In one of the biggest waves of aliyah in the last months, 257 Olim from the Ukraine have landed in Israel on Wednesday, 20 Adar-II, arriving by on flights from the Ukraine. Amongst them is Sergei, whose grandmother hid her real name and Jewish identity until her very last day.

Earlier Wednesday, two flights from the Ukraine have landed in Israel, carrying 257 new Olim, Most of whom are refugees from the war zones in the east of the country. Amongst the new Olim is Sergei, who came with his wife Olana and their son, David. Sergei’s mother, Alla, who escorted him to the flight, and his late grandmother, Lida – are both Holocaust survivors.

Sergei told that after the holocaust his grandmother changed her last name from “Mendeleyev” to “Michayilev”, as well as her first name from “Itta” to “Lida”, in order to hide her Jewish identity, in fear of her and her family’s well-being. “Thank G-d that we are immigrating to a country where a man can be proud of his Judaism”, said Sergei.

With him on the flight were Roman and Victoria, a young couple in their Thirties. The couple, both trained electricians who worked for the Ukrainian railways system, decided to make aliyah after being forced to fix trains in the war-zones around the city of Donetsk for the last couple of years, while under heavy artillery and the exchange of fire between Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.

Before boarding the flight, Roman said “When we were forced to fix the trains electrical systems while being under fire, we didn’t know if we will make it back home.” Roman added that “The war has led us to the realization that we need to make a decision about our future, which was to make aliyah. Since we are Jewish, we feel that it’s only natural for us to wish for a better life in Israel”. Roman and Victoria made aliyah along with their two children.

The flights that have landed today were the 25th to be organized by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). The youngest immigrant aboard the flights was 8 months old Angelina. In total, 10 babies arrived aboard today’s flights (up to and including the age of one). The number of children on the flights (up to the age of 13) was 68. The oldest immigrant was Irina, who is 90 years old.

Most of the new arrivals prefer to settle in Haifa, where 46 olim are destined to settle. Other cities where many of the Olim will settle are: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Bat Yam, Beersheva, Eilat, Nahariya, Netanya, Petah Tikva, Kiryat Yam, Rishon L’tzion and Tel Aviv – Most of which are known by their large community of Russian-speaking residents and for the local authorities’ cooperation in the absorption process of the olim.

According to many of the olim, along with the fighting itself the economic situation in the country has also severely deteriorated, making it very difficult for them to support their families. In light of the economic situation of many of the new olim, the IFCJ is assisting them by granting special grants for the sum of 1000$ per adult and 500$ per child, in addition to financing their flights to Israel.

This support by the IFCJ is granted in addition to the ‘Absorption grants’ (“Sal Klita”) and other the benefits the new olim are entitled to by the ministry of absorption in Israel. Even before reaching Israel, the IFCJ is taking care of the new olim and their families’ absorption in their future local communities, who enlist to accompany the olim in finding housing and jobs for them and their families. The IFCJ continues to accompany the families even after their absorption in their new homes.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, president of the IFCJ, stated that “Today is a festive and heart-warming day in which 257 Jews make aliyah to Israel. Aliyah is the manifestation of the Zionist vision and a key factor in the social and economic development of Israel. Among the olim are doctors, engineers and teachers, along with children who will soon integrate into society and thus strengthen it.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photos: Daniel Bar-On)