As the world watched the war in Ukraine with deep concern, an extraordinary rescue and relief mission was taking place in Moldova.
The new book “Escaping Ukraine: The Story of Ukrainian Refugees” by Rabbi Zushe Abelsky, Shliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Chairman of the Jewish Community and Chabad Institutions of Moldova, tells this powerful story.
The book describes the journey of thousands of Jewish refugees who escaped from Ukraine to Moldova after the war began in February 2022. It also gives readers a rare look at the wide-reaching rescue work carried out by Chabad Moldova during those difficult months.
A small community facing a huge crisis
As the fighting began, thousands of refugees reached the Moldovan border. Within a short time, the Central Chabad Synagogue in Kishinev became an emergency center operating day and night.
Rabbi Abelsky describes how the community’s kosher kitchen prepared up to 1,500 meals a day. At the same time, the community rented hundreds of beds in guesthouses and resorts outside the city to give refugees a safe place to sleep.
In addition to food and shelter, Chabad Moldova provided medical care, help with documents, emotional support, and spiritual guidance.
Moving personal stories
The strength of the book lies in the personal stories it shares.
One story tells of a two-and-a-half-year-old Jewish boy from Kharkov who had a bris milah in Kishinev after his mother decided to strengthen his Jewish identity during the war.
Another story tells of a refugee boy who celebrated his Bar Mitzvah late because the war and his medical condition had prevented him from doing so earlier. On the same day, a 72-year-old Jewish man put on tefillin for the first time in his life.
The book also tells of a moving Jewish wedding held in Kishinev after the couple was forced to cancel their original wedding in Kyiv because of the war.
Holocaust survivors fleeing once again
One of the most painful sections of the book deals with Holocaust survivors who were forced to flee again. Decades after World War II, they once more found themselves escaping from war zones.
Some were rescued from bombed cities in Ukraine and brought to aid centers in Moldova. Later, many were flown to Israel for continued care and recovery.
Rabbi Abelsky describes how many of them said that the sirens and fear brought back childhood memories from the Holocaust.
More than a record — a message of hope
“Escaping Ukraine” is not only a historical record. It is a book about Jewish responsibility, mutual care, and the power of a small community to help thousands of people in a time of crisis.
According to Rabbi Abelsky, more than thirty years of Chabad’s work in Moldova prepared the community for these moments. When the refugees arrived, it was clear that they had to open their hearts and do everything possible to help.
An important Jewish and historical document
The book gives readers a rare look at Jewish rescue work in real time. It also preserves the stories of the refugees, volunteers, and shluchim who worked without pause during a very difficult period.
“Escaping Ukraine” is a moving document of kindness, faith, and hope — even in the darkest moments.
Available on Amazon: Escaping Ukraine: The Story of Ukrainian Refugees by Rabbi Zushe Abelsky.
Amazon.com: Escaping Ukraine: The Story of Ukrainian Refugees: 9798375819969: Abelsky, Zushe: Books
