Under fire: How Ukraine's Jews are preparing for the fifth Rosh Hashanah of the war

Ukraine's Jews are preparing for the fifth Rosh Hashanah under war, in a complex and dangerous logistical operation due to the threat of Russian kamikaze drones. The Jewish Federation of Ukraine distributed packages to over 50,000 households and more than 1,000 Jewish soldiers on the front line, while facing a shortage of drivers and dangers in the field.

Ukraine's Jews are marking the fifth holiday season under war, with the main threat this year being Russian kamikaze drones, which have increased their range deep into the territory. The Jewish Federation of Ukraine (FJCU) managed a complex logistical operation to distribute holiday packages to over 50,000 households in 169 communities, and to more than 1,000 Jewish soldiers on the front line. Alina Teplytska, CEO of the Federation, explains that FPV drones attack civilian targets up to 70 km from the front line, including trucks, making the transport of packages by truck life-threatening in the Kherson, Chernihiv, Dnipro, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The Federation was forced to split cargo into smaller vehicles, but faced a severe shortage of drivers, many of whom were drafted into the army or feared the risk. Drivers heading towards Nikopol, Marhanets, and Pavlohrad had to make U-turns after drones hit vehicles ahead of them. The solution came from the community: local residents traveled independently to Dnipro and loaded packages for their community members. The packages included a Hebrew-Ukrainian calendar, honey, grape juice, liqueur, a kippah, candles, a toy shofar for children, and a sports water bottle added following Russian attacks on water reservoirs.