With war in Ukraine continuing as the High Holidays approach, the kind initiative of a small Ohio congregation halfway between Dayton and Cincinnati continues to resonate.

Rachel Lewitt is president of Middletown’s Temple Sholom, a JCLP Legacy congregation. Her great grandparents donated land for the temple’s building and her passion for her Jewish community is evident. “We really love being together,” she says of the most active members of her congregation, “and do what we can to sustain our community.”

An activity which emphasized that camaraderie also enlightened others about Ukraine when the early days of the war coincided with Passover. Temple Sholom undertook a fundraising effort that started within their observance of the holiday.  During the Seder, Rachel gave a presentation about the Ukraine conflict, illustrated by a storyboard compiled by her mother and emphasized by nails painted in the yellow and blue colors of the country.

Social media outreach followed. Rachel’s business connections resulted in contributions from realtors across the state. The Temple Sholom grassroots effort resulted in a significant contribution to the Ukraine fund of Jewish Federations of North America. 

In telling the story of Temple Sholom’s Passover effort for Ukraine, Rachel Lewitt also acknowledged how engagement with JCLP helps her congregation realize that other small Jewish communities share their concerns.

 “We may be in different places but, through JCLP, we realize we are not alone,” she says.

August 25, 2022