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In his native Buchach, a monument was erected in his honor, one of the city’s streets is named after him, and a bas-relief of the writer is at the entrance to the local “ART-Court.”

Shmuel Agnon (born July 17, 1888, Buchach, Ukraine) is a famous Jewish writer whose life and work are closely connected with Ukraine. The events of his most famous novels, “The Bridal Canopy” and “A Guest for the Night,” for which he received the Nobel Prize in Literature, take place in his native Buchach and its surroundings.

In Ukrainian Buchach

To date, not many of Agnon’s works have been translated into Ukrainian, but interest in them is growing in Ukraine, which means that Ukrainian readers are in for an acquaintance with his books.

The Nobel Prize in Literature laureate of 1966 “For his profoundly original narrative art with motifs from Jewish folk tales.” He became the first laureate of one of the Nobel Prizes representing Israel. He wrote in Hebrew and Yiddish.

The influence of the Talmud on Shmuel Agnon’s work was significant. He was born as Shmuel Yosef Halevi Czaczkes in July 1887 in Buchach, now Chortkiv district of Ternopil region. His father, Shalom Mordechai Halevi Czaczkes, was a rabbi and fur trader, knowledgeable in the Torah and Talmud, and often explained them to the local Jewish community.

Shmuel’s mother, Esther Farb, and grandfather, Yehuda Farb, were also educated people. Shmuel attended a cheder and received a good home education, studying Yiddish, Hebrew, German, and Ukrainian languages, as well as the Talmud under his father’s guidance.

Starting to write early, at the age of 8, Shmuel published stories in local newspapers. At 19, he moved to Lviv and worked in a Jewish newspaper. In 1907, his first novella “Forsaken Wives” was published, which in Hebrew sounds like “Agnon,” becoming his pseudonym and official surname since 1924.

Palestine and Berlin

In the same year, Agnon went to Palestine, and then to Berlin, where he wrote, lectured, gave private Hebrew lessons, and published works in the newspaper Jude.

He was supported by patron Zalman Schocken, who provided a five-year scholarship for organizing an anthology of Jewish literature and writing new works. Agnon’s works were published in German at Schocken’s publishing house in Berlin.

Love Against All Odds

In Berlin, Shmuel Agnon found true love — Esther Marks, or “dear Esterlein,” as he called her. The girl’s father was against their marriage, but they married anyway, and the ceremony was conducted by Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg.

They had a daughter, Emuna (“faith”), and a son, Shalom Mordechai, whom they called Hemdat (“soul’s desire”) at home.

Three Destroyed Homes

In 1924, the family moved to Jerusalem. The move was preceded by tragedy: the writer’s house in Hamburg burned down, destroying the library and manuscripts, including the novel “The Community of the Ever-Living.”

Agnon decided to return to the Promised Land. He moved to Jerusalem first, and a year later called for Esther and the children. In 1927, an earthquake occurred in Jerusalem.

“The disaster did not destroy our souls,” Agnon wrote, “only the house we lived in.”

Two years later, in 1929, the new Agnon home in Jerusalem was looted during Arab riots. “Esterlein,” he wrote to his wife, “we need to start everything anew: the house is ruined, things are stolen or broken. But… do not grieve and do not think about it.”

World Fame and the Nobel Prize

Agnon gained world fame in the late 1940s when his works began to be published in English. In 1966, Agnon became the first writer writing in Hebrew and Yiddish to receive the Nobel Prize for the novels “The Bridal Canopy” and “A Guest for the Night.”

In his speech, he noted that he draws inspiration from spiritual literature.

“Keep Quiet! Agnon is Working!”

Israel is proud of its Nobel laureate. When a construction site was opened in the Talpiot area, Mayor Teddy Kollek installed a sign saying: “Keep quiet! Agnon is working!” European critics compared him to Marcel Proust, James Joyce, and William Faulkner.

Agnon wrote in various genres but was wounded by the fact that many of his readers became victims of the Holocaust. His last novel, “Just Recently,” set in Palestine during the Second Aliyah, is dedicated to the catastrophe of European Jewry.

Memory of the Writer

Shmuel Agnon died of a heart attack on February 17, 1970, in Jerusalem at the age of 82. He was buried on the Mount of Olives, and his apartment became a memorial museum.

In his native Buchach, which he last visited in 1930, a monument was erected in his honor, a street is named after him, and a bas-relief of the writer adorns the entrance to the local “ART-Court.”

Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026 unexpectedly became one of the most discussed topics among the Iranian opposition and diaspora. The reason was not the overall tone of the speech, but a specific thought, formulated extremely harshly: if a regime that suppresses protests with blood survives and remains unpunished, it sends a signal to the whole world — that mass violence works as a way to retain power.

For millions of Iranians who perceive their situation as a struggle against tyranny, these words sounded not like diplomacy, but like a direct acknowledgment of their experience. In messages and comments, one emotion was repeated: “finally, someone said it out loud on a big international stage.”

Why Davos became a trigger

Davos is traditionally perceived as a platform where leaders often speak cautiously and vaguely. Therefore, Zelensky’s sharpness was noted separately. He stated that the world has not done enough to help the Iranian people, and the protests in the country were effectively suppressed by force and fear.

In Iranian social networks, this was read as a rare example of the Western public stage speaking about Iran not only in the language of sanctions and negotiations but in the language of moral responsibility — and this caused a wave of reposts, retellings, and translations.

How the opposition linked Iran and the war in Ukraine

The second reason for the resonance is the logic understandable to Iranians: “internal violence turns into external aggression.” In discussions, the connection often sounded: a regime that oppresses its own citizens simultaneously exports war abroad — and in the Ukrainian sky, this is expressed in the most direct way.

