B’nai B’rith International, along with B’nai B’rith lodges around the world, is raising funds and distributing aid within Ukraine for those sheltering from the brutal attack by Russia as well as to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the violence.

Here is a report by Simone Hofmann, a longtime B’nai B’rith member in Germany and the B’nai B’rith Lodge in Frankfurt, about a shipment of medicines for Lviv.

B’nai B’rith in Frankfurt, the B’nai B’rith Lodge Munich and the Leopolis Ukraine Aid all contributed to the purchase of these vital medicines and supplies.

By Simone Hofmann

Medicines are on their way to Lviv where they will be delivered directly to the B’nai B’rith Leopolis Lodge.

Our local volunteers can distribute them to the many elderly people who come to us as needed. This delivery is enough for a while. I cannot thank all the donors enough.

On Monday evening [March 7] at around 9:30 p.m., I learned that we would be able to send medicines on Thursday with a bus from Mönchengladbach from the Jewish community centre. It was all at very short notice. After many setbacks and disappointments, we were now able to get it on its way. And it is important that the medicines are not only brought to the border but all the way to Lviv.

A very big thank you goes here to the Titus Pharmacy in the Northwest Centre, Frankfurt and especially to Helen Sheel. She immediately got on the phone on Tuesday, and on Wednesday I was able to collect medicines worth 6000 € (about $6657 U.S.). A donation of over €2000 (about $2219 U.S.) worth of medicines came on top of that. I would also like to thank Pharmacie Raphael, Frankfurt, which spontaneously donated bandages, plasters, disinfectants and much more.

​A big thank you also goes to the Jewish community in Frankfurt, which trusted us and generously supported us. From the B’nai B’rith Hebriaca Lodge of Munich, packages were sent to Mönchengladbach and the Ukraine Leopolis Lodge Aid also contributed boxes of medicine. A big thank you also to the Jewish community of Mönchengladbach, which allowed us to use a large part of the bus that members stocked with food so that we could send medicines for the B’nai B’rith Lodge in Lviv.

My friend Lali and I brought the load from Frankfurt to Mönchengladbach today. A drop in the ocean, because so much more is needed. But it was a matter of the heart. Now the bus is rolling. It is loaded and will leave during the night for Poland and then on to Ukraine. The Ukraine Aid Leopolis, the B’nai B’rith Hebraica Loge and Munich and the Frankfurt Schönstädt Loge e. V. would like to thank everyone who made this possible.

However, donations will still be gladly accepted.