Military chaplain of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine Yakov Sinyakov at the Kyiv Forum: the world demands not only words but also strength

Kyiv Forum, Prince Harry, and the Conversation on Moral Responsibility

Military chaplain of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine Yakov Sinyakov participated in the 18th annual Kyiv Security Forum. The panel he spoke on was dedicated to peace, solidarity, and moral responsibility — topics that today resonate for Ukraine not as abstract diplomacy, but as the daily reality of war.

Yakov Sinyakov represents the FJCU as a military chaplain and also serves as a chaplain for the 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. His participation in the forum was an important signal: spiritual support for the military, the moral resilience of society, and the defense of the country are no longer viewed separately, but as parts of one system of resistance.

Among the forum participants was Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, founder of the Invictus Games Foundation. After his visit to Kyiv, he called Ukraine an example of “real-time leadership” and emphasized that the Ukrainian experience of resilience, veteran assistance, and support for wounded soldiers is setting new international standards.

For the Israeli audience, this topic is especially understandable.

Israel also lives in a reality where security, the military, public solidarity, and psychological support for servicemen are not theoretical. Therefore, the Ukrainian experience of war, chaplaincy, and working with veterans is important today not only for Europe but also for countries that know the cost of defense themselves.

Tehillim in Ukrainian as a sign of spiritual support

During the forum, Yakov Sinyakov presented Prince Harry with a pocket edition of Tehillim in Ukrainian. This edition was worked on by the FJCU Publishing Center, and the book itself is distributed among Ukrainian soldiers as a source of spiritual support.

This gesture is important not only symbolically. Tehillim is a book that Jewish tradition turns to in moments of anxiety, pain, danger, and hope. In the Ukrainian military context, such an edition becomes part of the support for soldiers who go through the front, losses, fatigue, and constant tension.

The Ukrainian language here also matters. This is not a translation for form’s sake, but an attempt to speak to the military in the language of the country they are defending. For Ukrainian Jews and for the Jewish communities of Ukraine, it is another way to show: participation in the defense of the country can be both military, spiritual, and social simultaneously.

A book about the defense of Europe and the Ukrainian experience of war

As part of the forum, there was also a presentation of the Ukrainian edition of the book “If You Want Peace, Prepare for War. Europe’s Defense Plan.” Rob Bauer, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee in 2021–2025, and Eleonora Russell, Strategic Communications Advisor, personally arrived in Kyiv.

Their participation underscores that the Ukrainian war has long ceased to be only a Ukrainian topic. Ukraine today is at the forefront of a major conversation about Europe’s security, the readiness of democratic countries for defense, and the ability of societies to endure a long war.

The meaning of this discussion sounds harsh but realistic: peace does not appear by itself. It requires strength, order, allies, preparation, stable institutions, and the readiness to defend one’s own borders.

In this context, NAnovosti — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency draws attention to an important detail: the Ukrainian experience is increasingly discussed not only as a tragedy of war but as a practical school of survival for other countries. For Israel, where security issues are always linked to the lives of citizens, this perspective is especially relevant.

Why Sinyakov’s words are important for Ukraine and Israel

During the discussion, Yakov Sinyakov emphasized that peace requires more than just diplomacy. According to him, true peace needs strength, order, and responsibility.

This is a position that fits well with the Ukrainian experience of recent years. When a country faces aggression, calls for peace alone are not enough. An army, allies, internal unity, moral clarity, and the readiness of society not to shift responsibility solely onto politicians or the military are needed.

Sinyakov also highlighted the spiritual dimension of Ukraine’s struggle. According to him, the defense of the country is not only a military task but also a moral duty. This approach is important for understanding the role of chaplains in war: they do not replace commanders and do not solve combat tasks, but help people not lose their inner support where the pressure becomes almost inhuman.

For Israel, this conversation is also not foreign. Here, it is well understood that the army is held together not only by technology and orders. It is held together by motivation, connection with the people, memory, faith, mutual responsibility, and understanding of why a person puts on a uniform.

“Start with yourself”: the main takeaway from the speech

In the finale, Yakov Sinyakov formulated a thought that sounds simple but takes on special weight in wartime conditions. He said that we need to start with ourselves — and start not later, but today.

“We must start with ourselves. When? Precisely today. The future is not yet here, yesterday is over, today is a gift from the Almighty. Therefore, today we need to do some good deed,” Sinyakov summarized.

In this phrase, there is no loud political rhetoric. There is what often turns out to be stronger than slogans: personal responsibility. To do a good deed today, support a soldier, help a family, not pass by someone else’s pain, maintain dignity, tell the truth, not get used to war as a background.

It is from such actions that the resilience of society is built.

The Kyiv Security Forum became a platform where military strategy, veteran support, international solidarity, and spiritual responsibility were part of one conversation. Yakov Sinyakov’s participation showed that the Jewish community of Ukraine is not standing aside from the war and its consequences.

It helps, speaks, supports the military, and reminds: the defense of the country is not only a matter of weapons. It is also a matter of spirit, memory, faith, and daily choice.