Therefore, Ukraine in these reactions appears not as a “foreign country,” but as an ally in a broader conflict with an authoritarian system. And Zelensky, according to many commentators, speaks about what European politicians too often remain silent or speak in half-tones.

“The voice of Iranians in Europe”: what exactly was written

In the Iranian segment of social networks, several recurring motifs stood out.

The first is gratitude for straightforwardness. Zelensky was called a person who does not try to smooth over the topic of repression for the sake of diplomatic comfort.

The second is the recognition of a common threat. Russia and the Iranian leadership in these discussions were often put in the same row as different parts of one authoritarian mechanism.

The third is symbolic gestures. Proposals to immortalize Zelensky ranged from absurdly emotional initiatives to quite serious calls to publicly express support for Ukraine as a country that “holds the line” and does not hide the meaning behind formulations.

The role of opinion leaders and the “amplifier” effect

A separate surge of attention was given by the reaction of Masih Alinejad — a well-known journalist and activist who has long been leading a public campaign against the regime and has repeatedly become the object of persecution. She thanked Zelensky for standing “on the right side of history” and emphasized: mass killings and repressions in Iran should be discussed at such forums not on the periphery, but in the center.

For the opposition audience, this became a signal: the topic is not local, not “internal,” not shamefully postponed — it is brought to the international level.

Why Tehran responded harshly

It is telling that official Iran reacted irritably. In such situations, the authorities usually try not to amplify attention to criticism, but here the criticism was too broad and too public. Zelensky essentially put the question of the regime’s survival in a moral-political framework: if the dictatorship survived after bloodshed — then the world swallowed it.

This is exactly what became the nerve point. Because in such logic, the regime is perceived not as a “negotiation partner,” but as a system that cannot be allowed to win with time and the world’s fatigue.

Why this story is important for Israel

For the Israeli audience, there is a separate meaning here. Iran is a central regional threat and simultaneously a source of military technology that has become part of the war against Ukraine. When the Ukrainian president raises the topic of Iranian repressions on a global platform, it affects not only the Ukrainian agenda — it reflects on the entire system of international conversation about Iran.

Zelensky’s Davos speech became not just a performance. It turned into a point of intersection of two realities: the war in Europe and the struggle against the regime in the Middle East. And it is precisely such intersections that NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency fix, because in 2026, security and politics have long ceased to live in separate “regional” blocks.

On January 24, 2026, Israeli military analyst Yigal Levin formulated a thought that is rarely spoken aloud but is almost always confirmed in practice. States and quasi-state projects do not die at the moment of loud statements or at press conferences. They die earlier — when capital starts to leave them.

As a starting point, he recalled an episode from 2017–2018. At that time, one of the key economic officials of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria openly stated: the project is unviable. Not because the idea or the people are bad, but because there is no influx of Western investments. And without them, it is impossible to build either industry or sustainable production.

This concerns the territory that the Kurds call Rojava. A political experiment, a Kurdish core, supporters of the ideas of Abdullah Öcalan, plus Arab tribal areas. On paper — autonomy. In reality — a zone of chronic investment risk.

Why capital did not go there, Levin explains without diplomacy. Even if you set aside Assad, Russia, Iran, and the changing configurations of Syrian power, Turkey remains. For Ankara, any Apoist structures are territories considered hostile and subject to cleansing. Today or tomorrow — a matter of time, not principle.

In such a situation, a basic economic question arises. Who will invest money in a region that cannot protect assets and property? The answer is obvious. Large capital does not enter where there is no guarantee that tomorrow all this will not be destroyed or expropriated.

That is why the thesis of that very economic official turned out to be accurate. Without Western capital, such constructs do not survive. This is not a moral assessment or a political position — it is cold economic logic, which we observe today in the Syrian example.

Levin then transfers this logic to a broader context. He recalls the words of Danish military analyst Nielsen: while amateurs follow forums, negotiations, and statements, professionals look at only one thing — money. Who, how much, and under what conditions allocates resources.

Hence — an important marker. Understanding that Ukraine is “drained” will not be by rhetoric, but by the budget. At the moment when partners start saying the right words — “you are heroes,” “you bravely hold on,” — but at the same time, the amounts of aid become symbolic or disappear altogether. This is not happening yet. Therefore, the stake remains.

Often in response, the example of Afghanistan is cited. But here too, according to Levin’s logic, everything is read long before the finale. The political decision to withdraw was formalized in 2020, the withdrawal itself — in the summer of 2021. But the outflow of capital began back in 2015: investments were curtailed, national projects lost funding, long-term programs were closed. For those who looked at the numbers, the outcome was obvious years before the evacuation.

From this follows a harsh but universal conclusion. Anyone who dreams of building a state or a sustainable political project must understand: without large external capital — Western or, in extreme cases, Chinese — it will not survive. And capital only comes where there is strength.

By strength here is meant not a slogan or the charisma of a leader. Army, police, courts, a functioning legal system, the ability to guarantee the inviolability of private property and investments. Without this, the choice is always one of three: professional terrorism as a source of funding (example — Hamas), agrarian freedom with atamanship and chronic crisis, or retreat into gray economies — from drug trafficking to semi-wild survival.

That is why, Levin’s logic concludes, money always leaves first. Not because of emotions and not because of ideology, but because capital senses better than others the moment when a project ceases to be defensible. This signal should be read more attentively than any speeches — exactly as NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency does.

The Russian state agency TASS published a material on January 21, 2026, titled “TASS: Israeli bullets found in the bodies of children killed in Iran” about the death of children during protests in Iran. The text is presented as “news” but is entirely based on claims from an anonymous source in the Iranian security forces.

