Passover on the Shores of Lake Balaton: Dozens of Ukrainian Families, Separated by War, Reunited Once Again
This year, FJCU Passover Camp 5785 brought together hundreds of Ukrainian Jewish families who had been scattered across the globe due to the ongoing war.
The long-awaited gathering took place at Machne Chabad, a camp on the shores of Lake Balaton in Hungary — a space that, in the spring of 2022, became the first safe refuge for Jewish refugees fleeing Ukraine.
Initiated by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU) in cooperation with EMIH and with support from the Hungarian government, the first refugee camp was launched here. Since then, Machne Chabad has evolved into a full-scale support hub — hosting dozens of family, children’s, and leadership camps, educational programs, holiday celebrations, and Shabbatons that continue to provide connection, care, and community for displaced Jews from Ukraine.
This Passover, more than 300 participants gathered once again. For many, it was a rare opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and celebrate in an atmosphere of unity, tradition, and Jewish life.
The matzah for the holiday was baked in Ukraine — at the Tifferet Matzo bakery — and specially delivered to the camp, adding a powerful sense of continuity and connection with their homeland.
“Passover reminds us that we are one people, even when scattered across the world. When we come together, we strengthen our faith, our unity, and our resilience. No war can take away what makes us Jewish — our tradition, our values, and our responsibility to one another,”
— said Rabbi Mayer Stambler, Chairman of the Board of the FJCU.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our longtime photographer, Raphael Itzhak Vilensky, for his beautiful photos that so vividly capture these unforgettable moments.
This year, FJCU Passover Camp 5785 brought together hundreds of Ukrainian Jewish families who had been scattered across the globe due to the ongoing war.
The long-awaited gathering took place at Machne Chabad, a camp on the shores of Lake Balaton in Hungary — a space that, in the spring of 2022, became the first safe refuge for Jewish refugees fleeing Ukraine.
Initiated by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU) in cooperation with EMIH and with support from the Hungarian government, the first refugee camp was launched here. Since then, Machne Chabad has evolved into a full-scale support hub — hosting dozens of family, children’s, and leadership camps, educational programs, holiday celebrations, and Shabbatons that continue to provide connection, care, and community for displaced Jews from Ukraine.
This Passover, more than 300 participants gathered once again. For many, it was a rare opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and celebrate in an atmosphere of unity, tradition, and Jewish life.
The matzah for the holiday was baked in Ukraine — at the Tifferet Matzo bakery — and specially delivered to the camp, adding a powerful sense of continuity and connection with their homeland.
“Passover reminds us that we are one people, even when scattered across the world. When we come together, we strengthen our faith, our unity, and our resilience. No war can take away what makes us Jewish — our tradition, our values, and our responsibility to one another,”
— said Rabbi Mayer Stambler, Chairman of the Board of the FJCU.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our longtime photographer, Raphael Itzhak Vilensky, for his beautiful photos that so vividly capture these unforgettable moments.
Shabbat and holiday candle lighting times/holiday candle lighting times from a burning fire/ and Holiday ends in cities of Ukraine (18/04/19.04./20.04)
Balta 19:38 / 20:47 / 20:49
Berdichev 19:46 / 20:58 / 21:00
