5 minute read
National Mission to Israel
Our gifts here impact Jews around the world
By Paula Filler
Ihad the privilege of going on the National Mission to Israel with Jewish Federations of North America for Israel’s 75th Anniversary. Our group of 20 lay leaders from Jewish Federations across the United States received the blessing of witnessing, firsthand, how our Jewish Federations collaborate with affiliated Jewish partners to rescue and support Jews in need around the world.
I learned that my individual gift, and effort to fundraise for our Jewish Federation here in Naples, create the collective power we must have to support a Jewish peoplehood. Our combined contributions provided Jewish Federations with the power required to address unforeseen emergencies and be there for those in need.
Before the Ukraine War, 74,900 Jews arrived in Israel from Ukraine and Russia. The Jewish Agency was responsible for them upon arrival. In the 14 months ending in February 2023, it’s interesting to note that 57,000 Jews came from Russia and 16,000 came from Ukraine. The new immigrants arrived with no material wealth, just the hope in their hearts of being able to live freely as a Jew.
Our National Mission met with Jews recently rescued from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine at Kibbutz Merhavia, a Jewish Agency program, “First Home in the Homeland.” This Kibbutz was where Golda Meir lived with her family when she first arrived in Israel and it now supports 30 new immigrant families from Russia, Tajikistan, Belarus and Moravia.
With Jewish Agency support, Kibbutz Merhavia is equipped to provide immigrant families who arrive in Israel, often traumatized by war and their difficult journey, to make Aliyah, with the support they need. First Home in the Homeland addresses urgent needs such as housing, food, clothing, employment assistance, language classes and cultural activities. Several programs have recently been added for the Russians and Ukrainians that are geared to help them find jobs in their own professions, like medicine and nursing. Families receive the assistance they need to navigate and access Israeli services such as getting their kids enrolled in school and how to get a driver’s license.
One of our hosts at the Kibbutz was a young woman who arrived in Israel from Siberia two to three years ago. With an unusual ability to learn foreign languages quickly, she spoke Russian, English, Ukrainian, Hebrew and Polish. As she was also a recent immigrant, she shared with me how she was finally able to prove that she was Jewish and entitled to make Aliyah. After considerable searching, she found her grandmother’s original documents from when she was deported to Siberia in the 1940s. While she and her family quietly observed Judaism, her grandmother’s official papers were the only records she could find to prove her Judaism and eligibility to make Aliyah.
The Russian family we met with came with their two sons from Moscow. The wife, 39, was a lawyer and the husband, 41, was an engineer. The main reason they decided to make Aliyah was the desire to live in Israel and build a happy life. The wife always knew she was Jewish. She went to Jewish camps and kept Jewish holidays and traditions. Despite leaving everything behind, they were smiling during their meeting with us.
The second family arrived from Minsk, Belarus. In Minsk, the husband was a musician and orchestral artist; his wife was director of a Jewish community center, actress and concert master. Their two sons, ages 7 and 13, were in school during our meeting. While this family was trying to make Aliyah from Belarus, the wife’s father was living in Ukraine. The wife and her Ukrainian father challenged each other as to who could immigrate to Israel first. He managed to reach Israel first when his home was destroyed by bombs early in Ukraine’s war.
While not an easy adjustment, this family seemed grateful to have the opportunity to arrive in the homeland and ensure a good life for their children. They graciously played music and led us in traditional Jewish songs. What a magic moment as our voices, from all over the world, sang in unison.
The Ukrainian family arrived from Kharkov. In Ukraine, the husband was employed as a physicist and software engineer and his wife was a geologist and cartographer. Their son is 16. After considering Aliyah for many years, they made Aliyah in 2022 via Poland. The husband explained that his parents also wanted to move to Israel and were preparing their required immigration documents before the Ukraine War broke out. When their home was destroyed by bombs, it was only by looking through the rubble that they found the documents needed to make Aliyah. The pain and trauma on the faces of this family was clearly felt by our entire group.
It is often easy to forget that when Jews need refuge, Israel is the one country where they will be welcomed and can become citizens immediately. I am so grateful that I can play a small part in rescuing and supporting Jews in need here in Naples, the United States and around the world through our Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.