The publication by TASS about “Israeli bullets” allegedly found in the bodies of children killed during protests in Iran would itself look like another propaganda ploy. But it was not solitary. Almost simultaneously, Moscow sent a second signal — a demonstrative diplomatic gesture towards Israel.

First — what exactly TASS wrote, without retelling or additions.

“Israeli combat bullets were found in the bodies of children killed during protests in Iran. This was confirmed by a forensic examination, a source in the Iranian security forces told TASS.”

“It was an eight-year-old girl from Isfahan… The forensic examination showed that the bullets were Israeli combat bullets,” the agency’s interlocutor noted.

“On the evening of January 7, 2026, in Kermanshah, three-year-old Melina Asadi… on the way back, she was suddenly shot from behind by terrorists and died,” the source reported.

This is where the facts end.
The text does not include the names of experts, laboratory names, types of ammunition, ballistics, photo or documentary evidence. Israel is not a party to the Iranian protests, but it is highlighted in the headline and turned into an explanation for the tragedy.

Almost simultaneously, the Russian Foreign Ministry publicly reported on a “meeting” with the Israeli ambassador in Moscow — in a format that has long been read internally as a “summons.”

Here is verbatim what was officially published:

“On January 23, the Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, M.V. Zakharova, held a meeting with the Ambassador of the State of Israel in Moscow, Oded Yosef.”

“There was an exchange of views on preserving the historical memory of World War II and the victims of Nazism in Europe.”

“Information was conveyed to O. Yosef about Russia’s efforts to perpetuate the feat of Soviet soldiers.”

“On the eve of January 27… the parties emphasized the need for joint opposition to attempts to rewrite history, deny the crimes of Nazism,” with reference to UN General Assembly resolution No. 60/7.

Formally — correct diplomatic language.
In fact — the second part of the same construction.

The first part is emotional and toxic. Through the state agency, Israel is attributed with involvement in the death of children in a foreign country.
The second is demonstrative. Moscow shows that it can simultaneously accuse and “talk from above,” appealing to the memory of the war and the Holocaust.

For the internal Russian audience, this forms a coherent picture:
Israel — suspect.
Israel — object of pressure.
Russia — arbiter and bearer of “historical truth.”

The Ukrainian background here is key, even if it is not spoken. Russia is waging war against Ukraine, where strikes on residential areas and the death of children are documented. This topic is toxic for propaganda. Therefore, “foreign children” and “foreign bullets” appear — in Iran, with a convenient external culprit. This dilutes moral responsibility and diverts attention from one’s own actions.

And here arises the main question that Moscow has clearly already asked itself — and to which it has not received an answer: why is Israel silent.

Who heard official indignation from Jerusalem regarding the openly anti-Semitic publication by TASS?
Who saw a public protest from the Israeli Foreign Ministry?
Who heard of a harsh reaction to the fact that a country unrelated to the events is being drawn into the murder of children?

The answer is simple — no one.

This silence in Moscow is read not as diplomatic restraint, but as permission.

Therefore, Israel in the Russian media field today can be “hit” with impunity — accused, drawn in, lectured. Today — “Israeli bullets” in Iran. Tomorrow — something else. There will be no reaction — so it can continue.

In the “TASS + diplomatic report” bundle, this no longer looks like a coincidence, but as a synchronized line. Accusation plus pressure. Emotion plus symbolic gesture. And all this — against the backdrop of the war against Ukraine, from which it is increasingly difficult for the Kremlin to divert the attention of the world community.

While one side chooses silence, the other gets used to complete impunity — in headlines, formulations, and meanings. It is this dangerous norm that NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency records: line by line, without conjecture, but with an understanding of how propaganda and diplomacy work together.

In our section “Jews from Ukraine,” we will tell the story of the heroic act of Yuri Lifshits, a Kyiv native who stopped the “death train” heading to Auschwitz and saved over 100 Jews. His story is an example of heroism and courage that continues to inspire people to fight against injustice.

On April 19, 1943, an event took place in the Belgian Resistance that became a true act of heroism and a symbol of resistance to the Nazi regime.

It was the day when Yuri Lifshits, along with two companions — Robert Mestriaux and Jean Francklemont — attacked a train carrying over 1600 Jews from the transit camp Mechelen to Auschwitz. Using minimal resources — one pistol and breaking tools — they managed to stop the train and free the prisoners. This heroic act became the first and only case of a mass escape from the “death train” during World War II.

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Details of the operation: “Attack on the 20th convoy”

On April 19, 1943, Yuri Lifshits, armed with only a pistol, organized the attack on the 20th convoy that was transporting prisoners to Auschwitz. Lifshits and his two companions — Robert Mestriaux and Jean Francklemont — managed to stop the train with the help of their tools and pistol. Despite the lack of weapons and the numerical superiority of the enemy, they acted decisively.

“The 20th convoy”, also known as “Train No. XX” (fr. Vingtième convoi), was a train that transported deportees from Belgium, occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II.

The reason for the operation was the testimony of William Herskovitz, an Auschwitz prisoner who managed to escape from the camp and, after reaching Antwerp, contacted the Belgian Resistance. Herskovitz’s account is one of the earliest testimonies of Auschwitz’s atrocities.

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On April 19, 1943, The 20th convoy left the transit camp Mechelen, carrying 1631 Jews, including men, women, and children. For this transport, not regular passenger cars were used, but freight cars with windows covered in barbed wire. Additionally, there was a special car (Sonderwagen) in the convoy, carrying 19 people — 18 men and one woman. These people were members of the Resistance and escapees from previous transports. To ensure their immediate destruction upon arrival at Auschwitz, their clothing was marked with a red cross. However, three of these prisoners managed to escape, and the fourth was shot on the spot.

