Son of prominent Ukrainian rabbi killed on frontlines of war with Russia
Anton (Moty) Samborsky, son of Kyiv rabbi Moshe Azman, listed as missing since July; MK Yuli Edelstein says his ‘heart breaks,’ says Israelis and Ukrainians have shared experience
The son of Moshe Azman, the leader of Kyiv’s Brodsky synagogue and one of several self-declared Ukrainian “chief rabbis,” has died in battle against the Russians, Azman announced Wednesday.
“Tomorrow in the Central Synagogue there will be a farewell to my son Matityagi (Anton), who died at the front defending Ukraine,” Azman wrote on X.
Late last month, on Ukraine’s memorial day for fallen soldiers, Azman posted on social media that his adopted son, Anton Samborsky, had been officially listed as missing in action in late July.
Samborsky was adopted in 2002 at age 10, Azman wrote on X last month, sharing: “We gave him the Hebrew name Matisyahu (Moty) in honor of the heroic leader of the Maccabean revolt against the invading empire more than 2200 years ago, the events that formed the basis of the Hanukkah holiday.”
“Moty lived in our family for about 10 years, and when he became an adult, he decided to live on his own. He got married, and in May of this year he had a daughter. But a week after the baby was born, Moty was drafted into the army. After a quick course as a young soldier, he was immediately sent to the front line,” Azman continued.
“The last time we talked to Moty was on July 17. On July 24, he went missing during a battle. His wife received an official document,” he said.
Tomorrow in the Central Synagogue there will be a farewell to my son Matityagi (Anton), who died at the front defending Ukraine pic.twitter.com/b93bNAxPxj
— Chief Rabbi Of Ukraine Moshe Azman (@RabbiUkraine) September 11, 2024
The funeral was set to be held Thursday at the Central Synagogue in Kyiv, Azman said.
The Kyiv rabbi is one of several Jewish leaders in Ukraine who claim the title of “chief rabbi.” He leads the Brodsky Synagogue in central Kyiv and, since Russia’s invasion of the country in February 2022, has gained domestic renown for his social media presence supporting the Ukrainian war effort.
On Wednesday, MK Yuli Edelstein, the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said that his “heart breaks” over Azman’s son.
“Like Israel, Ukraine is also in an existential war and like Israel the Ukrainian people have lost their precious sons in a terrible war that was imposed on them,” Edelstein said.
“I pray for times of peace and the return of all our children to safe and prosperous countries,” he added.
