My appeal to @POTUS Donald Trump President of the United States of America to help Ukraine achieve a just and lasting peace

A horrific russian drone attack on a residential building in Kyiv! A 14-year-old boy from Israel was killed… many were injured… I’m at the site of the attack—I’m praying for the recovery of the injured

I would like to sincerely thank the State of Israel for taking this important step—joining the joint statement by 51 UN member states in support of Ukraine! In the document, the countries called for a complete, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, emphasized the need for a just and lasting peace in accordance with international law, and raised the issue of the return to Ukraine of deported civilians, children, and prisoners of war Ukraine and Israel are two countries whose peoples know all too well the value of security, human life, and the right to defend their homes! Therefore, I want to say something simple and sincere: Thank you to the State of Israel for this voice. Thank you for supporting Ukraine and for taking a stand in favor of a just and lasting peace! May the friendship between Ukraine and Israel only grow stronger, and may the Almighty grant both countries peace, security, and good news!

Joy through tears and pain! Sukkot in Ukraine!

After several days of relentless attacks by Shahed suicide drones, Russia has begun shelling Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, with ballistic missiles, now. The powerful explosions can be heard across the city. I pray that the Almighty protects Kyiv and its residents, and that no one is harmed. May He protect Ukraine and all its heroic people. 🙏

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “I have never seen killing and destruction like Gaza in all my years as Secretary-General.” According to even the most critical reports, Guterres, 70,000 people were killed in the war in Gaza, a large proportion of them Hamas terrorists. During your years as Secretary-General: more than 600,000 people were massacred or starved to death in Ethiopia. 377,000 died in Yemen — that figure appears in reports issued by your own organization. 150,000 were killed in Sudan and 12 million were displaced. Hundreds of thousands have been buried in Ukraine. You didn’t see it? They died before your eyes. You simply looked the other way, because the Jews couldn’t be blamed.

At the gallery attached to the Central Synagogue of Ukraine—which was opened by the renowned Jewish artist Albert Feldman—where the exhibition “Fragile Reality” was held, featuring works by three generations of artists from the Tolkachov family: Zinoviy, Ilya, and the well-known contemporary artist Olena Tolkachova, I had the honor of receiving a very special award! The contemporary section of this exhibition features works by Olena Tolkachova, which depict life in Kyiv and the surrounding region during a full-scale war, as well as that very “fragile reality” experienced firsthand by the residents of the village of Moshchun in 2022 Vadym Zherdetskyi, the village head of Moshchun, who was present at the exhibition, presented me with a letter of appreciation from the Gostomel community—for supporting youth, promoting cultural diplomacy, upholding spiritual and humanitarian values, and assisting youth initiatives in the community In 2022, this small village became one of the key defense points for Kyiv. Extremely fierce fighting raged there for over two weeks, and the liberation of Moshchun became one of the turning points in the defense of the capital. The village paid a terrible price for this—a significant portion of its homes were destroyed or damaged. Along with their gratitude, they presented me with a very special gift—an exclusive desktop perpetual calendar, made as a one-of-a-kind piece. It features the legendary “Mriya” aircraft and Gostomel Airport—symbols that, since 2022, hold a very special meaning for every Ukrainian! I sincerely thank the Gostomel community for this gesture, for remembering, and for this heartfelt gift—even so many years after those events. Such items are incredibly valuable because of the meaning they carry!

