Six Jewish Ukrainian soldiers undergo circumcision ritual in Kyiv

By Lazar Berman

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17 May 2023, 7:22 pm

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Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Rabbi David Milman (fourth from left) and mohel Dr. Yaakov Gaisinovich (second from right) join Ukrainian soldiers who underwent circumcisions in Kyiv, May 16, 2023 (Office of the Chief Rabbi)

Six Jewish Ukrainian soldiers, including some fighting on the front lines, go through circumcisions in Kyiv.

The procedures, which took place at the Brodsky Synagogue in Ukraine’s capital, were performed by Dr. Yaakov Gaisinovich, Ukraine’s mohel, who has performed over 8,000 circumcisions, including many adults.

The event was attended by newly appointed Jewish military chaplain Rabbi David Milman, and leading Ukrainian rabbi Moshe Azman.

“Since the beginning of the war,” says Azman at the festive meal following the procedures, “there is, thank God, a great awakening among Ukraine’s Jew. We are fortunate to carry out many circumcisions here recently.”