At the same time, a group of young people from the Belgian Resistance, including Yuri Lifshits, a Jewish doctor from Kyiv, and his friends — Robert Mestriaux and Jean Francklemont — armed with one pistol and an improvised red lantern, managed to stop the train between the municipalities of Bortmeerbeek and Haacht on the Mechelen — Leuven route. Despite the presence of one officer and fifteen soldiers from the Sicherheitspolizei (SiPo-SD), they managed to open one of the wagons and free 17 people.

Some other prisoners escaped without the help of the Resistance. The train driver, Albert Dumon, assisted the escapees by trying to move as slowly as possible between Tienen and Tongeren, stopping whenever possible, allowing people to jump off the train and avoid fatal consequences.

As a result, 233 people escaped from the train. However, 89 were caught and sent on later trains, 26 people were killed or died while falling from the train. Only 118 survived, hiding in Belgian families until the end of the war. The youngest of the escapees was just 11 years old — Simon Gronowski. Also among those saved was Regina Krochmal, an 18-year-old Resistance nurse who cut the wooden bars before the train’s air vent and jumped out of the train.

On April 22, 1943, the train arrived at Auschwitz, where the selection took place. Of the 521 people left for work, only 150 survived to the end of the war. The remaining 874 prisoners were immediately killed in gas chambers. Among the women, 70% were killed immediately, and the others were used for medical experiments.

Due to the escape from the train, many prisoners died upon arrival at the camp, which became one of the most tragic consequences of this operation.

Yuri Lifshits: The Resistance Hero Who Saved Hundreds of Lives

Yuri Solomоновich Lifshits (September 30, 1917, Kyiv, Ukraine — February 17, 1944, Schaerbeek, Belgium) was a Jewish doctor, a fighter in the Belgian Resistance, who became famous for his heroic act that saved the lives of over 100 Jews and went down in history as one of the heroes of the fight against the Nazi regime.

Yuri Lifshits was born in Kyiv in a Jewish family. His father was a military doctor serving in the Russian army, and his mother came from a wealthy family of Kishinev Jews. She received an education at Sorbonne and worked as a teacher. The Lifshits family often moved, giving Yuri the opportunity to experience different cultures and languages. In 1928, the family moved to Munich, and later — to Kyiv.

When Yuri was 11, his parents divorced, and his mother, with two sons, moved to Belgium, to the city of Charleroi. Yuri continued his education in Belgium, enrolling in the medical university of Brussels, where he became a student of the medical faculty.

Yuri Lifshits continued his education in Brussels, where he successfully graduated from the medical faculty. In 1940, after the capitulation of Belgium to Nazi Germany, the country began a harsh occupation. The Nazi authorities introduced numerous anti-Semitic laws, including a ban on Jews working in medical institutions. However, despite these restrictions, Yuri did not stop his work in the medical field.

After the occupation, Yuri Lifshits began working at the Saint-Pierre Hospital in Brussels, where he saved many people despite the threat of arrest. In the same year, Yuri joined the Belgian Resistance, realizing that the Nazis were preparing the “final solution to the Jewish question.”

In 1942, when the Nazis began to deport Jews to concentration camps, Yuri Lifshits realized that to save Jews in Belgium, decisive action was needed. He joined the anti-fascist Resistance group, preparing actions to save Jews. Yuri understood that time was running out, and every action could be decisive for the fate of many people.

His knowledge of medicine, courage, and determination led him to participate in one of the most famous operations of the Belgian Resistance.

Arrest and Execution of Yuri Lifshits

After a successful operation, Yuri Lifshits was arrested by the Gestapo on May 14, 1943, but managed to escape using trickery. However, two months later, on June 26, 1943, he was caught again. Yuri was subjected to brutal torture and, despite everything, refused to wear a blindfold before execution.

On February 17, 1944, Yuri Lifshits was executed by firing squad in Schaerbeek, near Brussels.

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Memorial to Yuri Lifshits

The memory of Yuri Lifshits and his comrades’ heroic act was immortalized in Belgium. In 1993, a monument was erected in Brussels, dedicated to his heroic act and the memory of all Holocaust victims. In 2023, a Holocaust memorial was also opened in Brussels, where the names of Resistance heroes, including Lifshits, are commemorated.

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Why is Yuri Lifshits’ Heroic Act So Important?

The heroic act of Yuri Lifshits became an example of courage and resistance to Nazism. His actions saved over 116 lives, and his example inspires the fight against injustice. His act reminds us that even a small group of people acting at a decisive moment can change the course of history and save many lives. It is important to remember such acts of heroism so that they are never forgotten.

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Yuri Lifshits and His Role in the History of Ukraine and Israel

The heroic act of Yuri Lifshits became significant not only for Belgium and the Jewish community, but also for Ukraine and Israel. This Kyiv native became a symbol of the fight for freedom and justice, and his act became an important part of the historical memory of two peoples — Ukrainian and Jewish.

On the platform of NAnews – Israel and Ukraine news, we continue to highlight such important events and remind about the heroism of people who fought for a bright future despite enormous threats.

In our section «Jews from Ukraine», we remember not only the heroic act of Yuri Lifshits, but also his key role in history, reminding us of the significance of each act of resistance in the fight against Nazism. His heroism will remain in the memory of those who fought for life and freedom, despite all obstacles.

The U.S. Department of Defense has published an updated National Defense Strategy. The document immediately indicates a shift in priorities: Washington is focusing not on global expansion, but on protecting its own territory and the Western Hemisphere.

The focus is on U.S. continental security, the Panama Canal, Greenland, and the Gulf of Mexico. These points are named as critically important for American interests in the coming years.

China, which was recently considered the main systemic threat, is pushed to the background in the new strategy. Its containment is maintained, but now primarily through diplomatic methods and by strengthening defense in the Pacific region.

