ICEJ-Assisted Rescue Flight from Ukraine

Agroup of 100 frail, elderly Ukrainian Jews made Aliyah to Israel in December, landing safely at Ben Gurion Airport on the third night of Hanukkah. For some, Hanukkah candles were their only light source back in Ukraine; this year, the prayer said on the third night of Hanukkah was especially meaningful: “Blessed are you, Our God, Ruler of the Universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in their days at this season.” These Olim experienced their own Hanukkah miracle, having just escaped the relentless bombing and power outages that resulted in widespread shortages of heat, light, and fresh water.

T his urgent rescue flight was made possible by the efforts of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the ZAKA1 emergency response team with substantial financial support from the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) and several other organizations.

Seventy-six-year-old Ella Smirnova is completely paralyzed and, with help, left her home in Odessa while preparing for the Rosh Hashanah holiday in September: “I’m totally handicapped and limited to my bed, so this war has added to my feeling of helplessness, and I didn’t see a way out,” Ella said. “When the air raid sirens went off, the only thing I could think to do was try and hide under the bedsheets—the only way I would be able to save myself was if someone came along to help me,” she said.

Dovi Weissenstern, CEO of the ZAKA emergency response organization, told J-Wire Australian News: “This flight of 100 people evacuated from the war zone is very emotional, particularly in these days of Hanukkah, as it is a modern symbol of the heroism of the weak over the mighty.

“The sad reality is that most of the world has become complacent with the war in Ukraine, while our teams are still always working in the field in cooperation with other organizations. Every day we’re assisting Holocaust Survivors, the elderly, and people who have been injured in the shelling,” Weissenstern noted.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said several energy facilities were damaged during what he said was the tenth such large-scale attack on his country. The eleventh such attack occurred on New Year’s Eve.

“Russia is trying to deprive Ukrainians of light before the New Year,” Shmyhal wrote in a Telegram post.

The ICEJ reacted immediately in the first days of the conflict to send a large donation to pay for the flights of more than 300 Olim. In 2022 the ICEJ supported the Aliyah rescue of 1,390 Olim from Ukraine, including nearly 400 frail, elderly seniors and, among them, some 200 Holocaust Survivors. Seventeen Holocaust Survivors have already been received in the ICEJ Haifa Home.

Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine told the Jerusalem Post he expects another wave of Aliyah in the winter as the war on infrastructure rages on.

Every Generation’s Story: 75 Years of American Christian Engagement with Israel follows the unique experiences of 18 American Christians representing 5 generations who responded to God’s call to go to Israel–and whose lives were changed forever because of it.

As part of our ministry of blessing and comfort to Israel, the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ) is thrilled to see disadvantaged children flourish in a loving and supportive environment that encourages their growth and development.

During Hanukkah in December, ICEJ Vice President for AID and Aliyah Nicole Yoder visited an Israeli youth village we support, home to 141 young kids. Most of these children are between 6 and 18 years old and have been removed from their homes for their well-being, though some children in the village can spend time at home with their families occasionally.

A small group of children participate in the youth village programs but still live at home. The hope is that with support, their families will be strengthened so that these children will not need to be removed.

T he youth village has embarked on an educational and therapeutic project to open a bakery operated by the children. An instructor familiar with working with at-risk children is teaching them life skills alongside learning to bake and cook. This initiative has proven to be immensely popular with the kids.

Anxious to start but with few resources to purchase essential equipment, a room was identified for the new bakery-to-be. The project kicked off with great enthusiasm with a few appliances, like used mixers, a second-hand oven, and a small refrigerator. However, more equipment is needed to turn this dream into a reality and get the project fully up and running.

“The ICEJ is so excited to support this initiative,” said Nicole. “Over the next few years, these at-risk children will build their skills and learn to develop business and marketing plans that will drive this initiative into becoming a real business in the community,” she explained.

During Hanukkah, baked treats are plentiful in Israel. So not surprisingly, the kids were excited to get out of school a few hours early to use their new skills and bake for the village Hanukkah party. Nicole witnessed a hive of activity as the joyful kids worked energetically to bake 170