Yonatan Karlinksy, a 49-year-old Israeli citizen and Breslov Hasid, has been drafted into the Ukrainian army. Despite efforts by the Jewish community to secure his release, Karlinksy will serve as a doctor in Kharkov.
What happened
Karlinksy, who resides in Beit El, was born in Ukraine and holds Israeli citizenship. He traveled to Uman for Rosh Hashanah but was arrested at the Romania-Ukraine border due to his obligation to serve in the Ukrainian military. His family reached out to various authorities to secure his release, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Karlinksy's claim that he was exempt from military service due to being a father of six was found to be untrue, as he only has one child. The Ukrainian army has stated that they need him due to his medical knowledge and the country's ongoing war efforts.
The Jewish community in Ukraine has ensured that Karlinksy receives kosher food and has his religious rights respected. The chairman of the Jewish communities in Ukraine, Rabbi Meir Stambler, expressed gratitude towards the Ukrainian government for their consideration of the religious needs of all soldiers.
Rabbi Stambler also emphasized the severity of the war in Ukraine, comparing it to a hypothetical scenario where Hamas and Hezbollah would invade Israel. He stated that every Ukrainian citizen is needed, and therefore, exemptions are not possible.
