On Rosh Hashanah, This Mother Dreams of a Better Future for Her Children

A proud mother of three teenagers — Veronika, 18, Denis, 14, and Amalia, 13 — Olena Simonian has her hands full. Not only is she a single mother struggling to find steady employment, she’s trying her best to raise her children in the middle of a challenging daily reality in Ukraine.

But Olena isn’t alone. Through the JDC-supported Hesed Hana social service center in her native Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, she and her children not only receive the necessities to live dignified lives, but have discovered a vibrant Jewish community that always has their back.

In this Rosh Hashanah reflection, Olena, 36, describes the difficulties of living through the conflict, her passion for Jewish life, and her hopes for the new year. 

It feels like there’s nowhere to hide. There are windows everywhere, and we don’t have a bomb shelter. 

Air strikes have caused cracks to form all over the house. In fact, there are two huge cracks on both sides of the garage due to explosions, and going down into the garage basement is scary because, if the structure were to collapse, we could be trapped there forever.

There aren’t enough rooms for everyone: Only my eldest daughter, Veronika, has her own room, and I share the living room with Denis and Amalia. I’d love separate spaces for the younger ones too, but I don’t know how to make that work — it’s impossible now. We don’t even have indoor plumbing; instead, we rely on a toilet in the yard.

My kids spend most of the day at home, on their phones. I know it’s not ideal, but frequent air-raid alerts make me worried about letting them go outside. The only place I feel comfortable sending them is Hesed Hana, where they can spend time with friends, developing their Jewish identities and learning something interesting each time they go. 

I got connected to the JDC-supported Hesed Hana social service center more than four years ago. One of my mother’s friends, a woman who’d already been helped by JDC for a long time, asked my mom if anyone was helping us and if my children were learning about their Jewish roots. That’s how our Jewish journey began. Now, whenever we come to Hesed Hana, we feel like we are among Jewish family. Without them, it would be challenging for us, especially now during the conflict, when it’s nearly impossible to find work.

The atmosphere there is a respite from the chaos outside: Everyone is happy to see you, everyone welcomes you, and everyone is smiling, whether they know you or not. At Hesed Hana, you can just relax and forget about the hard stuff for a while.

The Jewish educators give personalized attention to each child — I’ve witnessed it myself as my kids study Hebrew! Sergey, their teacher, works alongside each student during the lesson, no matter their level of comprehension. He doesn’t rush or push them — he’s endlessly patient, and because the children feel relaxed, they can really learn. 

When our computer broke down, and my kids could no longer study remotely, JDC even gave each of them a tablet so they could continue their lessons. JDC leaves no one behind. 

Outside of these classes, Hesed Hana organizes fun, meaningful events — holiday gatherings, clubs, Shabbat celebrations, and other exciting Jewish experiences where we can meet our peers and communicate across generations. 

These years of conflict have left all of us traumatized and isolated. My children are afraid to go out for walks, and many of their friends have left. In these difficult days, what’s essential for me as a mother is their emotional well-being.

Thankfully, they find strength in the mental health support JDC provides — consistent, one-on-one sessions with a highly qualified psychologist. This specialized care would be transformative for anyone, but for my kids, who’ve been forced to come of age in the middle of this mess, it feels miraculous. 

Phenomenal, too, is the concrete material support JDC provides. Heating our home is expensive, but for the past few years, they’ve delivered two full trucks of firewood — enough to last us the freezing winter — and warm clothes, blankets, and bedding. Food is also getting pricier, especially meat, fish, and dairy products, but JDC enables me to buy protein-rich meals that ensure my three teenagers get the nutrition they need. 

Am I a good mother? I hope so, but only time will tell. No one teaches you how to raise your children, but I believe in my heart I brought them up the right way. The sweetest thing in my life is when they’re joyful and healthy. It brings me a kind of spiritual pleasure — a sweetness of the soul, if you will.

Our greatest fear is that the conflict simply won’t end. But with Rosh Hashanah here, I’m looking with hope to our life beyond today’s reality. My New Year wish, my dream, is that my children will have a bright future where they can lead proud Jewish lives and develop themselves to the fullest.  

When that future comes, it will be largely thanks to those who support JDC. I can only express my deepest gratitude for them: They give us Jews the confidence that we’ll hold on and make it through. No matter how hard things get, I know we can count on JDC.

That support is priceless. It means we haven’t been forgotten — and after everything we’ve been through, that’s a precious feeling. 

Olena Simonian, 36, is a JDC client in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. 

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