Over the past month, the needs of our Jewish brothers and sisters facing the upheaval of the war in Ukraine have been immense. What has become apparent as the war continues, however, is that unfortunately this crisis will not be just a moment in time – we now foresee that the needs of those who are fleeing Ukraine will likely stretch on for years and require a much longer-term investment upon the part of the world and the Jewish community in particular.

SOI has chosen to join the Shuls for Ukrainian Jewry campaign - working in conjunction with communities around North America, the OU, RCA, and National Council of Young Israel - to raise funds in support of these long-term needs. We in the SOI community have set a goal to contribute $3600 - 100 kosher for Pesach boxes. Every cent raised by this campaign will be distributed directly to partners on the ground working to take care of Jewish refugees wherever they are now, and to help them get settled wherever they are going.

As we prepare for our Pesach seders, we must be acutely aware that just as we were all once refugees caught between Mitzrayim and a homeland that we had not yet reached, so too there are many Jews today who find themselves adrift. Yet this time, they have us, the wider Jewish community, to provide the help they need as they rebuild their lives.

​​War never comes at a good time. While we have those who are in need of assistance in our local community, we must consider the many in this struggle as well. We've been praying for them, now help us respond to this crisis with generosity and an open heart – not just for the moment but for the years to come.