KYIV, UKRAINE — The war between Ukraine and Russia does not prevent this congregation from joyfully celebrating the biblical festival of Purim.

Celebrating joy and happiness is one of the commandments of Purim. This year, the Jewish-Messianic congregation of Kiev celebrated the biblical feast for the second time in the course of the war on a large scale.

Likewise, this fact did not prevent us from having fun, in colors, with delicious meals, with the Purim skin, with testimonies of miracles. We also celebrate it on the Sabbath day.

Olena Tukaylo-Kolomiets – Organizer:

Today we celebrate Purim, we eat the ears of Amman and we wait for victory, as when the Jews won, we expect victory in Ukraine.

Maybe someone will say that today is not the time to rejoice. However, just as we have a physical family, we also have a spiritual one, which gives us support and help in difficult times.

Inna – Participant:

I don’t even consider another option than to celebrate my birthday with my spiritual family. I feel the happiest here, surrounded by my friends and people very close to me. Look, the day of Shabbat is over, but I want to stay a little longer.

Anastasiya – Participant:

Now, for the history of Ukraine, for the Ukrainian people, it is important to remember that it was what saved the Jews at the time of Purim’s feast, when the Jewish people had to choose between bowing to Amman, to the enemy, or to remain with their values and their faith. Being clear about what awaited them, they chose to die, and that resulted in victory and life.

Oleg – Participant:

Purim is my favorite holiday. In general, it is the one I like the most of all Jewish holidays. And what’s more, the fact of celebrating it in the middle of the war means a lot to us, it symbolizes our victory.

Those who have been in the congregation for several years look forward to this holiday, since, according to their experience, it is on these days when true miracles occur, which the Lord gives to his people.

Liliya – Participant:

I always expect victory, victory for myself, for my family, for my congregation, for my relatives, for the people for whom it is gold.

Colorful and striking costumes that represent the heroes of Esther’s book, games, delicacies and, of course, the preaching. This is how the children of the community celebrate Purim.

Anastasiya:

It is important to remain faithful to your heart, to your faith, to keep the promise of the liberation, also to the faith that victory will come and joy will come, and we will all celebrate it with joy and delight.

About KJMC

Kiev Jewish Messianic Congregation (KJMC) was born shortly after first Festival of Jewish Music and Dance, organized by the mission “Hear, O Israel!” (Jonathan Bernis), which took place in Ukraine in 1994. Boris Grisenko has been the rabbi (pastor) of KJMC from the very beginning. Rabbi Boris was also the Vice Chairman of the Ukrainian Interchurch Council and holds an Honorary Doctorate in Theology from CLST (Christian Life School of Theology). KJMC has grown over the years and today numbers more than 2,000 people. The congregation is comprised of Jews and non-Jews, all of whom have accepted the Lord Yeshua ha’Mashiach (Jesus Christ).

The KJMC vision is focused largely on the revival of the Jewish people, including:

• So that every Jew would know his Messiah
• The unity in the Body of the Messiah to be restored
• To break free of non-Biblical extremes of Judaism and Christianity
• To bring about freedom from anti_semitism, indifference, and other non-Biblical attitudes as well as freedom from Humanism and occult spirituality

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