A separate section is dedicated to Ukraine. Here, the Pentagon quite directly shifts the main responsibility for supporting Kyiv to European states. The logic is simple: Ukraine’s security is primarily a matter of European stability, and therefore European resources.

Russia is characterized in the document as a “persistent but manageable threat” to NATO’s eastern flank. Demographic and economic problems are noted, which, according to the authors of the strategy, limit its capabilities.

At the same time, the Pentagon acknowledges: Moscow retains significant military and industrial reserves, as well as the political willingness to conduct a protracted war. The formula is contradictory — the threat seems controllable, but at the same time capable of long-term escalation.

This is what causes the most bewilderment. After the annexation of Crimea, the war in Donbas, and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, calling Russia “controllable” seems more like self-reassurance than analysis. In 2014 and 2022, it demonstrated complete uncontrollability — both in methods and in the scale of crimes.

It is equally strange to limit its danger only to NATO’s eastern countries. The history of global conflicts works on the domino principle: captured territories become a resource base for the next step. Strengthened at the expense of neighbors, the aggressor almost always goes further.

The illusion of “manageability” here is especially dangerous. The economy of occupations, parasitism on neighbors, mobilization of mass violence — modern Russia simply has no other models of existence left. And the speed with which fascism and sadism are normalized within society leaves no room for optimism.

Against this backdrop, the strategy, as if written in rose-colored ink, seems like a misunderstanding of the scale of the threat to all civilization, not just the “eastern flank.”

A separate section of the document is dedicated to Iran. The Pentagon again states that during Operation “Midnight Hammer,” strikes on facilities in Fordow and Natanz completely destroyed Iran’s nuclear program. The formal conclusion — war is not needed.

Next comes gratitude to Israel: the “axis of resistance” — Iranian proxies — is effectively destroyed, with the key factor being the two-month IDF campaign in Lebanon. This seems to be another argument in favor of de-escalation.

But in the following paragraphs, the authors of the strategy write the opposite: the Iranian regime seeks to restore military and nuclear potential. Therefore, the risk of war remains.

The final formula sounds extremely candid: “significant opportunities are opening up for the U.S. to change the security architecture in the region.” Translation from diplomatic language — the window of opportunity means preparation for new forceful scenarios.

As a result, the document swings between “there will be no war” and “it is inevitable.” These swings have been ongoing for months: will it happen or not, fifty-fifty, without clear answers and firm conclusions.

And it is in this uncertainty that the main signal of the new strategy lies. NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency writes about this not as a theory, but as a reality in which decisions are made against the backdrop of wars, not after they end.

On January 22, 2026, Ukrainian correspondent for the Israeli publication “Vesti” Eduard Dox wrote from Kyiv about the situation in which the capital of Ukraine found itself amid a severe energy crisis. His article was published under the headline “In Darkness, in Bitter Cold: How Jews and Israelis Survive in Kyiv” — a wording that may seem incorrect in relation to all Ukrainian citizens experiencing these trials equally, including the Jewish community of the country as an integral part of Ukrainian society. Nevertheless, it is about the perspective of an Israeli publication and its correspondent, who consciously focuses on the fate of Jewish communities and Israelis in Kyiv as one of the facets of the overall humanitarian reality of a warring city.

The capital of Ukraine is currently experiencing the most severe energy blow since the start of the full-scale war. After another round of Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, more than six thousand high-rise buildings were left without heating. Kyiv plunged into darkness and cold, and utility services increasingly admit: restoring stable heat and power supply by the end of the heating season — that is, by mid-April — may not be possible.

The city’s mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported that more than 600,000 residents left Kyiv in January alone. Meanwhile, the frosts in the capital do not subside, and power outages become more prolonged and unpredictable.

The city’s energy system has repeatedly suffered from strikes on power plants, substations, and power lines. Even partial damage causes a chain reaction of emergency shutdowns. If in December the schedules allowed Kyiv residents to somehow plan their day — to do laundry, cook food, charge phones and power banks — today many residents can only dream of rare minutes of power supply.

The lights are turned off for long periods, sometimes almost the entire day. There are times when there is no electricity for a day or more, which directly affects the operation of elevators, mobile communications, the internet, and transport. Electricity is closely linked to heating: during outages, pumps and boiler houses stop, making homes cold, and hot water is supplied intermittently or disappears completely. Even where there is no direct destruction, the networks operate at their limit. Old equipment is not designed for such loads, especially in winter when consumption sharply increases.

Residents are forced to adapt. People work from apartments without light, warm themselves with heaters during short hours of electricity supply, stock up on candles, batteries, generators. Hospitals, heating points, and critical infrastructure facilities operate on backup power sources.

Constant uncertainty — whether there will be light, heat, and communication today — increases fatigue and anxiety. It is especially hard for the elderly and families with children. Overall, the energy crisis in Kyiv is not a one-time failure but a prolonged state of survival for the city in wartime conditions, where recovery is ongoing, but stability remains fragile.

Against this backdrop, the “Vesti” correspondent addressed the question of how Israelis and members of Jewish communities live in Kyiv.

Chaim Kapelnikov, CEO of AVIS Ukraine, says that heating is maintained in his apartment, although the water pressure was temporarily reduced. Power supply is provided by an installed battery system. A generator operates in the office, so there is light, heat, and hot water there. The company monitors the situation of employees, helps in problematic cases, allowed temporary departures from Kyiv, and provides the opportunity for remote work. The office is open for employees to stay overnight, and drinking water has been purchased. Despite the difficulties, work continues.

The Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Yonatan Markovich notes that the community continues to feed people and provide medical assistance. The elderly often catch colds in frozen apartments, but injuries due to ice are even more dangerous. Ambulances cannot always arrive quickly, so the community has its own ambulance. Even with a powerful generator, it is impossible to fully heat the building — it is enough only for the synagogue, kitchen, and dining room.

