Last week I read the story Alan Dranow, a member of our community from Northwest Arkansas, wrote on Linkedln. He wrote about his Ukrainian heritage and how touched he was to see the Walton Museum lit up with the colors of the Ukrainian flag. I thought it was very touching from someone here in Arkansas and Jewish. I contacted Alan and he sent me his story to share with all of you which you'll find below.

The images coming from the war zone we watch on TV are disturbing and incredible to believe they are from 2022. Over the past few weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the support from all corners of our state as you continue to answer the call to donate money through the JFNA to assist with our relief efforts in the Ukraine.

Across North America, JFNA has raised more than $27 million for Ukrainian relief efforts. Most of that money has already been allocated by JFNA’s Special Allocations Committee, to Ukrainian relief efforts being undertaken by Federation partners The Jewish Agency for Israel, The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and World ORT; as well as to United Hatzalah, Hillel International, Nefesh B'Nefesh, HIAS, the Israel Trauma Coalition, Hadassah Medical Organization, Chabad, and Shma Yisrael.

You can read the most recent update from JFNA here.

To keep up-to-date on JFNA efforts in Ukraine or to donate to Federations' relief efforts visit the JFNA Ukraine website.

I'd like to take a moment of your time today to share my gratitude and appreciation for Walmart's senior leadership for letting me know that, yes, let's light up the front of the Walmart Museum on the Bentonville Square to demonstrate our solidarity with Ukraine as they face the invasion by Russia.

This is a situation that touches me personally. You see, my grandparents on my father's side came to the US from Kiev, Ukraine, in the early part of the 20th century when it was ruled by Russia. They escaped the Russian army's 600 pogroms, my grandmother pleading with a soldier on horseback not to cut off my grandfather's head with a sword. They walked by night and hid out by day as they made their way out of Ukraine and into Poland and, ultimately, to New York, where my father was born shortly after their arrival.

When I see the people of Ukraine leaving their country for fear of coming under Russian rule, I understand. I understand their fear of the Russian government and its "leadership." I understand their wanting to preserve their families and shield them from tyranny. I understand their mourning for their democracy that stands to be lost to tanks and fighter jets.

So, thank you, Walmart, for having the courage to - again - do what's right.

Alan Dranow

Sr. Director, Walmart Heritage Group

The Walmart Museum

Bentonville, AR

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