Post-Tisha B’Av Horror: Russian Attack Destroys Odessa’s Historic Synagogue
A historic synagogue in Odessa was severely damaged by a Russian drone strike hours after Tisha B’Av, devastating a symbol of Jewish heritage. The attack, condemned by local Jewish leaders, has sparked calls for international action against Russia’s targeting of civilian and religious sites.
On August 4, 2025, just hours after Tisha B’Av ended, a historic synagogue in Odessa’s Peresyp District, the Nachalas Eliezer shul, was severely damaged by a Russian night-time assault using Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones. The attack, targeting central Odessa near the Black Sea, caused the 19th-century synagogue to catch fire, igniting widespread destruction across the city’s downtown. Though no casualties were reported, the strike left a profound mark on Odessa’s Jewish community, as the shul, though no longer in regular use, housed sacred texts, ancient seforim, and relics symbolizing the city’s vibrant Jewish heritage, which once supported a thriving kehilla before Soviet-era suppression.
Odessa’s Chief Rabbi Shlomo Bakst expressed deep sorrow, stating, “Just one day after mourning the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, we now mourn a new and painful destruction, the severe damage to the Peresyp Synagogue in Odessa.” He added, “Although it hasn’t been in regular use in recent years, it stood for generations as a house of prayer, memory, and sanctity, housing ancient scrolls and holy books. Its destruction is a wound to our community and our heritage.” Rabbi Avraham Wolff, Chief Rabbi of Odessa and Southern Ukraine, echoed this, saying, “This is not just a building, it is a symbol. We are here and we will stay here, and we will continue our work, no matter what.”
The Jewish Community of Odessa, led by figures like Rabbi Rafael Kruskal, vice president and CEO of Tikva, condemned the attack, urging global leaders and human rights organizations to denounce Russia’s targeting of civilian and religious sites. Kruskal stated, “When a house of worship is attacked, I expect the world to condemn this act of brutality.” The assault, part of Russia’s intensified drone campaign using over 6,000 Iranian Shahed drones since 2022, follows a pattern of strikes on Ukrainian cultural sites, including Kyiv’s St. Sofia Cathedral in June 2025. Social media on X reflected outrage, with one user noting, “Destroying a synagogue after Tisha B’Av is a deliberate attack on Jewish history.” A prayer gathering is planned at the site to reaffirm the community’s resilience.