The children arrived in Berlin on Friday after a 52-hour bus ride across seven countries
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a close friend of Chabad-Lubavitch of Berlin who was instrumental in securing the passage of 120 children from Odessa’s Chabad-run Mishpacha Children’s Home, paid the kids a visit on March 7. Arriving at Chabad of Berlin, Steinmeier had lunch with the children and their staff and toured the grounds with Rabbi Yehuda Tiechtel, director of Chabad of Berlin.
Speaking about his role in facilitating the children’s passage through six international borders, Steinmeier said, “We would like to stand by them and make our contribution so that they can find peace here and have the opportunity to process the experience of their flight to safety.”
“It was very moving that the president of Germany and his wife came today to spend time with the children, visiting the Chabad center,” Rabbi Yehuda Tiechtel said after the visit. “It shows how important these children are. Together, we will overcome all challenges; we will be there for our brethren with love, care and dedication.”
The grueling 52-hour journey took place in two buses that left Odessa at 7 a.m. on March 2. They didn’t arrive in Berlin until Friday midday after passing through seven countries. From Odessa, they fled to Moldova, where the children played outside and ate before continuing on to the longer leg of the trip: Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia, and finally, Germany.
“We were racing against the clock to arrive in Berlin before Shabbat,” Rabbi Mendy Wolff told Chabad.org. Wolff, 25, explained that he became the director of the orphanage overnight when Chabad-Lubavitch of Odessa, directed by his parents Rabbi Avraham and Chaya Wolff, made the difficult decision that their children’s home needed to evacuate immediately.
The younger Wolff was a teacher in Chabad’s school before the war, but when his parents needed to stay behind in Odessa to help evacuate other parts of the community, Rabbi Mendy Wolff took on the responsibility of shepherding 120 children ranging in age from one-and-a-half-month-old Tuvia—who was left in Rabbi Avraham Wolff’s arms at just four days old—to almost 18-year-old Shoshana, a university student who grew up at Mishpacha children’s home and, still legally under their guardianship, fled Odessa together with the rest of the 60 boys and 60 girls in Chabad’s care.
A Warm Welcome in Germany
Wolff said the group received a warm welcome from the German public, who came in droves to drop off toys, clothing and other essentials at Chabad of Berlin. “We have 30 volunteers who help us with everything; we have a storage room full of clothing,” he said, marveling at the generosity of the German people. “All of Berlin was bringing stuff—people are so nice; we feel embraced.”
When one girl complained of tooth pain on Shabbat, a dentist was summoned immediately by community members, who paid for her treatment. “People with hearts of gold,” added Wolff.
He explained that while they have received many offers from families willing to adopt the children, especially baby Tuvia, whose precocious image has captured the hearts of Berlin, they cannot give any children up for adoption under Ukrainian law.
What can the community do to help?
Wolff noted the exorbitant costs involved in housing 120 children in a hotel and feeding them three hot meals a day, as well as the costs to transport them to Germany. “Each hotel room costs 110 euros per night, and we are renting 40 hotel rooms. That alone is 4,400 euros [about $4,800] each night—and we don’t know how long we’ll be here.” Busing the children was more than 40,000 euros [about $43,500], and the daily costs continue to pile up. “We need all the help we can get,” he said.
“It feels so good to be here,” Shoshana declared from Berlin. While she said she misses Odessa, she plans to use her time well in Berlin. “I want to learn German, and I want to improve my English,” she said in almost-fluent Hebrew. “And I’m helping those who helped me; I help with the little children, I help in the kitchen.”
The teen acknowledged that the war was terrifying: “I was very afraid. In my heart, I knew I needed to leave Ukraine. Now I’m here with my community, my family.”
To contribute directly to the support of the children, visit the Chabad of Berlin donation page here.
The Ukraine Jewish Relief Fund has been established to help provide assistance to the Jewish communities in Ukraine impacted by the war.
Click here for a prayer you can say and a list of good deeds you can do in the merit of the protection of all those in harm’s way.
