Rescuing Anna by Rafi Sackville

Israel today Rescuing Anna

by rafi Sackville

Natan under a sign that reads “Food, free of charge for Ukrainian refugees”

For the many expatriate Ukrainians living in Ma’alot, the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is more than just news items that keeps them glued to their televisions; it is visceral and heartbreaking. Many of them have family members who are currently caught up in the war.

By my calculations, almost 50% of my students are from families who are from Russia or Ukraine.

During one of my recent classes, the conversation turned to the current war in Ukraine. Eden, a 10th grader, mentioned that her father Natan, and his spouse Ludmila, were at that very moment on the Polish border with Ukraine, where he had planned to meet up with Anna, Eden’s 13-year-old step-sister. Their plan was to meet up with her just inside Ukraine and bring her back to Israel.

Wrom nrael ot gnitnae, I met up with Natan after his return to Israel. We sat on his couch in his modest apartment where he told me about his adventure.

Natan Goldgur is a young-looking 43-year-old, who came to Israel from Ukraine in 1990 just as the USSR was breaking up. He was born in Khmelnytskyi, named after the infamous 15th century tyrant. Upon their arrival in Israel, his family moved to Nahariya, before moving to Ma’alot a few years ago. For the last 31 years, he has lived a peaceful life. In telling me his story, he mentioned more than once that he had been under a lot of stress, which is hard to imagine,

as he is of calm disposition and quietly rational.

In the weeks leading up to the war, he was skeptical that Russia would invade. When the war did begin in late February, his fears were quickly realized. For one, Ludmila’s eldest son living in Zhitomir was unable to leave, as he is of fighting age and must uniform up. Besides, he is married, and his wife had just given birth.

Anna, Ludmila’s young daughter, was staying with her father in Zhitomir, not far from Lviv. The bombing there suddenly became intense with factories and a hospital targeted. The plan had been to get Anna out earlier. However, due to

Covid, many people like Anna were hampered in traveling freely. In fact, it was because of the pandemic Ludmila had spent the previous six months separated from Anna.

In early March, Natan gathered his family and announced that he and Ludmila had decided to fly to the border to get Anna out of the Ukraine. Eden and Tomer would move in with their mother.

They flew to Warsaw, from where they drove east 280 miles to Hrushiv, a border crossing point a few miles from the Polish border. Hrushiv was the border crossing most convenient for Natan and Anna’s father. Knowing how unstable the situation was, they were prepared to improvise; Natan would travel to another crossing point if they came across any trouble. At least, that was their plan. In the meantime, Anna’s father would drive her southwest to Hrushiv from Zhitomir, a 450-mile journey.

Zhitomir had been bombed. Anna had heard the commotion and was pleased to leave.

Natan and Ludmila reached the Polish border but were prevented from crossing into Ukraine by Polish officers. The car they rented didn’t have the correct paperwork. Ludmila began to cry. She explained to the officers why she needed to cross. According to Natan, they were yelled at for being foolish enough to contemplate crossing into Ukraine. Eventually, they were let through.

Natan says that it was easy enough

According to Natan, they were yelled at for being foolish enough to contemplate crossing into Ukraine.

finding Anna. Years ago, such a rescue would have been unthinkable. Modern technology made locating Anna quite straightforward. Anna was happy to be reunited with her mother.

Inside Ukraine, Natan felt heartbroken by the line of refugees along the side of the road. By his reckoning, the line of cars ran for miles. He saw no men – only women, children and house pets.

He was stopped more than once by Ukrainian soldiers who, thinking he was a Ukrainian citizen, asked him what he was doing there. They thought he should be fighting. Despite having been born there, Natan is no longer a citizen.

Along the road were makeshift tents distributing free food, clothes and medication. This was small respite for the suffering they witnessed. There were so many in tears at having been separated from their menfolk.

Natan and Ludmila had trouble getting back into Poland. It took some doing to break the lines by proving they weren’t seeking refuge.

Eventually, they made their way back to Warsaw where they discovered there were no flights leaving the country.

They made a decision to try their luck in Berlin and caught a train to Germany. They were lucky enough to purchase tickets. The train was packed with travelers, many of whom had been allowed to travel free of charge. Natan showed me a video from the journey: the carriages were so full it was difficult to move.

Upon their arrival in Berlin, they

Natan and Anna at the Ukraine-Poland

border

Ludmila, Natan, and Rafi after Natan’s return home from Ukraine

went shopping for airline tickets back home, which they were lucky enough to find. Then the airline begged them to sell their tickets back to them. They even offered them more money. Only wanting to return home to Eden and Tomer, Natan refused all offers.

In an unprecedented move, Israeli officials waved Anna through upon their arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. Usually, they process new immigrants before allowing them into Israel. That, however, was not enough for the Ma’alot municipality, who are waiting until she becomes a citizen before giving her benefits.

Put yourselves in Anna’s shoes. She arrives in Israel not speaking a word of Hebrew or English. It would be akin to living in a mostly silent world. I asked Natan what his plans were for her.

“I was in exactly the same situation when I moved to Israel at the age of 11. The best thing for her is to attend school,” he asserted. “She’ll be fine.”

Once they allow her to attend, of course. Meanwhile, she is learning Hebrew.

I’m sure she will succeed, regardless of how long it takes. Yet spare a thought for the millions of Ukrainian refugees who are not as lucky as Anna, who remain displaced, and whose futures are so uncertain.

Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, teaches in Ort Maalot in Western Galil.