Epilogue: Finding the Jews of Obodivka
Tomorrow will mark seven weeks since I visited Obodivka, a place where I connected with my Jewish roots but in which I found no Jews. As...
The End of the Journey
It's 9:30 am at Kiev Airport as I await my connecting flight home to JFK. I've been awake now for over 27 straight hours. Having a 7:00...
I Have Never Been More Grateful to Forget Something
On a minor sidenote to my trip, right after landing at the airport in Odessa a few days ago, I realized I had accidentally left my camel...
Beit Grand Is Indeed a Magical Place
My last stop on my JDC Odessa itinerary today, and indeed for my entire Ukrainian journey, was back at the Beit Grand JCC, Odessa's...
Hesed Comes in All Shapes and Sizes (and Ages)
This morning, I was picked up at my hotel in Odessa by Inna Vdovichenko of the JDC Odessa office. The JDC had planned a full day of...
A Synagogue Held Up By History
On the way home from Obodivka, Dmitriy and I resolved to make one more stop. We would be driving through the neighboring town of Bershad,...
Naomi, Charlie, and the Road to Obodivka
While I have met with many Federation-related partners on this trip, and I've enjoyed evenings at the ballet, the operetta theatre, and...
The Wandering Jew, Just Like at Home
In the two weeks before I left for my trip to Ukraine, I spent five high holiday services in five different Upper Fairfield County...
In Fairfield County we have the Kesher Project, in the FSU we have Project Kesher
Housed at B'nai Israel and serving the community, Upper Fairfield County has the Kesher Project, a program that "kindles the light of...
Grateful for a Gray and Gloomy Morning
As I got into my Uber this morning to head to Babi Yar, I was grateful for the gray and gloomy weather. For many local residents, Babi...