We’ve all seen scenes of the tragedies currently happening in Ukraine, but it often feels so removed from us here in Teaneck. I’ve wanted to help those affected, but I have felt helpless as I am only 16-year-old and live so far away. A recent staff event at Moshava Ba’ir New Jersey, part of “chesed week,” helped me feel connected to the current situation for Ukrainians.

A group of staff members, including myself, all stayed after camp this past week to pack school supplies for Ukrainian child refugees in Israel through the Kedma organization. Kedma, an Israel-based non-profit, connects Jews from all over the world to a wide variety of Israeli organizations. Kedma arranged for the school supplies and bags that we packed at MBNJ to be delivered to the Keter Ukrainian Support/Yad L’Olim store in Jerusalem, which has been helping Ukrainian refugees get what they need from the early days of the war.

We also learned that Kedma is teaming up with Bnei Akiva of the U.S. & Canada to run in this year’s Jerusalem Marathon on March 17, 2023—an epic event: running for two great organizations that support Israeli society. I feel so thankful to have been able to participate in this event. And who knows, maybe I’ll be able to run with Team Bnei Akiva-Kedma and even meet and help more Ukrainians this March.

By Ilana Loskove