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273 olim from the Ukraine landed on Tuesday 28 Cheshvan in the largest yet flight sponsored by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). The olim came in on two separate flights joining 250 olim from the Ukraine that came in earlier this month. All together 523 olim arrived in the last month alone, making it the highest amount of olim per month coming in from the Ukraine with the assistance of IFCJ. By the end of this year, over 4,300 olim will come on Aliyah via IFCJ.

Among the last flight 50 were children, the youngest of 6 months old. Of this group, several have evacuated their homes and towns as a result of the ongoing conflict between Russia and the Ukraine. Tatiana Belkina (52) and her family originally from Donesk, where many of the violent battles have accrued, left their house on the last train to Kiev, as shortly after they traveled out the railway route was destroyed.

Alina (32), originally from Mariupol a Doctor by profession has experienced the war from up close, during one of the bombings her co-worker was killed along with 29 others and the sight of death was on the streets. “We are looking forward to beginning our lives once again in Israel and will do all we can to settle in and work our way to becoming doctors here, trying to put aside the death and look ahead to our new future”.

During 2016 over 4,000 olim will arrive in Israel with the assistance of IFCJ, as a joint effort of the fellowship to help the Aliyah process in Israel. The Olim are assisted by the IFCJ, not only after arriving at Israel but during the integration period in Israel as well. The IFCJ provides the Olim with special grants that sum up to $1,000 for each adult and $500 for each child, in addition to covering the expense of the flights. This support is further to the help of the Absorption grant and the regular benefits all Olim receive once coming to Israel from the Israeli ministry.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, President of the IFCJ: “Having 273 Olim arrive at Israel on a day like Nov 29 is a sign of the ongoing existence of the Jewish nation and the best way to see the practical meaning of “All of Israel are Responsible for One Another”. At the Fellowship we assist Jews all over the world taking into account those in special need and assuring them special help. We have been reaching out greatly to Jews in risk and it is our agenda to continue doing so as needed at any place or time”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Olivier Fitoussi)