Ukraine Crisis Portal
Jewish Community Task Force on Ukrainian Refugees - latest updates
The JLC and Board of Deputies has brought together organisations from across the Jewish community to ensure we can collectively provide an appropriate, needs-led and coordinated response to the refugee crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We recognise that the greatest number of refugees and people affected by the conflict are in Ukraine itself or the surrounding regions. The best way to help these people is by making financial donations (donating items can often end up wasting charities' resources and can even end up in landfill). Community organisations such as World Jewish Relief have long standing partnerships in Ukraine and are best placed to channel funds appropriately. More information on World Jewish Relief’s response is available below.
Please use the links below to find out more about hosting through the Homes for Ukraine scheme and how the Jewish community is supporting Ukrainian refugees in the UK. If you would like to include any other services on this page, please contact info@thejlc.org.uk.
The Jewish Community Task Force on Ukrainian Refugees meets approximately quarterly and is coordinated by the Board of Deputies. Please email Jack Baldwin (jack.baldwin@bod.org.uk) if you would like to get involved.
Useful Information
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On 10 March, the Jewish Leadership Council and Board of Deputies convened a community task force with 23 Jewish organisations to discuss what might be a coordinated, appropriate, needs-led response for both the refugees themselves and the community.
The Task Force meets regularly to discuss updates on the crisis, the Homes for Ukraine scheme and any emerging gaps in provision that we could help fill.
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If you are part of a Jewish community organisation that is providing services to Ukrainian refugees and want to join the Task Force please email michelle.mitchell@thejlc.org
To understand more about the Homes for Ukraine Scheme please visit the Government’s website here:
The JLC has collated useful information for anyone hosting Ukrainian refugees. Please use the links below for support and advice and keep checking this page for updates.
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Click here.
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Mosely for Ukraine have published a useful guide to provide advice for hosts and refugees as they get settled and enrolled in the various support systems. Scroll down to Guides/Useful documents here.
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Watch Jami’s online seminar ‘Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment For People Who May Be Traumatised’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygkGaAzXvis&feature=youtu.be
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London Plus have built a guide to support services for Ukrainian refugees across London which can be accessed here.
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Finchley Reform Synagogue Ukrainian Coffee Morning:
*Coffee Club for Ukrainian Refugees*
10.30am-12pm drop-in every Thursday at Finchley Reform Synagogue, 101 Fallow Court Avenue, London N12 0BE
* Free of charge
* Tea, coffee and home-made cakes
* English language teaching
* A chance to meet and chat with other Ukrainians and local people.
Kingston and Surbiton United Synagogue
Contact Jill Prager (jkprager@aol.com) for further details.
Muswell Hill United Synagogue
Contact Karen Ackerman (k.ackerman@sky.com) for further details .
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You can search for local ESOL classes in London here
The Government have asked local authorities to support refugee guests and will be funding them in order to do so. If you are a host, or considering hosting, it is important that you familiarise yourself with what your local authority’s responsibilities are, so you can support your guests to access the services due to them.
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Click here.
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If your Local Authority is not listed here, please be in touch via info@thejlc.org and we can add it.
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Click here to donate.
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Following the Government’s welcome announcement of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, World Jewish Relief is ready to assist this effort. You can register your interest in hosting Ukrainian refugees using the form on this page. Click here to learn more.
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World Jewish Relief have expanded their refugee employment programme to meet the needs of Ukrainians. Refugees can email veronika@worldjewishrelief.org to find out more.
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World Jewish Relief has been operational across Ukraine for almost 30 years, supporting 29 partners delivering services to 8,000 Jewish elderly, those out of work and those living in poverty. The Ukraine Crisis Appeal HERE is providing food, cash, psychological support, material assistance where we can. They are in constant contact with all partners. World Jewish Relief are ready to assist people on the move if security access allows. They are assisting those that have crossed into Moldova, Poland and Traniestria. They are also supporting those beyond the Jewish community where we can in Ukraine Government Controlled Areas close to the contact line.
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JW3 & World Jewish Relief held a Ukraine Crisis Briefing on 2nd March. For analysis of the situation in Ukraine, its impact on Ukraine’s Jewish community, and what the UK Jewish community can do to help Ukrainians meet their urgent humanitarian needs. To watch back click here.
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BICOM is monitoring the crisis with grave concern and focused on the ramifications for Israel. Their perspective including highlighting Israel’s relations with both Ukraine and Russia and the diplomatic and economic implications of the conflict.
To receive BICOM updates by email sign up here.
To read their output so far click here.
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Jewish Volunteering Network (JVN)
JVN have created a portal with opportunities to contribute, volunteer and support Ukrainian refugees.
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Liberal Judaism
Liberal Judaism has published a prayer for Ukraine – by Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah.
They have also released a statement which can be found here.
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Masorti Judaism are supporting World Jewish Relief's Appeal and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg published a Prayer for Ukraine.
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In recent weeks UJIA has been working with their long-term partners at the Jewish Agency for Israel, monitoring plans for the rescue and absorption of Ukraine’s Jewish community. Earlier this week, the Jewish Agency – the organisation responsible for ALL aliyah to Israel – launched ‘Operation Israel Guarantees’, for what Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has described as potentially the biggest aliyah since the early 1990s. Of an estimated Jewish population of 200,000, over 10,000 have already made contact with the Jewish Agency and 5,000 have requested immediate immigration. It is expected this number to be in the tens of thousands very soon and anticipate a further wave from Russia. Find out more on UJIA's work on this here.
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UJS have also built a portal for Jewish students with links to organisations detailing how people in the UK can help support refugees fleeing Ukraine, as well as supporting those that can’t. Click here to view.
www.ujs.org.uk
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‘Almighty God, strengthen the hands of those who pursue peace, not war.’
The Chief Rabbi has composed a brief prayer for the people of Ukraine which has been distributed to synagogues around the country.
The United Synagogue hosted a Ukraine Crisis briefing with World Jewish Relief which can be viewed here.
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University Jewish Chaplaincy are supporting Jewish students affected by the Ukraine crisis and are offering support.
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There are currently 68 students from Ukraine living and studying in WIZO youth villages, most of whom came to Israel without their families. These young girls and boys are naturally experiencing enormous stress, deeply worried about their loved ones, friends and country. WIZO is providing them and the children around them with every type of emotional, social and material support. WIZOUK would like to help those affected by the crisis in Ukraine and for the next two months will donate 50% of all proceeds from our WIZO UK ebay shop to the humanitarian needs of those in Ukraine.
WIZO UK have released this statement.
Volunteers are urgently needed to help in a pop-up shop in Cricklewood (27 March -19 April). Proceeds will go towards specialist emotional and psychological support for Ukrainian & Russian students many of whom came to Israel alone and are deeply distressed about the family they have left behind. You can volunteer for up to 3-hour shifts or anytime to suit you. Free parking is available in the Morrison’s close by. If you can help, please urgently message Tal on tal.wizouk@gmail.com
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The Zionist Federation have joined their partners around Europe in showing solidarity with the Ukrainian people.