About Us

Our Story

KJMC Uzhhorod (locally known as KEMO, from the Ukrainian acronym КЄМО) began on February 27, 2022, when our leader and his wife arrived in Transcarpathia — just three days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. What began as a small group of believers has grown into a vibrant community of 65 members. Officially registered on December 25, 2023 (EDRPOU: 45313979).

We are officially registered as a religious organization (EDRPOU: 45313979, registered December 25, 2023) and are part of the KJMC network — a federation of 57+ congregations across 21 countries, rooted in Kyiv’s KJMC, founded by Rabbi Boris Grisenko in 1994.

Jewish Heritage of Transcarpathia

Transcarpathia has one of the deepest Jewish roots in Europe. Before the Holocaust, over 100,000 Jews lived in the region:

  • Mukachevo — 43-50% of the city’s population was Jewish. It was one of Europe’s most important Hasidic centers, home to the Munkacs (Shapira) dynasty and over 30 synagogues.
  • Uzhhorod — 33-36% Jewish, the second-largest Jewish community in Hungarian Transcarpathia.
  • Khust — approximately 30% Jewish, a major Hasidic center with a yeshiva dating back to 1861.
  • Tyachiv, Berehove, Vynohradiv and other towns also had significant Jewish communities.

During the Holocaust, over 110,000 Transcarpathian Jews were deported and approximately 90,000 perished. But their descendants remain — many families have overt or hidden Jewish roots. Since the full-scale invasion of 2022, many Jews from other regions of Ukraine have also relocated to Transcarpathia as the safest region in the country.

Today, we serve these people — those seeking their Jewish roots and faith in Messiah Yeshua.

Our Community

  • 65 members — mostly young people aged 20-30
  • Scripture School — 36 regular attendees
  • Humanitarian aid (chesed) — hundreds of people helped
  • Mukachevo outreach — a historically Jewish city across the mountains
  • Young, devoted team — older leaders were mobilized, but our young team carries on

Despite the challenges of war, geographic isolation from Kyiv (800 km away, with 7 EU capitals closer), and limited resources — we continue to grow and serve.

The KJMC Network

We are part of the Union of Jewish Congregations of Messianic Judaism (messianicunion.com):

  • 57+ congregations
  • 21 countries
  • Founded in Kyiv in 1994
  • Member of TJCII and Ukrainian Interchurch Council