Ukraine
JULY 26 2022 UPDATE:
Welcome our Ukrainian Family to Toronto and Temple Emanu-El
Anastasiia, Alex, Danyil, Mark and Leonard Stamakhin
Temple Emanu-El welcomes the Stamakhin family to Toronto!
Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, they went to Georgia before the war broke out and came to Toronto one month ago.
Husband and father Alex is a computer software developer and is actively interviewing for jobs. Wife and mother Anastasiia has a degree in international economics. Alex is Jewish and wants his children to be connected with the Jewish community and Jewish education.
Their children are very talented! Oldest son Danyil (11 years old) plays piano and has won a silver medal for ballroom dancing. Middle son Mark (age 8) plays soccer. Both boys swim competitively. The two older boys will be attending Camp Shalom overnight camp in August. Thanks to the members of our Welcome Circle for helping the family get settled. Special thanks to Dina Krawitz for all her efforts and to all those who donated items for the family.
The family has now moved to a rented townhouse in Etobicoke.
Financial donations are appreciated now to help cover the family's resettlement costs.
You can make a tax-deductible donation to Temple Emanu-El HERE. Where it says "Type", use the drop-down menu to choose "REFUGEES".
Thank you to the members of our Temple Emanu-El Welcome Circle and to all of you. In September we plan to arrange an opportunity for you to meet the family.
Thank you to those who have already offered to participate. We need a few more people to round out our group, including those who speak or understand Ukrainian and/or Russian.
How to join our Welcome Circle:
- Please complete the Volunteer Application Form HERE. (Note: There is a place on the form to indicate that you are part of a group from Temple Emanu-El).
- Please let Nina Diamond know that you have submitted the volunteer application form: ninadiamond@icloud.com
- We will soon gather online as a group to prepare to welcome our Ukrainian family.
Other Ways to Help:
- DONATE: Click HERE to donate and choose "JIAS Ukraine Crisis Newcomer Fund". Your donation will help JIAS in its work to resettle Ukrainian refugees in Toronto.
- LEARN MORE: JIAS Toronto has launched a Ukraine Update page and Knowledge Hub on their website. These pages will be updated regularly.
- SPREAD THE WORD: Follow JIAS Toronto on Facebook and Instagram and help share important information.
Other Initiatives Around Our Community
World Union For Progressive Judaism • Ukraine Crisis Fund
In the light of the recent conflict on the Ukrainian border, the World Union for Progressive Judaism has launched the Ukraine Crisis Fund. The WUPJ is asking people from all over the world to make donations towards the support of the Jewish community in Ukraine.
Money will be spent on individuals and communities to ensure their safety and well-being.
If the conflict escalates further, your money will become crucial and necessary help for many people. If the tension eases, the fund will be spent on the development of the progressive Jewish community in Ukraine.
To donate and receive a Canadian tax receipt, donate to the Canadian Friends of the World Union For Progressive Judaism:
- Click HERE
- Choose "WUPJ Ukraine Fund" under "Apply your donation to a fund set up by this charity."
UJA Federation of Greater Toronto • Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund
Ukraine’s 200,000 Jews face a humanitarian crisis. UJA’s partners, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Agency, are already on the ground providing critical and life-saving support, but more relief will be needed in the coming weeks. Your generous gift to UJA’s Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund will be invested in further humanitarian relief, action to protect lives and increase security within the Ukrainian Jewish community, and evacuation from conflict zones.
To donate, click HERE.
JNF Canada • Support Ukrainian Orphans in Israel
First, they lost their parents. Then they lost their home.
This week, over 100 Ukrainian orphans, ages 2-18, travelled through Romania and safely arrived in Israel. Traumatized, and with little more than the clothes on their backs, these at-risk children and their caregivers recently arrived at the Nes Harim Field and Forest Education Center near Jerusalem. They plan to stay here for at least a month of acculturation, learning, and healing. We’re on a mission to return the smiles to their little faces and a sense of security and wellbeing to their hearts.
This Purim, these orphans need your help.
Your donation will help us provide them with: Toys, balls, and games, bicycles, sundries and personal hygiene items, playpens and car seats, field trips, evening entertainment/performers, computers and more.
JNF Canada will be sending funds immediately as the need is urgent. Please join us in our Purim appeal.
To donate, click HERE.
