Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi is announcing prayer times through SMS as well as on television to encourage the Jewish community to attend synagogue on Yom Kippur.

“Every year, more and more people arrive” to synagogues from Ukraine’s 300,000-member Jewish community, Chief Rabbi Moshe Reuven Asman told Arutz Sheva.

“The atmosphere is very good,” he said, noting that thousands of Jews traveled from Ukraine and from around the world to Uman for Rosh Hashannah and that thousands also will attend Yom Kippur prayers in Ukraine’s synagogues.

“Most of the Jewish community is detached from Judaism,” Rabbi Asman said, “and our work is to show them the spark of Judaism.
In order to encourage them to attend synagogue on Yom Kippur, times of prayer are being disseminated not only though SMS and television but also via public announcements, telephone calls, and the Internet.”

The rabbis said that many Jews want to attend synagogue throughout the year and that “there is a general return of the community to Judaism.”

Security has been beefed during the period of the High Holidays because of rampant anti-Semitism that could cause disturbances. Last Pesach, a young Jew was assaulted and hospitalized for serous injuries. The local Jewish community and the ZAKA rescue service helped to transfer him to Icholov Hospital in Tel Aviv, where his condition improved.