In the week since the collapse of President Viktor Yanukovych’s pro-Russian government in Ukraine and the incursion of Russian troops in Crimea, Jewish community leaders throughout the vast country describe an air of increasingly worried uncertainty about the possibility of war. 

While some fear resurgent anti-Semitism, all are subject to the financial crisis taking place throughout the nation.

“Last week people were worried because of the uncertainty of what each day might bring,” says Rabbi Yechiel Shlomo Levitansky, a California native who with his wife, Rochie, has directed Chabad-Lubavitch of Sumy, near the Russian border in northeastern Ukraine, since 2004. 

“Now people are worried that there might be a full-fledged war here. We don’t know what will happen next.”

Our community and Jewish communities around Ukraine are struggling financially,” says Rabbi Moshe Moskowitz, chief rabbi and Chabad representative in the eastern city of Kharkov, which in recent days has become the scene of intense street clashes between pro-Russian activists and pro-Western Ukrainians. 

“At this point, the economic situation is what we’re most worried about. 

Banks are only giving hryvna, and only certain amounts. Many donors are worried now, and therefore have stopped their regular donations. Our financial position is grave.”

“Some people are on one side, others are on another, and they all come to us to talk it over,” he says. “It’s a tense time in our community, and all we can do is try to direct people’s emotions towards doing something good.”

No one ever thought we could have such worries in 2014,” says Rabbi Sholom 

People are worried and scared because there is a feeling that whichever side you’re on, someone will blame the Jews. That’s what people are afraid of, although so far we haven’t seen any of that.”

There are many donors in Kiev and other big cities who have cut off their support at this time. It is very difficult for us to continue. The question that remains is: What will be tomorrow?”

Article taken from Chabad.org