The holiday of Pesach was overshadowed by fear and tragedy for the Jewish community of Sumy, Ukraine, as a deadly missile attack shook the city.
Rabbi Yechiel Shlomo Levitansky, the city’s longtime shliach and rabbi, shared that although members of the Jewish community living in the vicinity were spared, it was nothing short of a miracle.
During the attack, just as the community was gathered in shul for Shacharis, one of the blasts struck near a basement where children had been preparing for a holiday event.
Despite the horror and chaos outside, prayer services continued inside the shul, with heartfelt prayers for the safety of the residents. Several families experienced damage to their homes, including shattered windows, but were otherwise unharmed.
Although the attack disrupted the community seder, nevertheless “most of the Jewish families were able to celebrate the Seder properly,” said Rabbi Levitansky. “For those unable to come due to the curfew and safety concerns, we personally delivered Seder kits, ensuring everyone could participate.”
Before the holiday, the Chabad-led humanitarian network JRNU mobilized an effort to ensure a proper Pesach for all. More than 50,000 packages of Kimcha D’Pischa—including shemura matzah, kosher wine, meat, and dairy products—were distributed, even to remote villages. Public Sedarim took place in dozens of cities, drawing tens of thousands of participants, despite the ongoing war.
In Sumy—as in many other cities across the war-torn country—life and faith triumphed over fear, with the Jewish community standing strong and united through the Yom Tov of geulah.