During the energy crisis, more people come to the community — both for Shabbat meetings and daily circles. At the same time, the rabbi notes an increase in anti-Semitic statements in the Ukrainian segment of social networks, which was almost not observed a year ago.

CHABAD envoy Eli Badihi, working at a Jewish school on the Left Bank of Kyiv, says that the last weeks have been a real test. Electricity is supplied for only 3-4 hours a day, and heating works unstably. At night, hot water bottles and several blankets save, during the day you have to walk around the apartment in outerwear. Great help is provided by so-called Centers of Indomitability — tents with warmth, tea, and the ability to charge phones.

Weekends spent in Anatevka with the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Asman became an opportunity for many to warm up and regain strength. The territory is equipped with generators, and both Jews and non-Jews come there — the count goes into hundreds of people. Rabbi Asman simultaneously continues to travel around Kyiv with a mitzvah tank, helping freezing residents with hot tea and the ability to charge gadgets.

It is especially hard for children. In schools, they have to go down to shelters several times a day and spend hours there. They come to classes sleep-deprived, with red eyes. Childhood in such conditions turns into a series of anxieties and expectations of new strikes.

Israeli Reaction

Amid the difficult situation of Jewish communities in Ukraine, an emergency meeting on the energy crisis and assistance to Jews there was convened in Israel on January 22. The initiators were the co-chairman of the Israel-Ukraine intergovernmental commission and a minister in the Ministry of Finance Ze’ev Elkin, overseeing the activities of the “Nativ” service, as well as the chairman of the Jewish Agency Sokhnut Doron Almog.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Anti-Semitism, the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the “Nativ” service, and “Joint”. The reason was the appeals of the leaders of Jewish communities in Ukraine for emergency assistance. Participants discussed the current situation of the communities and urgent support measures in the conditions of a protracted energy crisis.

The story told from Kyiv is not an attempt to separate one group from another. It is the view of an Israeli correspondent on the general crisis of the city, where all residents suffer equally, and Jewish communities and Israelis are part of Ukrainian society and the common struggle for survival. It is this context that is important to consider when reading such materials. And it is precisely for this reason that such texts appear on the pages of NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, capturing reality without illusions and simplifications.

Chronic pain is one of the main reasons people seek medical attention in Israel. Pain in the heel, knee, shoulder, or tendons can last for months or even years, limiting mobility and reducing quality of life. One of the most effective non-drug treatments for such conditions today is shockwave therapy.

In Israel, this method is actively used at the David Sendler Pain Treatment Clinic. Detailed information about the clinic’s approach, treatment directions, and appointment possibilities is available on the official website:
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/.
This is where patients can get an initial understanding of the method and therapy possibilities.

Treatment Geography: Where Shockwave Therapy is Conducted in Israel

The David Sendler Pain Treatment Clinic works with patients throughout Israel, providing access to shockwave therapy in different regions of the country. The reception geography is structured so that patients can receive treatment as close to their place of residence as possible, without the need for long trips.

The main region of the clinic’s work is Haifa and the Krayot agglomeration. This area includes Kiryat Ata, Kiryat Bialik, Kiryat Motzkin, Kiryat Yam, and Kiryat Haim. Here, patients with chronic pain in the heel, knee, shoulder, and tendons, who require a regular course of ESWT, are most often treated.

Special attention is given to patients from Nesher and Tirat Carmel. For residents of these cities, treatment is convenient as it does not require long commutes, and the clinic’s work format allows for an individual visit schedule considering the patient’s availability.

The clinic also accepts patients from Acre and Nahariya. In these cities, people often seek help for pain associated with prolonged stress, working on their feet, and the consequences of old injuries. Shockwave therapy in such cases is considered a way to reduce pain and restore mobility without surgery.

Residents of Afula and Yokneam often turn to the clinic with chronic pain syndromes of the musculoskeletal system. For this category of patients, comprehensive treatment is important, where ESWT is combined with recommendations on loads and lifestyle.

In the central regions of Israel, the clinic works with patients from Petah Tikva, Netanya, Hadera, and Kfar Saba. Here, shockwave therapy is often used for prolonged pain that did not yield results with standard medication or physiotherapy.

For patients with limited mobility or severe pain syndrome, a home demonstration of the procedure is possible — by prior arrangement. This format is especially convenient at the stage of initial acquaintance with the method and assessing the body’s reaction to therapy.

Regardless of the city of residence, each patient undergoes an individual assessment of their condition, after which the optimal course of shockwave therapy is selected, taking into account the diagnosis, duration of pain, and overall level of physical activity.

What is Shockwave Therapy and What is Its Essence

Shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a method of affecting tissues using high-energy acoustic waves. These impulses penetrate deep into the tissues and stimulate natural recovery processes without damaging healthy structures.

A detailed description of the technology, indications, and principles of ESWT devices is presented on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/ubt/.
It explains in detail why the shockwave triggers regeneration and reduces chronic inflammation.

A separate material is dedicated to the specific pain syndromes where the method is applied and which areas are treatable.
This information is collected on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/gde-udarno/,
where the most common clinical cases are described.

For patients who find it more convenient to receive information in English, a full English version of the site is provided:
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/en/.
It is especially useful for new immigrants and foreign patients.

There is also a separate English section that explains in detail where exactly shockwave therapy is applied and in which conditions it is most effective:
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/en/where-shockwave/.

Heel Pain and Heel Spur

Heel pain is one of the most common reasons for visiting a pain clinic. Complaints about sharp pain during the first steps in the morning or after prolonged sitting are especially characteristic. Most often, it is about plantar fasciitis or a heel spur.

