Learn how Or Hadash congregants have already made an impact in this Ukranian family’s life, and follow their harrowing journey to the U.S.

Their journey In late April, 17 members of the Chokh and Lytvynenko families arrived in Atlanta.  They fled their homes in February with just a few days of items, thinking they would be able to return to their home of Kharkiv, Ukraine, which is now destroyed. Kharkiv, located only 30 miles away from the Russian border, was invaded the day before Victoria's baby was due. After a long journey through Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Mexico and a crammed Atlanta shelter, the family of 8 children and 9 adults are finally in their new home near Lake Lanier.

How the family found Or Hadash A few weeks ago, Rabbi Lauren was contacted by Atlanta’s Jewish Family and Career Services (JF&CS) with an urgent appeal:  Would our congregation help one newly arrived Ukrainian family? Rabbi Lauren, knowing the care, social-mindedness, empathy and generosity of our congregants, agreed to have me, as Tikkun Olam chair, further explore this commitment. I soon partnered with congregant Jessica Lotner who had expressed interest in helping a family in need. When we met with JF&CS, we learned we needed to completely furnish a house in Sugar Hill that the family of 17 would be moving to in two days(!) and to continue offering financial support to pay for utilities and food. Because time was of the essence, the Lotner family jumped into high gear and, – after appealing to family, neighbors and some congregants, – amazingly fully furnished the house and stocked the pantry shelves! 

Meet the Chokh and Lytvynenko families The Chokh and Lytvynenko families are a close-knit, loving and resilient family, headed by parents/grandparents, Lidia and Alex.  The family is comprised of many professions and talents, including nurse, construction worker, trumpet player, violinist/teacher, seamstress and house cleaner, as well has a college freshman studying IT. When learning that our synagogue would be helping them, they demonstrated their musical abilities by breaking into a most beautiful rendition of Oseh Shalom. Although not Jewish, they viewed the Jewish people as generous and righteous. They are eager to establish their lives in Atlanta and become self-sufficient.  They are extremely grateful to all of the people and organizations that have helped them thus far.

Or Hadash will be supporting this family’s basic needs for food and other necessities for the next several months. Please make a donation to the Ukraine Family Support Fund and all contributions will be earmarked specifically for resources our committee determines essential.

Thank you for your much needed support in helping this family. 

Renee Videlefsky,

Tikkun Olam Chair

For an update on the current Atlanta relief effort, AURA (Atlanta Ukrainian Evacuee Relief Assistance) of JF&CS, go to this link: https://jfcsatl.org/ukraine-resources