Yom Kippur begins tonight You know, there are days when a person looks at the clock, and there are days when it seems as though the clock is looking at the person Yom Kippur is exactly that kind of day It’s a day when it no longer really matters what others think of you, how much you’ve accomplished, how much you’ve earned, whom you’ve convinced, or where you were right. All of that suddenly becomes secondary. All that remains is your conversation with the Almighty. The Almighty doesn’t need us to explain why we acted this way and not another. He knows all the circumstances even without our explanations. He doesn’t need a polished version from us. He needs your sincere repentance and a clear intention—to become a better person next year, to become a “different” person—and that is why the Creator must deliver a favorable verdict Perhaps that is precisely why Yom Kippur is, for me, one of the most powerful gifts the Almighty has given to humanity. In life, there is almost no “undo” button. A spoken word has already been heard; an action taken has already become part of the past; time cannot be rewound. But the Almighty has given humanity something even more powerful—the ability to change who this mistake will make us tomorrow. This is the meaning of teshuvah—not to erase the past as if it never happened, but to prevent the past from becoming the future! Yom Kippur poses some very uncomfortable questions for us: To whom have I still not said “I’m sorry”? Whom have I hurt and pretended nothing happened? Which of my decisions have I long since labeled “circumstances,” even though I know the truth perfectly well? What do I promise myself to change every year, only to put it off until the next year? I, too, enter this day with my own mistakes. And if, over the course of the year, I’ve hurt someone, failed to listen, failed to offer support when I should have, or caused pain with a word or an action—I sincerely ask for forgiveness! On Yom Kippur, we observe a 24-hour fast; we do not eat or drink, we do not work, and we set aside our everyday concerns—for the sake of something far more important. Our main task is to emerge after the fast not as someone who merely “got through Yom Kippur,” but as someone who has truly changed something within themselves! May the Almighty accept our sincere repentance, forgive what needs to be forgiven, give us the strength to correct what can still be corrected, and inscribe each of us in the Book of Life. May the coming year bring true and just peace to Ukraine and Israel! Gmar Hatimah Tovah!

Yom Kippur is in two days! This day is a great gift from the Almighty to humanity! For on this day, we have the opportunity to purify our souls, ask for forgiveness for our mistakes, leave our sins behind, and start the new year and our lives with a clean slate! That’s why I want to share my song-prayer- these are the words from the evening prayer for Yom Kippur Listen to it; may it help you prepare your mind and heart for this holy day! May G-d grant us all a good, sweet, and peaceful year! piped.video/EUHAqHWpx6I?si=dK9A…

We are currently in the middle of the “Ten Days of Repentance,” the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Almighty has issued His “verdict” on Rosh Hashanah, but it has not yet been sealed. It is as if the book is open—the verdict has already been written—but the Almighty has left us the opportunity to make things right. And this is where it’s important to understand what true teshuva really is! Teshuva is often translated as “repentance,” although literally the word means “return.” A return to one’s true source of life—the Torah and the commandments. People have an amazing ability to make excuses for themselves when it’s very convenient and beneficial for them. For example, if they’ve offended someone, they usually say, “He started it.” If they were asked for help but didn’t provide it, they justify themselves by saying they have enough problems of their own. When they’ve offended someone, they justify it by saying, “Well, it’s kind of true.” If they didn’t call their parents or relatives, they tell themselves, “I’ll definitely call tomorrow.” And these “little” things gradually accumulate over the years and become ingrained in our habits and behavior. That’s exactly why these 10 days in the “new” year are given to us by the Almighty right at the very beginning—so that we can start changing something in our lives and behavior. To start life, as it were, with a clean slate, “in a new way”)) And sometimes, these days are given so that we can forgive ourselves for our guilt and stop carrying old mistakes around like a suitcase without a handle: you can’t throw it away, but you no longer have the strength to carry it… There’s one more very important thing—Yom Kippur can purify the relationship between a person and the Almighty. But an offense committed against another person cannot simply be “swept under the rug” with prayer. You have to go to that person and make amends. This is perhaps one of the most powerful ideas in Judaism: you cannot ask God to forgive you for having offended others and done them harm. For every person has the right to choose, and not even the Almighty can influence a person’s decision—whether to hold a grudge or to forgive. That is why these ten days offer a rare opportunity to leave old grievances and habits behind as we enter a new year of life. That is why I wish for you that these special days help each of you find what has long needed correction, reconcile with those with whom you’ve been at odds or out of touch for a long time—and enter Yom Kippur not as a perfect person (because such people do not exist), but as a slightly better version of yourself than before, so to speak, a 2.0 update! Gmar Hatimah Tovah. May everyone be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year

Colombia's new president Abelardo de la Espriella, @ABDELAESPRIELLA wearing a kippah, at a synagogue on Rosh Hashanah Another righteous person has been added to the ranks of the friends of the people of Israel! God Bless Abelardo de la Espriella! Thank you for being on the right side!

