Tzedakah – giving support to people in need– is an ethical obligation in Judaism. In the fast-growing Jewish community of Czernowitz, supporting the poor, sick and orphaned became increasingly important. When the Jewish organization “Machsike Shabbat” was founded at the end of the 19th century, established state-sponsored support did not exist. Machsike Shabbat provided primarily the poor members of the local Jewish community with necessary support.
In the early 20th century, several Jewish welfare institutions followed, among them an orphanage and a home for the Elderly with a Jewish hospital. By and large, these institutions stayed in operation in the interwar period, when Czernowitz was part of the Kingdom of Romania. Between 1940 and 1944, some buildings became part of the Jewish ghetto in 1941, and orphans were deported to Transnistria. After World War II, the Soviets dissolved the Jewish administration and nationalized all properties belonging to the Jewish community. The welfare organizations became part of the state and were used for non-Jewish purposes.
Following Ukraine’s independence, new organizations provided social support for Jews. From 1991 to 1999, the so-called “Fond” helped people in need from their office at the former Jewish National House. Since 2000, Hesed has been operating from the former German House. Hesed’s work contributed to the renaissance of Jewish culture in Czernowitz. Centropa interviewee Zakhar Benderskyi , who was born in 1912, stresses the importance of Hesed:
The Soviet power forced us to forget Jewish traditions. But with Ukraine’s independence, the Jewish way of life began to be restored. Hesed is of big help. We get food packages and medication, can see highly qualified , and we can also attend lectures, concerts and interesting films. We can even get Jewish newspapers and magazines for free at Hesed. If it weren’t for Hesed we would live a miserable life. People that had been working their whole life receive a pension that’s smaller than what they pay for rent and living costs. It’s important that we can go out and meet people. We celebrate Sabbath and all Jewish holidays in Hesed. Volunteers from Hesed visit us at home. We also have a nurse visiting us at home. It’s very helpful and makes our life different.
