The Jewish community of Zhitomir – a leading member of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine – recently held a gathering to honor its World War II veterans. Held at the Jewish Community Center, this event took place on the eve of Victory Day.
Chief Rabbi of Zhitomir and Western Ukraine Shlomo Wilhelm greeted the group of veterans, as did Zhitomir businessman Alexander Presman. The latter has regularly assumed a portion of the costs for organizing this annual meeting. Mr. Presman welcomed them on this occasion and thanked the veterans for their contribution to making Victory Day possible, presenting each of them with a gift. The veterans were moved with the attention and many warm wishes extended to them.
Eighty-eight-year-old Hone Braverman participated in this event for veterans for the first time. Rabbi Wilhelm approached him to ask whether he wanted to put on tefillin, to which he answered “I know what it is, my father used to put them on,” he said excitedly. He admitted that he, himself, has never put on tefillin. This is how this celebration of Victory Day ended up also being the Bar Mitzvah for this octogenarian.
The veterans who, for health reasons, were unable to partake in the meeting, were remembered as well. On the day after Victory Day, participants in the STARS youth program participated in home visits to honor the senior citizens on the occasion of Victory Day, also presenting them with gifts. Students from the Ohr Avner Chabad Day School also brought the home-bound veterans flowers and drawings that they had made for them.