Welcome to Passover during wartime in this Ukrainian port city, where the remaining Jewish population celebrates freedom over tyranny even as their community has been scattered by war across Europe and the world, for the second time in the past century. Inside the banquet hall, around 10 p.m., Igor Oks, 41, an event host who has helped French journalists report on the war, raises his glass of wine and quips in Russian, “The Black Sea opened like the Red Sea, and the Russian warship drowned in it.” The crowd is determined to be festive, even as air sirens wail. A man rises and exhorts the gathering: “Let’s drink to life! Let’s drink to Passover!” He ends with “Let’s drink to Ukraine!” The photos in this gallery offer a look into the Passover celebrations. 🌟 Itamar Wolff, the son of Rabbi Avraham Wolff, leads the Passover Seder at the Chabad synagogue. The Seder occurred before the official start of the holiday due to a citywide curfew of 9 p.m. because of the ongoing war with Russia. 🌟 Members of the Jewish community in Odesa, Ukraine prepare Seder boxes for Passover. 🌟 A man purchases several boxes of matzah at Odesa’s Chabad synagogue. 🌟 A man exits Odesa’s Chabad synagogue after purchasing a box of matzah. 🌟 Members of the Jewish community in Odesa, Ukraine prepare the local Chabad synagogue for Passover. 🌟 Sarah Leya, 65, says the blessing over the candles at the local Odesa Chabad Synagogue. The blessing which typically marks the beginning of Passover was done before the official start of the holiday due to a citywide curfew of 9 p.m. because of the ongoing war with Russia. 🌟 Food for Passover Seder is prepared at the local Odesa Chabad synagogue. 🌟 Women prepare Seder plates for Passover at Odesa’s Chabad synagogue. 🌟 Sarah Leya, 65, and members of Odesa’s community celebrated Passover Seder at the local Chabad synagogue. 📷: @sandyhooper for @usatoday