JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The horrifying images of the Russian invasion of Ukraine are stirring up painful memories of the past for Jewish communities here locally.
“It’s something that I can’t imagine I’m witnessing in my lifetime. That my children are witnessing in their lifetime,” Mariam Feist, the CEO of the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Northeast Florida, said.
STORY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Congress; invokes 9/11, Pearl Harbor
Feist told me Jewish people have dealt with antisemitism in Ukraine for generations and she fears it’ll only get worse with war being waged across the country.
In the next few weeks, she’ll be joining other leaders from Jewish federations across the world to help refugees fleeing Ukraine.
They’ll be stationed at the border of Poland and Ukraine.
“We are really seeing in real-time the work that’s being provided so that we can come back and share with Northeast Florida community exactly what’s happening, who we’re meeting, and what’s going on,” Feist said.
The Jewish Federation and Foundation of Northeast Florida told me there are about 200,000 Jewish people in Ukraine who are in dire need of food, medicine, and supplies as many continue to flee their homes.
More than $20 million have been raised by the Jewish Federations of North America.
In addition to supplies, transportation, and housing, those funds are even helping Ukrainian Jews make a permanent move to Israel.
STORY: Catholic Charities needs your help resettling over a dozen Ukrainian refugees in Jacksonville
For Feist, the chance to help in this humanitarian crisis is also very personal.
“Most of us came from that area. I came from that area. We want to go and show them a face and give them a real hug and let them know there is family,” Feist said.
Feist said that you don’t need to be Jewish to help the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville in their mission to provide humanitarian efforts to Ukraine. You can donate by clicking HERE on this link.