For some Jews, just the thought of returning to Poland—let alone to help Ukrainians—stirs up complicated feelings, given the two countries' fraught Holocaust legacies. But this week, three Canadian rabbis did exactly that, confronting the past and engaging with the present emergency.

Rabbi Mark Fishman, Rabbi Adam Scheier and Rabbi Reuben Poukpo travelled to Poland on a mission to help Ukrainians who are fleeing Russia's war on their home country. The rabbis flew into Warsaw and made their way east, stopping to meet traumatized Ukrainian refugees in hostels and Jewish buildings. They distributed money and donated warm clothes, which they packed and brought in large suitcases.

They believe that modern Jews must put aside their memories of Europe's troubled past and focus on helping people in need today. And while their brief trip is one small effort in the larger humanitarian crisis, they knew they had to do something. Rabbi Fishman and Rabbi Poukpo spoke to The CJN Daily from the Warsaw airport to discuss what they saw, how they helped and what they're taking away from this life-changing experience.

What we talked about:

Watch Rabbi Fishman's video from the border on Facebook
Read about Rabbi Scheier's experience meeting Ukrainian Jews on Facebook
Read "Rabbi Erwin Schild looks back on 95 years" at thecjn.ca
Donate to Jewish Winnipeg's Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund at jewishwinnipeg.org/ukrainian-emergency-relief-fund

Credits

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Victoria Redden is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

Émile Roy (Urgence Climatique, l’affaire Alanis/Esso et la crise des médias)