On the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/bolit-pjatka/
the causes of heel pain, typical symptoms, and treatment approaches using ESWT are thoroughly analyzed.

A separate material is dedicated specifically to the heel spur and its treatment features in Israel.
It is available at
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/pjatochnaja-bol-i-pjatochnaja-shpora-v-izraile/,
where it is explained in detail why ESWT often allows avoiding surgeries.

Practical issues of assistance with heel pain while walking are covered on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/pomoshh-pri-boli-v-pjatke-pri-hodbe-uvt/.
Real treatment scenarios and patient expectations are considered there.

For English-speaking patients, similar information is presented on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/en/heel-pain-when-stepping/,
where the causes of heel pain and therapy possibilities are described.

A separate English material on heel spur and chronic heel pain is available at
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/en/heel-pain-and-heel-spurs/.

A practical guide for patients experiencing pain while walking is posted on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/en/help-with-heel-pain-when-walking-eswt/.

Knee Pain

The knee joint experiences significant stress daily. Knee pain can be associated with overloads, microtraumas, age-related changes, or the consequences of old injuries.

On the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/bol-v-kolene/
the main causes of knee pain are thoroughly examined, and it is explained in which cases ESWT can be an effective solution.

For the English-speaking audience, similar material is available here:
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/en/knee-pain-why/.

Shoulder Pain

The shoulder joint is highly mobile, but for this reason, it often suffers from overloads and inflammatory processes. Chronic shoulder pain can limit movement and interfere with daily activities.

The causes of shoulder pain and treatment options are described on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/bolit-plecho/,
where the role of shockwave therapy is separately considered.

Additional material on chronic shoulder pain is available at
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/bol-v-pleche/.

For patients who prefer English, the information is posted on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/en/shoulder-pain/.

An analytical material on the causes of shoulder pain and treatment options is available here:
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/en/shoulder-pain-why/.

Pain in the Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon is one of the most stressed structures of the musculoskeletal system. Chronic pain in this area is often found in people with an active lifestyle.

A detailed analysis of the problem is presented on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/bol-v-ahillovom/,
where symptoms and treatment possibilities using ESWT are described.

The English version of the material is available at
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/en/achilles-tendon/.

Clinic Geography and Treatment Organization

The David Sendler Pain Treatment Clinic accepts patients in different cities of Israel. Information about treatment in Haifa is available on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/klinika-boli-v-hajfe/,
where the reception conditions and therapy possibilities are described.

Patients from Petah Tikva can learn about the clinic’s work features via the link
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/klinika-boli-v-petah-tikve/.

A separate page for residents of Netanya is located here:
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/klinika-boli-v-netanii/.

Information for patients from Hadera is available on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/klinika-boli-v-hadere/.

For residents of Kfar Saba, a separate section is created:
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/klinika-boli-v-kfar-save/.

Confidentiality and Authorship

The clinic pays special attention to protecting patients’ personal data. A detailed privacy policy is published on the page
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/privacy-policy/.

Medical and informational materials on the site are published by the clinic’s official team.
Information about the author is available here:
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/author/admins56ni9mns4/.

All articles on health and medicine are collected in the corresponding section:
https://uvt.nikk.co.il/category/medicina-i-zdorove/.

Contacts and Working Hours

David Sendler Pain Treatment Clinic
Phone: 055-951-4135
Contact via website: 24/7
Home visit by agreement

Working hours:
Sunday–Thursday: 10:00–19:00
Friday and pre-holiday days: 09:00–14:00
Saturday: closed

In Israel, language in legal matters is not just a means of communication. It is a tool for protection. For Russian-speaking immigrants, entrepreneurs, and families, choosing a lawyer who is fluent in both Russian and Hebrew often becomes a decisive factor in the outcome of a case.

When a person faces a court, ministry, Ministry of Internal Affairs, or another state structure, they are dealing with a system where there are no “approximate formulations.” Any inaccuracy, misunderstood word, or incorrectly prepared document can lead to refusal, delays in the process, or financial losses.

That is why the official website of Ariel Katsman’s law office — https://katsmanlaw.co.il/ — is important not as a showcase, but as a working tool for clients who need legal assistance in Russian and Hebrew in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and northern Israel.

Why “lawyer in Russian” is not just language knowledge

In Israel, you can find specialists who formally speak Russian. But legal support is not a casual conversation. A Russian-speaking lawyer is a specialist who understands how the client thinks, from which system of coordinates they came, and what mistakes immigrants most often make.

It is about the ability to explain complex legal processes in simple, understandable language, without distorting the meaning. This is especially important in family disputes, labor conflicts, repatriation issues, and criminal cases, where the cost of a mistake can be too high.

Israeli legal system: where problems most often arise

Israeli law combines elements of the British system, local legislation, and case law. All key processes — courts, Ministry of Internal Affairs, ministries, notarial actions — are conducted exclusively in Hebrew.

For a Russian-speaking client, this means dependence on the quality of translation and interpretation. A Russian-speaking lawyer completely removes this risk, as they work directly with documents, courts, and agencies, not through intermediaries.

Geography of work: Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Krayot

Ariel Katsman’s law office practices in Tel Aviv and Haifa, and also works with clients in Krayot — Kiryat Ata, Kiryat Bialik, Kiryat Motzkin, Kiryat Yam, Kiryat Haim, as well as in Nesher and Tirat Carmel.

Such geographical coverage is important not only for client convenience. It allows for prompt participation in court hearings, meetings with government representatives, and accompanying transactions or processes on-site.

Transparency of work and confidentiality

Legal issues are always associated with personal data, documents, and sensitive information. Therefore, it is fundamentally important to understand how the law office works with confidential information.