Today marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year—Rosh Hashanah. For all Jews around the world, this is a time to pause, look back on the path we’ve traveled, and enter a new chapter of our lives with a pure heart! On this day, the Almighty created the first human—Adam—and it is from this moment that the Jewish calendar begins, leading up to the new year—5787. It is very important during these days to make sincere teshuvah (repentance) for all one’s sins and to ask for forgiveness from everyone one has offended. Therefore, I would like to ask for forgiveness from everyone I may have offended! I wish for everyone not to lose faith, even when it seems that there is no answer from the Almighty. Always remember that the Creator can change everything in an instant, and after the hardest trials come the greatest blessings! May the new year bring a just and lasting peace to Ukraine and Israel, the return of captives to their homes, healing for the wounded, and many positive changes that everyone has been waiting for so long! And most importantly—may each of us become a little kinder, more attentive to others, and closer to the Almighty in the new year! May everyone be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year in the Book of Life! Shabbat Shalom Ktiva ve-chatima tova! Shana Tova!

A few weeks ago, at the Central Synagogue of Ukraine, I met with representatives of the nonprofit organization “Voyatsky Vyzvil,” @vyzvil founded by the families of prisoners of war and defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal who are missing in action We’ve been working together for several years now. And now, while in the U.S., I’m continuing this work—using my contacts in Washington, Israel, and the Jewish community at large to ensure that the issue of Ukrainian prisoners of war is heard as loudly as possible in places where people can influence decisions and help bring about their return home It’s important to me to convey a simple truth: behind every prisoner of war is a family that has been waiting for months and years. Some defenders have been held in harsh captivity since 2022! Praise be to God—the Almighty works miracles, and many people have already returned to their families. But until everyone returns, this work cannot stop I pray that the Almighty will protect all the captives, give them the strength to endure this terrible ordeal, and help them return home as soon as possible. And for my part, I will do everything in my power to help make that happen!

Civilians in Kyiv and the surrounding region endured a very terrifying night today. The russian military launched numerous missiles of various types and drones. Here is footage of ballistic missiles falling on the heads of civilians…. I am praying for the wounded

Dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles are attacking Kyiv right now. Powerful explosions can be heard across the city. I pray to God that no one is harmed, and that He protects Kyiv and all its people. 🙏🇺🇦

I pray for Ukraine - at a place of special power!

Right now, Ukraine really needs your help and support!

I had the honor of welcoming the new French Ambassador to Ukraine, Brice Roquefeuil, and his team to the Central Synagogue of Ukraine First and foremost, I thanked the Ambassador—and, through him, the French people and the French leadership—for their tremendous support of Ukraine and for their firm and clear stance from the very beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. France has consistently supported Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and remains one of our key partners in matters of security and international support We spoke at length about the intricacies of world politics, international influence, diplomacy, and negotiations. We discussed how important it is today to build relationships with decision-makers in various countries, to convey the truth about what is happening in Ukraine, and to prevent them from forming their opinions under the influence of foreign propaganda I gave him a tour of the synagogue and the art gallery attached to it, which was opened a year ago by the renowned Jewish artist Albert Feldman The Ambassador said he would be happy to see me in France, since there, too, are people with whom it is important to communicate in person and convey the truth about Ukraine As a memento of our meeting, I presented the Ambassador and members of his team with a copy of my book *Between Miracle and Reality*—a book about my experiences, about people, faith in the Almighty, and the pain and miracles I have personally witnessed Thank you for the warm welcome and sincere conversation. May the friendship between Ukraine and France only grow stronger! @FranceenUkraine