Berdyansk 19:07 / 20:15 / 20:17
Bila Tzerkva 19:40 / 20:52 / 20:53
Bilgorod Dnistrivsky 19:32 / 20:39 / 20:41
Cherkassi 19:31 / 20:43 / 20:44
Chernihiv 19:39 / 20:53 / 20:55
Chernivtsy 19:54 / 21:03 / 21:05
Dnipro 19:18 / 20:17 / 20:19
Donetsk 19:06 / 20:15 / 20:17
Hadyach 19:25 / 20:38 / 20:40
Henichesk 19:14 / 20:21 / 20:23
Horlivka 19:05 / 20:15 / 20:17
Ivano-Frankivsk 20:00 / 21:10 / 21:12
Izmail 19:37 / 20:43 / 20:44
Kakhovka 19:21 / 20:28 / 20:30
Kamyanske 19:19 / 20:29 / 20:31
Kharkiv 19:16 / 20:28 / 20:30
Kherson 19:24 / 20:31 / 20:33
Khmelnitsky 19:52 / 21:03 / 21:04
Konotop 19:30 / 20:44 / 20:46
Kremenchuk 19:28 / 20:36 / 20:38
Kriviy Rig 19:23 / 20:32 / 20:34
Kropivnitsky 19:29 / 20:39 / 20:40
Kyiv 19:40 / 20:52 / 20:54
Lubni 19:29 / 20:41 / 20:43
Lugansk 19:04 / 20:14 / 20:16
Lutsk 20:01 / 21:14 / 21:16
Lviv 20:02 / 21:13 / 21:15
Mariupol 19:05 / 20:13 / 20:15
Melitopol 19:13 / 20:21 / 20:23
Mohiliv Podilsky 19:46 / 20:56 / 20:58
Mykolaiv 19:27 / 20:35 / 20:36
Nova Kakhovka 19:21 / 20:29 / 20:30
Odesa 19:31 / 20:38 / 20:40
Oleksandria 19:26 / 20:36 / 20:37
Oleshki 19:23 / 20:31 / 20:32
Pervomaysk 19:33 / 20:43 / 20:44
Poltava 19:22 / 20:33 / 20:35
Rivne 19:57 / 21:10 / 21:12
Shostka 19:31 / 20:46 / 20:48
Skadovsk 19:22 / 20:29 / 20:30
Sumy 19:23 / 20:37 / 20:39
Ternopil 19:57 / 21:09 / 21:11
Uman 19:37 / 20:48 / 20:49
Uzhhorod 20:09 / 21:19 / 21:21
Vinnitsa 19:45 / 20:56 / 20:58
Voznesensk 19:31 / 20:39 20:41
Zaporozhe 19:16 / 20:25 / 20:27
Zhytomyr 19:47 / 20:59 / 21:01
Balta 19:38 / 20:47 / 20:49
Berdichev 19:46 / 20:58 / 21:00
Berdyansk 19:07 / 20:15 / 20:17
Bila Tzerkva 19:40 / 20:52 / 20:53
Bilgorod Dnistrivsky 19:32 / 20:39 / 20:41
Cherkassi 19:31 / 20:43 / 20:44
Chernihiv 19:39 / 20:53 / 20:55
Chernivtsy 19:54 / 21:03 / 21:05
Dnipro 19:18 / 20:17 / 20:19
Donetsk 19:06 / 20:15 / 20:17
Hadyach 19:25 / 20:38 / 20:40
Henichesk 19:14 / 20:21 / 20:23
Horlivka 19:05 / 20:15 / 20:17
Ivano-Frankivsk 20:00 / 21:10 / 21:12
Izmail 19:37 / 20:43 / 20:44
Kakhovka 19:21 / 20:28 / 20:30
Kamyanske 19:19 / 20:29 / 20:31
Kharkiv 19:16 / 20:28 / 20:30
Kherson 19:24 / 20:31 / 20:33
Khmelnitsky 19:52 / 21:03 / 21:04
Konotop 19:30 / 20:44 / 20:46
Kremenchuk 19:28 / 20:36 / 20:38
Kriviy Rig 19:23 / 20:32 / 20:34
Kropivnitsky 19:29 / 20:39 / 20:40
Kyiv 19:40 / 20:52 / 20:54
Lubni 19:29 / 20:41 / 20:43
Lugansk 19:04 / 20:14 / 20:16
Lutsk 20:01 / 21:14 / 21:16
Lviv 20:02 / 21:13 / 21:15
Mariupol 19:05 / 20:13 / 20:15
Melitopol 19:13 / 20:21 / 20:23
Mohiliv Podilsky 19:46 / 20:56 / 20:58
Mykolaiv 19:27 / 20:35 / 20:36
Nova Kakhovka 19:21 / 20:29 / 20:30
Odesa 19:31 / 20:38 / 20:40
Oleksandria 19:26 / 20:36 / 20:37
Oleshki 19:23 / 20:31 / 20:32
Pervomaysk 19:33 / 20:43 / 20:44
Poltava 19:22 / 20:33 / 20:35
Rivne 19:57 / 21:10 / 21:12
Shostka 19:31 / 20:46 / 20:48
Skadovsk 19:22 / 20:29 / 20:30
Sumy 19:23 / 20:37 / 20:39
Ternopil 19:57 / 21:09 / 21:11
Uman 19:37 / 20:48 / 20:49
Uzhhorod 20:09 / 21:19 / 21:21
Vinnitsa 19:45 / 20:56 / 20:58
Voznesensk 19:31 / 20:39 20:41
Zaporozhe 19:16 / 20:25 / 20:27
Zhytomyr 19:47 / 20:59 / 21:01
Shabbat and Holiday candle lighting times and holiday ends in outside Ukraine:
Shabbat and holiday candle lighting times/holiday candle lighting times from a burning fire/ and Holiday ends in Europe (18/04/19.04./20.04)
European countries:
Balatonnesed, Hungary 19:23 / 20:31 / 20:33
Berlin, Germany 19:53 / 21:09 / 21:11
Bratislava, Slovakia 19:29 / 20:38 / 20:40
Budapest, Hungary 19:19 / 20:28 / 20:30
Frankfurt, Germany 20:07 / 21:19 / 21:20
Hannover, Germany 20:07 / 21:23 / 21:25
Munich, Germany 19:51 / 21:00 / 21:02
Nuremberg, Germany 19:55 / 21:07 / 21:08
Vienna, Austria 19:32 / 20:41 / 20:43
Warsaw, Poland 19:22 / 20:37 / 20:39
Shabbat and holiday candle lighting times and Holiday ends in Israel (18/04/19.04.)
