Meirav Benedek Canada "Ukraine" meib.artstation.com

The soldiers who freed my grandmother from the Auschwitz death camp were Russians ones. Today they are the ones we need saving from. My family has lived through existential threat. However, in response to donation links to aid Ukraine I had sent my relatives I received in reply links to articles of how cruelly Jews were treated in Ukraine. It’s true. Ukraine is where the destroyed villages of my ancestors were and the history is unkind. But Still when I look at the faces of Ukrainians on social media - I see myself. The scary thing about cruelty is that it shows what you yourself can become if circumstances were different. cruelty is omnipresent, from the earliest stories. Even in the Old Testament as soon as there were “brothers” - one murdered the other. In China, Africa, America, all around the world. Which people then “merits” saving? It is not “Germans”, “Russians”, “Ukrainians” rather it is in humans, and human nature. There are always ”justifications” to act cruelly or at to look away, especially when exposed to lies and misinformation. However, there is also always a reason for compassion and chance for change within people. Ukraine today is a western free country and it’s people and identity are at risk. By donating we can help victims of cruelty, and we can show ourself that we humans can be as compassionate as we imagine ourself to be.