From Ukraine to Israel: The Aliyah Continues!

People regularly ask themselves whether there are still Jewish people leaving from Ukraine to Israel. After all, both countries are at war. The short answer is: yes, the aliyah continues. You read the longer answer in this update.

“Yes, the aliyah from Ukraine continues! You read all about it in this update”

Especially after Pesach (Passover, the Feast of Unleavened bread) we see an increase of the number of olim (plural of oleh, a Jewish person making aliyah) whom we bring from all of Ukraine to Kishinev, the capital of Moldova. Twice a week olim can board a flight specially arranged for them to Tel Aviv.

We also see an increase of the number of Jewish families that prepare their departure to Israel. They stay for a short time in our shelter (near Kiev) to put their documents in order, or for an interview with the Israeli Consul.

It seems to be paying off that we continue to urge families to prepare their documents, “just in case…”, mostly in the cities of Eastern and Southern Ukraine.

Please, have a look at the photos of the past few weeks. Use the arrows to navigate and click to enlarge. The text continues underneath the photos.

Youngsters
A group of over 150 youngsters between the age of 14 and 16 years old recently performed a number of tests allowing them to start studying by the end of August in the “Naaleh-program” for 3 or 4 years in Israel. They aim to stay in Israel after their studies and subsequently their parents and grandparents make aliyah as well, i.e. leave for Israel for good. As long as the mobilization law is in force in Ukraine, men between 18 and 60 years of age cannot leave the country, unless they have three children under eighteen, have a serious illness or are disqualified for the army!

Unfortunately the war continues and the Russians are continually trying to damage the infrastructure. But also schools and residential areas are hit, like in Charkiv, Zaporizhziha, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kherson, Nikolayev and Odesa. It remains Russian roulette, you never know where the drones and missiles explode!

It are mainly olim whom we help in a practical manner at their departure. Not always without danger for our drivers.

“War, leaving, with two children… No way! War in Ukraine, impossible!”

War? No way!
We had a meeting with Alexandra. She worked for the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) from 2008 till 2012 in Kiev, our partner organisation that helps Jews to leave for Israel.

Alexandra and her two children

Early February 2022 her husband said in a serious voice: “Dear Alexandra, we have to leave here, soon it will be war, let’s go!” Alexandra looked at her husband and said: “War, leaving, with two children… No way! War in Ukraine, impossible!”

Barely two weeks later the war broke out, on February 24, 2022. They quickly grabbed some stuff and all their documents and tried to escape from the huge city of Kiev (6 million inhabitants), but in the region of Irpin and Bucha they ended up between Russian and Ukrainian tanks. As if by a miracle Alexandra and her husband arrived 24 hours later in Chernovtsy, a city near the Romanian border. Through there they managed to escape from Ukraine and ended up abroad as refugees. A couple of months ago they returned to Kiev to finally put their documents in order.

Yesterday (Monday June 17) they were invited for an interview with the Consul of Kishinev in Moldova. Just now I received word that everything is in order and that they will leave together with over 30 other olim to Israel on Thursday June 20! From war in Ukraine to war in Israel, is that a wise choice? Everybody should decide for themselves, but we help everyone who is leaving in a practical manner with transportation from all of Ukraine to neighbouring country Moldova for their flight to Israel.

Following article from Hillel Fuld appeared on our website last week, worth reading carefully.

A call from Hillel Fuld, an Israeli influencer, to the Jews in the Diaspora: “I know this is a super unpopular opinion and I know I’m gonna get heat for saying this, as I always do, but if one person internalizes this, it was worth it. Jews, listen to me, GET THE HELL OUT while you still can! Fine, you want to roll your eyes and call me an alarmist, go right ahead. Or maybe hear me out. I grew up with grandparents who survived the holocaust. I heard all the stories first hand. I heard how my grandmother was on the selection line with a Nazi in front waving his finger left or right to decide which Jew lives and which Jew dies.” Read the full call by Hillel Fuld on X here.

We from Christians for Israel are grateful that we can testify in this manner on a daily basis and even participate in the prophecy of Isaiah 49:22:

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I will beckon to the nations, I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their hips.”

Bring  the Jews home
For € 135 (or 150 USD) we can help a member of the Jewish people with collecting the necessary documents and transportation to the consulate and ultimately to the airport. Any amount is welcome, but if you transfer exactly the amount of € 135 (or USD xxx) for Ukraine, you will receive a certificate sent to your home. We do this so that you have a lasting reminder to your contribution. We know that many use this certificate as a prayer reminder.

One family (5 people) € 675 or 750 US $
One bus (25 people) € 4500 or 5000 US $
Any amount is welcome!

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