country — both in large cities and small settlements.

According to the publication, communities are receiving:

• basic food packages;

• warm blankets and winter clothing;

• heaters and autonomous heat sources;

• medications;

• Hanukkah kits — menorahs, candles, and printed materials.

The aid is primarily aimed at the elderly, families with children, and those who have found themselves in vulnerable situations due to the war.

Geography and Scale

This is not about isolated actions. Hanukkah and humanitarian events cover dozens of Jewish communities throughout Ukraine. In some places, community centers effectively serve as support points where people can receive food, warmth, and basic assistance.

Some supplies are delivered to regions regularly subjected to shelling, complicating logistics but not stopping the work.

Hanukkah in Wartime

Hanukkah is a holiday associated with the history of resistance and the preservation of religious identity. In wartime, this context takes on a practical dimension. For communities, it is not about symbolism but concrete actions: organizing the holiday, providing people with candles, and the opportunity to gather and conduct religious rituals even under restrictions.

Lighting Hanukkah candles during the war is seen as part of normal religious life, which continues despite the hostilities.

Meeting at the Office of the President of Ukraine

Special attention is given to an event planned in Kyiv. During Hanukkah, at the office of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, there will be a lighting of Hanukkah candles with the participation of 15 rabbi-shlichim representing the country’s Jewish communities.

During the meeting, two items are planned to be presented to the President of Ukraine.

The first is an ancient Hasmonean coin, about 2100 years old, with inscriptions in ancient Hebrew.

The second is the first editions of the Pentateuch translated into Ukrainian. These translations were prepared and distributed in recent months among approximately 50,000 Jewish families across Ukraine.

The event takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing war and reflects the working contacts between the Ukrainian state leadership and Jewish religious communities.

Translation of the Pentateuch into Ukrainian

The project of translating the Pentateuch into Ukrainian has special significance. These are the first systematic translations aimed at wide distribution within the country. The books are distributed through communities and humanitarian channels, including regions affected by hostilities.

The project is aimed at preserving religious education and access to basic texts in the state language of Ukraine.

The Role of Communities During the War

During the war, Jewish communities perform several functions simultaneously:

• religious activities and holiday celebrations;

• humanitarian aid and social support;

• assistance to the elderly and families with children;

• participation in volunteer initiatives.

In many cases, assistance is provided not only to community members but to all those in need, regardless of their nationality or faith.

Why This Topic is Important

The story of preparing for Hanukkah in Ukraine is not a private religious plot. It shows how communities continue to function in wartime, combining traditional life with solving practical tasks.

For Israel and the Jewish diaspora, this material is important as evidence that Jewish communities in Ukraine continue to exist and work amidst ongoing aggression.

Conclusion

This year, Hanukkah in Ukraine takes place against the backdrop of war, shelling, and energy risks. Preparation for the holiday includes concrete actions: humanitarian supplies, religious events, and official meetings.

The facts presented in the Israeli publication show that Jewish communities in Ukraine continue to work even in the fourth winter of war.