A moving and historic moment took place last night ahead of the holiday of Shavuot: a Ukrainian-language edition of the Book of Psalms was brought to the Tomb of King David in Jerusalem’s Old City and to the Western Wall.

As has been reported in recent years, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the educational institute of the Rebbe’s shluchim, operating under the auspices of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), launched a major initiative to translate Jewish literature into Ukrainian. Around eight staff members — including Torah scholars alongside Ukrainian linguists — have been working around the clock in full coordination to translate foundational Jewish texts, as well as children’s stories about the Bible and Talmud, into the local language for the very first time. The initiative followed Ukraine’s decision to distance itself completely from the Russian language, which had long been used officially throughout the country, and to adopt Ukrainian instead.

As part of this effort, the Five Books of Moses, sections of the prayer book, portions of the Bible, introductory Chassidic works, educational booklets about Jewish holidays and basic mitzvot, and children’s educational materials have already been translated. Over the past year, the translation of the Book of Psalms was also completed. During a meeting organized by the federation between Chabad emissaries and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the recent Passover holiday, he received a leather-bound copy of the translated Psalms as a gift. At the same time, tens of thousands of pocket-sized Psalms editions were distributed to soldiers on the front lines and to Ukrainian security personnel, with the hope that they would bring protection and salvation.

The newly translated volume has now been placed at the resting place of King David and in one of the libraries adjacent to the Western Wall plaza. Earlier, the rabbi of Haditch and Chabad emissary, Rabbi Shneur Zalman Deitsch, presented a copy of the translated Psalms to the Rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch.

The individual who had the honor of placing the Psalms at these holy sites was businessman Mikhail Shifrin from the Jewish community of Kharkiv, whose printing house produces these holy books. Notably, the printing facility suffered severe damage during a Russian attack, with destruction estimated at one million dollars — yet that did not stop Shifrin from continuing this important work.

After placing the Psalms, together with a personal dedication he had written inside them, an emotional Shifrin said this moment represented a full-circle experience for him.

“I grew up in a home where Judaism was absent. Communism almost completely disconnected us, and now I have the privilege of coming to King David and giving him this precious gift on the eve of the festival of the Giving of the Torah — in my name and on behalf of all the Jews of Ukraine.”

Rabbi Moshe Moskowitz, the rabbi of Kharkiv and Shifrin’s spiritual mentor, said that the first Ukrainian edition of the Psalms — 20,000 copies — was completely sold out within a short time, including among many non-Jewish residents. A second edition is already being printed.

Chairman of the Jewish communities in Ukraine and Chabad emissary Rabbi Mayer Stambler said that the translated Jewish books are sparking a profound spiritual awakening among Ukrainian Jews and strengthening their connection to Jewish tradition, with the Book of Psalms playing a central role.

He added that Russian bombardments have intensified dramatically in recent days and have been among the heaviest since the war began four and a half years ago.

“In Ukraine, dozens of fatalities are being counted, yet despite everything, thousands of Jews across the country will celebrate Shavuot in synagogues this year as well. Together with Chabad emissaries, the federation is organizing public readings of the Ten Commandments in synagogues attended by men, women, and children alike.

“At the Giving of the Torah, we merited a clear Divine revelation in this world, and all of creation paused its activity to accept the yoke of Heaven. Our prayer is that this Shavuot, we will once again merit a Divine revelation — bringing an end to wars, complete healing for the sick, and salvation for all who need it, with the coming of the true and complete redemption.”