For the first time in history, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UN, Andrii Melnyk, participated in the global “Kinus Hashluchim” forum – the annual gathering of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s emissaries, which recently concluded in New York and was attended by over six thousand rabbis and the Rebbe’s emissaries from more than one hundred countries.
Mr. Andrii Melnyk previously served as Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany, held the position of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to Brazil, and this year began leading Ukraine’s mission to the United Nations. He is known for his firm and consistent stance on issues related to the Ukrainian movement for independence during the Second World War. The Ambassador participated in the Kinus Hashluchim upon the invitation of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine.
Together with the delegation of Ukrainian Jews, Ambassador Andrii Melnyk attended the Forum’s culminating event – the traditional gala evening, the largest event concluding the multi-day Forum program, which unites emissaries and guests from around the world. It was during this evening that Andrii Melnyk was ceremoniously presented with the newly published Torah in the Ukrainian language, the result of a multi-year project realized by the FJCU.
“It is a great honor for me to be here,” the FJCU press service quotes Ambassador Andrii Melnyk, “I am impressed by the scale of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s vision and how his ideas continue to inspire people all over the world. I am especially grateful to the emissaries who remain in Ukraine, support people, and believe in our country. I am convinced that the publication of the Torah in the Ukrainian language is another step towards our future victory.”
