Ukrainian Jews Face Crisis This Hanukkah

IFCJ Canada  |  December 19, 2025

With the arrival of winter, and facing continued conflict from Russia, Ukrainian Jews are entrenched in an uphill struggle to maintain the costs of daily life, reports Ynet News.

Amid nightly shelling and prolonged blackouts, Jewish communities across Ukraine are grappling with especially harsh conditions. An increasing number of families report financial distress and growing concerns over their children’s well-being. Some regions are also experiencing shortages of basic necessities. Community rabbis are doing what they can to maintain Jewish life, even as the situation continues to deteriorate. “Missiles fall almost every night, the electricity barely comes back, and prices just keep rising, this is a real emergency,” said a resident of Dnipro and member of the local Jewish community.

Jewish Relief Network of Ukraine (JRNU) and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews are currently running a large-scale emergency campaign to distribute humanitarian aid, including food packages, blankets, heating kits and medicine — along with menorahs, candles and informational pamphlets. “Hanukkah is a holiday of light, and we’re here to bring that light even to the darkest places,” said Fellowship President Yael Eckstein. According to her, the aid is reaching dozens of communities across the country, sometimes at great personal risk.

In 2025, IFCJ Canada provided $800,000 CAD in humanitarian aid to support vulnerable elderly individuals and children in Ukraine. This assistance focused on ensuring access to food, essential medications, emergency support, and vital winter relief, helping families and seniors stay nourished, warm, and safe amid ongoing hardship.

In 2026, IFCJ Canada will increase its support to $1.5 million CAD, strengthening and expanding assistance for food security, essential medications, emergency needs, and winter relief, while also adding community-based programs for elderly individuals that promote connection, dignity, and overall wellbeing.

Bring hope to Jews in Ukraine, by partnering with IFCJ Canada to provide warmth, food, and essential aid.