Today we all have a big holiday. This is true without exaggeration, because we are already celebrating our third anniversary, despite troubles and difficulties, let's get together, regardless of life's difficulties and see each other smiling and happy. Fifteen years ago, the history of creating good deeds began, that really help other people. Almost everything has changed during this time, besides, actually, the ideas and goals of our work are to reach everyone, who needs our help. And now is the time to look back, think and remember, what records have appeared in this story lately.
Last year, which the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht" held together with its clients, friends and partners, seemed extremely difficult. But analyzing this time can be noticed, which was more difficult for us, the more good achievements happened later. And this is evidence of the importance of our work, and also an example of universal justice, which our organization always professes: the more good is done in vain, the more good will be returned. Personally, I have always been convinced of this. And today everyone can convince himself of this simple truth, taking the life path of our organization as a model.
The beginning of the year made us all feverish with unrest in the country. The Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht" has always advocated the position of peace and goodness, dialogue and openness for the common good. And for the first time in the history of our organization, the time has come, when all managers had to work in conditions of heightened readiness for something extremely evil. We understood, that the general tension in society reflects on our customers, especially elderly people, who take restlessness extremely close to their hearts. Fund managers were preparing for a systemic and protracted crisis, plans were developed for the purchase of basic necessities and food, which could be needed in the most difficult time. But at the same time, we did not give up in building our future. With the help of benefactors, the issue of premises in the city of Ternopil finally moved. To miss an opportunity, which was not there from the beginning, we could not and did not want to: Jews cannot be sad, this is what our thousand-year-old wisdom says. Therefore, preparing for the worst in the state, we risked starting the reconstruction of our own premises in Ternopil. And they didn't miss it - at the end of the summer, the Community Center of the city of Ternopil successfully started its work for customers of the entire Ternopil region.
Even the worst forecasts with the crisis did not come true. However, the irreparable happened - blood was spilled. And this terrible fate also affected our community. A wounded man returned from Kyiv, but alive, our client and youth leader Oleksandr Abaev, who pulled out the "heavenly centurions" from the Institute. The boy's serious injury could not be treated, although our doctors and volunteers did their best for this. With the assistance of the Foundation, the victim managed to fly to Israel for treatment, and we continued to help the victims, of which there were many. To all those dependent on us, we called for peace and dialogue among all, who tried to clarify the relationship during the transitional stage of state formation.
Despite the unrest, with the help of the Almighty, our community managed to celebrate Purim as well, and Tu-bi-Shwat, and Passover. Provocations bypassed us, which filled society. Although the antics of unknown hooligans are still reminded of the lighter shade of paint on the facade of the "Thiya" Community Center, that appeared in the place of intolerant "graffiti". For the first time in history, the only monument to pogrom victims in Ukraine was insulted 1919 year. However, the painted base of the memorial accelerated the process of its renewal. At the expense of local patrons from the community, the memorial on the grave of our ancestors, valuable for history and even more valuable for our memory, was completely renovated.
During the year, relations with partner organizations were also strengthened. We started work on creating a network of social partners, which is designed to improve the standard of living of citizens, promote the development of society and improve the quality of service provision for all participants in this unification process. The basis was the signing of a social partnership agreement between network participants, which helps to improve the coordination of our actions, coherence in the work of individual organizations.
In the middle of the year, we all faced a new problem, even more complicated and threatening. During the entire history of the organization, there have never been any situations, if the phrase "the main thing, that there is no war" did not diminish the importance of any difficulties in work or life. Unfortunately, now it is impossible to say so. Situation, which developed far to the east, reflected not only on our wallets in the form of rising prices. The fund joined the support of displaced persons.
This year, youth and family camps were not held on the sea coast. However, we managed to hold a camp for clients in the picturesque forests of Cherkasy region, family Shabbaton - in the undisturbed Carpathians. From each, even the most difficult situation, our people found a way out, however, restlessness does not allow you to rest peacefully. None of the volunteers of our Foundation thought, that his assistance will be useful to the Armed Forces in the preparation of military equipment for border defense. But for now there is still a peaceful sky above us, we all do everything that depends on us, so that the good returns there, where disorder and bloodshed now reign.
Until the day of Victory over fascism, joint efforts, we managed to restore the Holocaust Memorial on St. Agricultural. There is still a lot of work to be done here, but now this complex looks like this, how the memorial place of the death of eight thousand two hundred of our brothers should look like. Also, all cemeteries and sectors were cleaned by volunteers and with the assistance of the Foundation, where our ancestors rest. After all, without respect for the past and the memory of predecessors, there is no hope for a bright future.
The site of the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht" was open for Internet users all year, which covered the activities of the organization in all corners of the world. Filling the virtual page contains a lot of useful information: there is also a video here, and sound materials, uploaded photos from the most enchanting events in the "Day by Day" gallery.
It is impossible to cover everything at once. Only the most vivid memories always come to mind. However, these are only moments, maybe some days. Useful things, which are made daily by the employees of the Foundation for People, merge into a continuous picture of warm pastel tones of goodness, that comes from a pure heart. Many times during the year we heard sincere words of thanks, who encouraged and gave strength to work even better. We looked at the results of the work, were proud of them and thought: "It's good. Next time we should do even better". And that is why today we are all celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of our Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht".
As the director of the organization, I want to sincerely thank all employees for another year of work. Remember, that we can do much more, when love for our neighbors burns in our hearts. I want to thank our customers for their appreciation, for sincere words, which are the measure of our work, and even for criticism, which helps make services more efficient. I want to thank all the good people, who remember the commandments of "Tzadaka" and "Mitzvah" and donate to help the needy. It is my pleasure to congratulate you all on the holiday, and wish you happiness, goodness and love. As long as we are all together, we have something to live for, there is something to love and something to strive for.
With best regards,
director
low-income families
Meritorious employee
social sphere of Ukraine
Igor Ratushny
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