‘Israel Is my home’
It’s a sunny morning at the end of September when we arrive at a large parking lot in Vinnitsa, Ukraine. Seventeen teenagers, all around fourteen years old, and several parents have gathered there. The Christians for Israel bus is ready to take the young people to Kishinev, the capital of Moldova, where they will board a plane to Israel.
Loading the Bus | Photo: C4I
Together with my colleague Elise, I am spending a few days in Ukraine, witnessing the departure of yet another group of young people choosing to ‘go home’, to ‘return’ to the Promised Land, even though most of them have never been there. They are making the deliberate decision to join the Na’ale education program of the Jewish Agency, which, after an entrance exam, gives them the opportunity to study in Israel for four years. The hope (and often the reality) is that many will stay in Israel permanently, and their families will eventually join them.
‘My Jewish identity is important to me, and Israel is my home. It’s a land of opportunity.’
Letting go
The farewell at the parking lot between the teenagers and their parents is emotional. Parents (both of whom must always give consent) are granting their children a fresh start in Israel, but they must also let them go at a relatively young age, knowing that the conflict in Israel is far from resolved. As the first kilometers of the 330-kilometer journey slip by, the bus remains quiet. The goodbye is still sinking in.
The teenagers come from various places across Ukraine and usually don’t know each other. They will also attend different schools in Israel. Many of these young people already have family in Israel – grandparents, uncles, aunts, or sometimes a parent or sibling who also moved to Israel through the Na’ale program.
Photos of the young people saying goodbye. Click on the right of the photo to continue (Photos: C4I):
Crossing borders
The border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova takes over four hours. Once we have crossed into Moldova, the mood in the bus becomes a bit livelier. It’s a good opportunity to ask the teenagers some questions. Iryna already has an uncle and aunt living in Israel and had been considering going to Israel for some time. ‘My Jewish identity is important to me, and Israel is my home. It’s a land of opportunity. I hope to attend university there later to study chemistry or biology. Hopefully, my mother will join me after four years.’
Jewish identity
Nikita from Odessa has also already decided on his future studies. ‘I want to become an engineer. Israel is a land of many possibilities and is still developing. I’ve already taken Hebrew lessons, which also taught me more about Israel. It has made me even more aware of my Jewish roots.’
For Zachary, Israel is not an unfamiliar place. He was born there and lived in Israel for four years. After his parents divorced, he returned to Ukraine with his mother, while his father and brother stayed in Israel. Now he is returning to his birthplace. His Jewish identity is a major driving force behind this decision. The teenagers aren’t afraid of the conflict in Israel. ‘Israel can protect us much better than Ukraine.’
A heart already in Israel
Viktor, nearly 80 years old and from Zaporizhzhia, is also on the bus. He has finally responded to his daughter’s repeated calls to come to Israel as well. In the synagogue, he heard about the assistance Christians for Israel offers. Now that the time has come, he doesn’t find it hard to leave Ukraine. ‘My heart is already in Israel, the land where the Jewish people belong.’
God’s people are coming home, as foretold centuries ago by the prophets. What a privilege it is to witness this!
Na’ale C4I Bus | Photo: C4I
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