Israel:
Ashdod 18:51 / 19:51
Ashkelon 17:43 / 19:51
Bat Yam 18:42 / 19:51
Beer Sheva 18:51 / 19:49
Haifa 18:42 / 19:51
Jerusalem 18:30 / 19:49
Karmiel 18:41 / 19:50
Netania 18:42 / 19:51
Nof HaGalil 18:41 / 19:50
Rishon Lezion 18:42 / 19:51
Tel Aviv 18:50 / 19:51
Shabbat and holiday candle lighting times/holiday candle lighting times from a burning fire/ and Holiday ends in Europe (18/04/19.04./20.04)
European countries:
Balatonnesed, Hungary 19:23 / 20:31 / 20:33
Berlin, Germany 19:53 / 21:09 / 21:11
Bratislava, Slovakia 19:29 / 20:38 / 20:40
Budapest, Hungary 19:19 / 20:28 / 20:30
Frankfurt, Germany 20:07 / 21:19 / 21:20
Hannover, Germany 20:07 / 21:23 / 21:25
Munich, Germany 19:51 / 21:00 / 21:02
Nuremberg, Germany 19:55 / 21:07 / 21:08
Vienna, Austria 19:32 / 20:41 / 20:43
Warsaw, Poland 19:22 / 20:37 / 20:39
Shabbat and holiday candle lighting times and Holiday ends in Israel (18/04/19.04.)
Israel:
Ashdod 18:51 / 19:51
Ashkelon 17:43 / 19:51
Bat Yam 18:42 / 19:51
Beer Sheva 18:51 / 19:49
Haifa 18:42 / 19:51
Jerusalem 18:30 / 19:49
Karmiel 18:41 / 19:50
Netania 18:42 / 19:51
Nof HaGalil 18:41 / 19:50
Rishon Lezion 18:42 / 19:51
Tel Aviv 18:50 / 19:51
The FJCU Chaplain and Ukrainian Aid Ops Visit Defenders in Eastern Ukraine
Rabbi Yakiv Synyakov, the Chaplain of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), together with the Ukrainian Aid Ops, visited our defenders in eastern Ukraine.
During the visit, joint prayers for peace and victory were held. The defenders received pocket-sized Tehillim (Book of Psalms) and matzah for the upcoming Pesach holiday, provided by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine.
Additionally, sweets and financial assistance were delivered to support the soldiers in these challenging conditions.
We sincerely thank our heroes for their courage. Together — towards victory! 🇺🇦
Rabbi Yakiv Synyakov, the Chaplain of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), together with the Ukrainian Aid Ops, visited our defenders in eastern Ukraine.
During the visit, joint prayers for peace and victory were held. The defenders received pocket-sized Tehillim (Book of Psalms) and matzah for the upcoming Pesach holiday, provided by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine.
Additionally, sweets and financial assistance were delivered to support the soldiers in these challenging conditions.
We sincerely thank our heroes for their courage. Together — towards victory! 🇺🇦
A Major Hasidic Farbrengen Held in Dnipro in Honor of 18 Nissan
A Hasidic farbrengen took place at the “Golden Rose” Synagogue in the city of Dnipro, becoming the central event of the 18th of Nissan celebrations. This date holds special significance in the Hasidic calendar, as it marks two key moments: the birthday of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, who led the Jewish community of Dnipro from 1909 to 1939, and the circumcision day of his son, the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
The event gathered numerous members of the local community, guests from other cities, shluchim (emissaries), and clergy. The participants shared stories, read excerpts from Tehillim and letters of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, sang traditional niggunim, and said “l’chaim” in a warm, heartfelt atmosphere.
A particularly emotional moment was the speech by the Chief Rabbi of Dnipro and the region, Shmuel Kaminezki. He quoted Tehillim: “Those who sow in tears will reap with joy,” emphasizing the spiritual revival the city is experiencing despite the challenges.
This evening became a true source of unity, faith, and joy.
Source: djc.com.ua
A Hasidic farbrengen took place at the “Golden Rose” Synagogue in the city of Dnipro, becoming the central event of the 18th of Nissan celebrations. This date holds special significance in the Hasidic calendar, as it marks two key moments: the birthday of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, who led the Jewish community of Dnipro from 1909 to 1939, and the circumcision day of his son, the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
The event gathered numerous members of the local community, guests from other cities, shluchim (emissaries), and clergy. The participants shared stories, read excerpts from Tehillim and letters of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, sang traditional niggunim, and said “l’chaim” in a warm, heartfelt atmosphere.
A particularly emotional moment was the speech by the Chief Rabbi of Dnipro and the region, Shmuel Kaminezki. He quoted Tehillim: “Those who sow in tears will reap with joy,” emphasizing the spiritual revival the city is experiencing despite the challenges.
This evening became a true source of unity, faith, and joy.
Source: djc.com.ua