In August of this year, more than 200 Jewish refugees from Ukraine were able to enjoy a two-week break from the trauma of their war-torn homeland. Chabad Poland invited them to a summer retreat that focused on giving children and their parents a break from life in a war zone. The participants came from the Ukrainian cities of Kamianske, Sumy, Kremenchuk, Dnipro and Kiev. The retreat was
The retreat, which took place in a hotel near Warsaw, made great efforts to cater to the special needs of the participants. All staff spoke fluent Ukrainian, and regular staff were supplemented by therapists and counselors to help the refugees, especially the children, process the trauma they had endured.
Daily activities ranged from field trips and crafts to music and baking classes. The refugees – many of whom had little access to formal Jewish education – also received a rich spiritual experience by observing Shabbat and attending Torah classes.
“Ukrainian refugees still face enormous daily challenges,” said the director of Chabad Poland, Rabbi Sholom Ber Stambler. The camp not only provides the children with a physical and mental break from life in a war zone, but also an opportunity to strengthen their Jewish faith and pride, Stambler said. “For these children, the summer provides a special opportunity to participate in informal education that emphasizes Jewish identity, heritage, values and customs in an engaging and comprehensive way.”
