Rabbi Andrew Jacobs

It is imperative for the Jewish community to have allies—people and groups that understand our story and stand with us during these challenging times. Many of you know that RSBI has developed a special connection with St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cooper City. Their priest, Father Mike, and board president, Irena, were among the first people to reach out to us after October 7. In light of the challenges the Ukrainian community continues to face, many of us attended Sunday services at the church two weeks ago. The congregation was deeply moved by our presence. They stood and applauded us, then welcomed us to lunch following the service.

At lunch, I had the chance to speak with Dmytro Bozhko, the President of the Ukrainian Association of Florida. He is preparing to travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with elected officials and discuss serious concerns shared by the Ukrainian community. He asked for my support. Allyship goes both ways. Our local Ukrainian community has stood with us, and we continue to stand with them. Allyship is essential.

Dmytro is bringing the following letter with him to D.C. to share our community’s support with those on Capitol Hill:

Dear U.S. Leaders,

Our local Ukrainian community will be in Washington, D.C., on April 8 and 9 as part of the Spring 2025 Ukraine Action Summit. They will meet with Representatives and Senators to discuss issues related to Ukraine. As a constituent of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s district and a supporter of the Ukrainian people, I have sent this letter with Dmytro Bozhko, the President of the Ukrainian Association of Florida.
First, I want to thank the United States and our national leaders for all the aid they have provided to Ukraine to help counter Russia’s unprovoked attack. Without this aid, the unoccupied areas of Ukraine would not be free today. I am especially grateful to my Congresswoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for her ongoing support of Ukraine. This issue is very important to me and to my congregation, Ramat Shalom Beth Israel, in South Florida.
Though I appreciate the administration’s efforts to broker a ceasefire and, ultimately, a peace treaty to stop Russia’s war on Ukraine, any such agreement must ensure a just and lasting peace, as well as the continued freedom and democracy of Ukraine.

I have heard directly from Dmytro and other Ukrainians in my community that the following issues are crucial to them:

• Peace Must Be Enduring – Russia has violated numerous agreements regarding its 2014 invasion of Ukraine and the full-scale invasion that began on February 24, 2022. For the safety of the United States and our allies—particularly those on NATO’s Eastern flank, many of whom were once part of the Soviet Union or Soviet-controlled regimes—peace must be enduring. The best way to ensure lasting peace is through ironclad security guarantees for Ukraine from its partners. Anything less invites further Russian aggression against both Ukraine and America’s NATO allies and emboldens other nations, such as China, to pursue expansionist ambitions, including the invasion and occupation of Taiwan.

• Reject Russia’s Expansion – Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that the breakup of the Soviet Union was the greatest disaster of the 20th century. The Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries included many nations that are now NATO members. Allowing Russia’s continued expansion would mean open war against our NATO allies. We have a historic opportunity to stop this expansion once and for all. To refuse this opportunity poses a clear and present danger to American national security.

Russia’s Axis of Evil – Russia has formed an “axis of evil” with Iran and North Korea, in which Iran and North Korea support Russia’s war effort with arms and troops, while Russia, in turn, provides these nations with technology, intelligence, and other forms of support. China’s trade with Russia has also expanded greatly during the war, supplying materials that Russia can adapt for its military needs. Allowing Russia to succeed and be reborn as an imperial power will further strengthen this axis, directly threatening America’s national security.

Make Russia Pay – Not long after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Europe and the United States froze Russian assets held in the EU and the U.S. The interest from these frozen funds has been used to help equip Ukraine. Transferring the entirety of these frozen assets to Ukraine would allow the country to purchase defense supplies from the United States and our allies, reducing the need for further U.S. aid.

Act Against Persecution and Child Abduction – Under Article II of the 1948 Genocide Convention, the forcible transfer of children from one group to another is defined as an act of genocide. As of the writing of this letter, around 20,000 Ukrainian children have been identified and confirmed as victims of forcible transfer from Ukraine to Russia. The real number could be much higher. Any peace agreement must guarantee the return of these children.

Furthermore, Russian soldiers in Ukraine have committed numerous war crimes, including the execution of civilians and captured soldiers, rape, torture, and the bombing of civilian areas. Any agreement must hold Russia accountable for these war crimes.

Putin’s attack on Ukraine is an attack on global freedom, democracy, and the Western way of life. Addressing the issues outlined above in any agreement to end Russia’s war on Ukraine serves the national interests of the United States. A failed peace in Ukraine will embolden Putin and other dictators to pursue their own territorial ambitions, significantly increasing the potential for a larger or even worldwide conflict.
Thank you for meeting with South Florida’s Ukrainian community.

Rabbi Andrew Jacobs
Ramat Shalom Beth Israel
Plantation, FL

I am proud that RSBI continues to stand with the Ukrainian people.