Lena (not her real name), 31, a new immigrant to Israel from the Ukraine, describes her family’s story. “My two children and I are without my husband, their father, who had to stay behind to fight in the army. Three days ago, we brought my mother to be with us. We scrambled to leave our apartment in Kyiv and got in the car to go towards the border with Poland, where we could get out and then get on a plane to Israel. We left everything behind. I believe we barely escaped with our lives because I heard that our building got bombed. I’m glad we made it out, but I don’t know how I can make a new life here in Israel. I’m just living one day at a time. We need food, a place to sleep, and I need formula and diapers for my little one…”
Israel Again Called On To Be a Safe Haven for Jews
Israel is known as a refuge for new immigrants. Once again, Israel has been called upon to absorb Jews in distress. The new refugees from Ukraine present special challenges, as many have fled with little but the shirts on their backs, and their journey to Israel was truly harrowing, making them feel especially vulnerable.
Thousands of new immigrants from war-torn Ukraine, including orphans, have arrived in Israel. Israeli government officials estimate that tens of thousands more will immigrate in the coming weeks. Yad Ezra V’Shulamit is working with the Israeli government to get food to Ukrainian refugees in Israel, distributing both food baskets and vouchers.
These new immigrants to Israel have experienced real trauma. It is hard enough for the new immigrants to cope with dramatic life changes and the fear they experienced with intense worries for themselves and their loved ones. We Jews are known as rachmanim b’nei rachmanim – compassionate children of compassionate parents. As such, it is not surprising that a number of Jewish organizations, such as Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, have stepped up to the plate to ease the immigrants’ burdens so that they will have food to eat and basic supplies. Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, which provides 10,000 food baskets to the needy in Israel every week, has opened a special
warehouse in Bat Yam to help serve the needs of the new Ukrainian refugees. Volunteers from across Israel have joined together and are filling baskets to provide sustenance for the new immigrants.
Group Effort Needed to Help New Ukrainian Immigrants
Israel is planning to take in hundreds of thousands of new immigrants. The Israeli government is committed to absorbing these new immigrants and helping them integrate into Israeli society. Many organizations are helping worldwide. Extensive resources are needed. These refugees first need help with the perilous journey to the Ukrainian border. They require basic food and supplies while in transit. And along the way they must stay in makeshift housing in host countries such as Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. And, then they need to be assigned to flights to Israel.
Once they arrive, they need temporary housing quarters, food, toiletries, and basics such as sheets, towels, clothing, and food.
Jews around the world have rallied to help their Ukrainian brothers and sisters to settle in Israel and reestablish their lives. The founder of the Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, Aryeh Lurie, said, “We can do this. If everyone gives a little, we can help everyone make it here in Israel.”
Please partner with Yad Ezra V’Shulamit here in Israel to help get Ukrainian orphans and families like Lena’s the food and assistance they so desperately need.
To donate, visit www.yadezra.net/ukraine.