Today was truly beautiful. In the morning we divided into small groups and visited the homes of locals who were being helped by the Hesed. My group visited the apartment of an elderly man, Pavel, with a magical spirit. On the ride to his apartment his social worker told us his story: at age 18, Pavel fell in love and got married. Soon afterwards, he was drafted into the military, and his wife left him after waiting two years for him to come home. He then moved in with his parents and stayed with them until they both passed away.
In 1998, Pavel’s life changed dramatically. He was beaten in a robbery and began to suffer a serious brain disease which left him barely able to walk. The thieves stole all of his irreplaceable identification documents and appropriated and sold his apartment, leaving Pavel alone in an abandoned apartment, hopelessly ill. The story is so tragic because Pavel cannot receive a pension from the government, as he has no documents except a passport that the Hesed helped him receive.
When I visited Pavel, I saw a man with a beautiful spirit. He cannot speak but he communicates with smiles and gestures. He was very emotionally expressive with his gestures; he is a warm man. His story touched me to the core of my being. Seeing Pavel’s smile and feeling his energy made me unable to understand how anyone could beat someone who is so kind.
He still lives in the abandoned apartment although the heating and gas have been cut off, as he cannot afford utilities. The apartment becomes extremely wet and cold in the wintertime. But, through the cold, Pavel remains warm with the help of the Hesed. Without them, Pavel wouldn’t be alive: they bring him hot meals every day, give him home care assistance, medicine, bedding to protect him from the cold, and clothes.
Leaving Pavel’s apartment was bittersweet – I wished I could help him more. Pavel deserves an apartment with heat and electricity. He deserves to be loved. He doesn’t deserve to be alone in an abandoned apartment. I am so thankful to the Hesed, though, for helping him stay warm, nourished, and alive.
Pavel is a wonderful man. He has a vibrant smile and a strong spirit. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet someone who, despite the extreme challenges he faces every day, stays so positive.
I’m excited to continue meeting members of the Jewish community in Ukraine. This is my first experience meeting any Jewish community outside of the United States and it has been amazing and eye opening. It’s only day two – who knows what the next eight days have in store!
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