A detailed privacy policy is available on the page https://katsmanlaw.co.il/privacy-policy. This section is especially important for clients who provide the lawyer with documents related to family status, business, or immigration issues.

Legal services: when a comprehensive approach is needed

In Israel, one legal problem rarely exists in isolation. A family dispute may affect real estate issues, and a labor conflict may affect immigration status. Therefore, it is important that the law office provides a wide and structured range of services.

The full list of areas of work is available on the page https://katsmanlaw.co.il/perechen-uslug. This section allows the client to immediately understand whether the lawyer can accompany the case entirely, without transferring it to other specialists.

Notarial services: a formality on which the result depends

In Israel, notarial actions play a key role in matters of powers of attorney, translations, real estate transactions, and official statements. An error at this stage can render the document invalid.

The description of notarial services is posted on the page https://katsmanlaw.co.il/perechen-uslug/notarialnye-uslugi. This section is especially important for immigrants who are processing documents for Israeli and foreign authorities.

Labor conflicts: one of the most common problems

Labor disputes between employer and employee are one of the most common categories of cases in Israel. New immigrants, who are not fully familiar with local labor legislation, especially often face them.

The practice of labor conflicts is described in detail here: https://katsmanlaw.co.il/perechen-uslug/trudovye-konflikty. This section helps to understand in which situations it is worth contacting a lawyer and what rights the employee or employer has.

Family law: when emotions interfere with protecting interests

Family cases in Israel are one of the most complex and sensitive categories. Divorces, property division, alimony, child custody, and inheritance disputes are often accompanied by strong emotional tension, which prevents people from soberly assessing the legal consequences of their decisions.

A detailed description of the practice in the field of family law is posted on the page https://katsmanlaw.co.il/perechen-uslug/semejnoe-pravo-a. This section is especially important for Russian-speaking clients who are encountering the Israeli judicial system for the first time and do not always understand the difference between religious and civil courts.

Real estate in Israel: transactions where there are no trifles

Buying or selling real estate in Israel is always a legally complex process. It is not only about the purchase and sale agreement but also about checking property rights, taxes, obligations to the developer or third parties.

The practice of accompanying real estate transactions is described in detail here: https://katsmanlaw.co.il/perechen-uslug/nedvizhimost. For immigrants, this section is especially valuable, as errors in documents can lead to serious financial losses or legal disputes.

Repatriation, citizenship, and residency status

Immigration issues are one of the key reasons why Russian-speaking clients turn to a lawyer in Israel. Errors in submitting documents, incomplete data, or incorrectly chosen strategy can lead to refusals and long delays.

Repatriation, citizenship, and status issues are detailed on the page https://katsmanlaw.co.il/perechen-uslug/repatriaciya-grazhdanstvo-stupro-status-na-zhitelstvo-v-izraile. This section helps to understand in which cases it is worth seeking legal support rather than trying to solve the issue independently.

Criminal and military law: when the cost of a mistake is maximal

Criminal and military cases in Israel require special experience and caution. Even a seemingly minor violation can have serious consequences — from fines to restriction of freedom.

The description of practice in the field of criminal and military law is available at https://katsmanlaw.co.il/perechen-uslug/ugolovnoe-i-voennoe-pravo. This section is especially important for clients who are serving or have become involved in a criminal process for the first time.

Civil law and compensations

Civil disputes and compensation issues are another common category of cases. It is about recovering damages, road traffic accidents, insurance disputes, and liability of parties.

Civil law practice is presented on the page https://katsmanlaw.co.il/perechen-uslug/grazhdanskoe-pravo, and compensation and traffic accident issues are detailed here: https://katsmanlaw.co.il/perechen-uslug/vzyskanie-ushherba-voprosy-kompensacij-dorozhnotranspornye-avarii. These sections help clients understand when and to what extent they are entitled to compensation.

Licenses and professional status of a lawyer

In Israel, having a license and official lawyer status is not a formality but a mandatory condition for legal practice. The client has the right to check in advance with whom they are working.

Information about licenses is posted on the page https://katsmanlaw.co.il/nashi_litsenzii, as well as in the Hebrew version of the site: https://katsmanlaw.co.il/he/our-licenses. This is an important indicator of transparency and trust.

Exclusive services and solutions for clients

In addition to standard legal services, the office offers additional solutions aimed at complex and non-standard situations.

Exclusive advantages for clients are described here: https://katsmanlaw.co.il/nashi-eksklyuzivnyye-preimushchestva. Separate services for business clients are highlighted: https://katsmanlaw.co.il/eksklyuzivnyye-uslugi-dlya-biznes-kliyentov, as well as solutions related to visa status: https://katsmanlaw.co.il/eksklyuzivnyye-uslugi-v-oblasti-vizovogo-statusa.

Won cases as an indicator of practice

For many clients, not only the list of services is important but also the real results of the lawyer’s work. Won cases allow assessing practical experience.

The general list of cases is available at https://katsmanlaw.co.il/vyigrannye-dela. Separate cases on business conflicts, debtor protection, real estate, family law, residency status, as well as criminal and transport law are presented.

Client reviews and feedback

Client reviews are another important guide when choosing a lawyer. They allow understanding how communication and case support are structured.

Reviews in Russian are posted here: https://katsmanlaw.co.il/otzyvy, and reviews in Hebrew are on the page https://katsmanlaw.co.il/he/reviews-about-us.

Conclusion: why a Russian-speaking lawyer is truly valued

A Russian-speaking lawyer in Israel is not a marketing slogan but a practical advantage. It is precise formulations, understandable explanations, competent strategy, and the absence of language risks.

That is why the lawyer in Russian and Hebrew, Ariel Katsman, is in demand in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Krayot. When language ceases to be a barrier, legal protection becomes effective.