Two sisters on opposite sides of the globe have not seen each other in person since the onset of COVID-19. Lately, the divide — in countless ways — has seemed painfully greater.
The Silberstein family’s shul in Chernigov, Ukraine.
“Just hearing stories and seeing pictures and videos of what’s going on, it’s crazy,” said Sarah Simon.
Simon and her sister, Aliza Silberstein, grew up in New Jersey. Six years ago, Sarah moved to Denver, to be a preschool teacher at Chabad Jewish Center of South Metro Denver, where her husband Meir is a rabbi.
Twelve years ago, Aliza moved a bit further from home.
To Ukraine.
As you might expect, the current communication between the sisters is laced with anxiety and urgency.
Simon says, “They’ve been in pretty constant communication every couple of hours, at least, being able to update us.
“Thank G-d for WhatsApp.”
When Russia’s bombing of Ukraine intensified, Aliza’s family — her husband Yisroel and their 10 children, started migrating out of their home in Chernigov, where Yisroel is a rabbi at their synagogue.
Chernigov is in northern Ukraine, close to the border of Russian ally Belarus, so the family quickly evacuated west to Moldova — a 40-hour trip — then to Romania.
“They were living in their basement with some other members from the community and then the situation just got too dangerous,” said Simon.
“They are working tirelessly to get their people in their community to safety, which is really difficult right now.
“They don’t know what their next move will be, but right now they’re just trying to help the people who are back home.”
Simon added: “I’m relieved for my family, but with what everyone else is going through . . .”
At this moment, Sarah’s voice trails off, perhaps due to somewhat of a perpetual worry about her sister’s now-former home. Simon visited there three years ago for her nephew’s Bar Mitzvah.
“Ukraine has always been a bit of a third-world country,” Simon said. “So there’s always been a bit of nervousness for them, for what their lives are like in Ukraine.
“But,” Sarah said, recalling the scene at the Bar Mitzvah, “it’s incredible to see the Jewish pride in Ukraine now.
“They were dedicating a sefer Torah to a school in the community there,” she remembered. “It was just an amazing experience to see how proud everyone was and how they’re not scared to be Jewish anymore. The non-Jews were there supporting them, marching in the streets, and Ukrainian policemen were guarding the Torah scroll as it was being led to a new home.”
The marching in the streets is now of a different sort, and Ukrainian policemen are fighting for their lives.
The last time the sisters saw each other was in early 2020. The next visit cannot come soon enough.
As Simon said: “I’m so grateful that they are safe.”
Chabad Jewish Center has set up a site to donate to Ukranian Jewish relief: denverjewishcenter.com/donate.
Copyright © 2022 by the Intermountain Jewish News
