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Israel & Christians Today
Biblical understanding about Israel
GEORGIAN JEWS MAKING ALIYAH.
A short while ago the world was shocked by the news of an open war between Georgia and Russia, resulting in thousands of victims and tens of thousands of people fleeing the country. It was nothing less than a human catastrophe for the former Soviet republic where the majority of citizens already live in poverty.
By Koen Carlier.
For several years now ‘fishermen’ (people who visit Jews, encouraging them with the Word of God to return to Israel) and drivers of Ebenezer, together with workers from the Jewish Agency have been helping and supporting Jewish families in Georgia in many different ways. And the result of this work is that since 1991 tens of thousands of Olim, (Jews returning to Israel) have arrived safely in Israel where they are part of a growing, active Georgian community.
Boiling pot
The relationship between Russia and Georgia has in fact been cool and strained for some time already, but still no-one could have foreseen this war. And yet the prophet Jeremiah in chapter 1: 13-14 describes the ‘Land of the North’ as a ‘boiling pot’: “And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying, ‘what do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.” Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the north calamity shall break forth on all the inhabitants of the Land.”’ In the following verses Jeremiah continues on the subject. The prophet Zechariah says that when the Jews flee, they had better go to Israel: “Up, up, flee from the land of the north,” says the Lord; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord. “Up, Zion, escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.” Zech. 2:6-7.
A difficult task
Some years ago I and my co-workers in Ebenezer arrived in Georgia with this message and more Bible verses. It was a beautiful country with hundreds of villages in the mountains and on first sight all looked peaceful. We travelled all over the country and have since been back a second time, everywhere visiting Jewish families in their little houses and flats. The poverty was obvious wherever we went, but the hospitality was indescribable! And we thought to ourselves: ‘do we really have to encourage the Jews living in these peaceful surroundings to leave everything behind and make Aliyah to an unstable situation in Israel?’ It was not an easy thing to do. But during that time we escorted many Olim to the airport of Tbilisi. It is quite unique that almost all Georgian Jews have Biblical names. For example, we were able to escort the 32-year old Moses with his 22-year old sister Miriyam to the airport. The other family members were not yet prepared to join them. On the way we shared the Word of God with them and talked about Spiritual matters, and they in turn asked us the question we hear again and again, why Christians show their love and support to Jews living all over the world, often in difficult circumstances, and even help them practically in crucial moments of their lives.
Date of departure
If there is one thing that Olim remember, it is the date of departure from their land of birth to the land of their forefathers. In the town of Kutaisi we had an appointment with a Hebrew teacher and her pupils who week by week are studying their future language. We talked with them, encouraging them with Bible verses. Some of them were still very young and yet determined to make Aliyah. Recently, the teacher decided to go to Israel herself and many others from Kutaisi followed her example – just in time.
Before leaving from Tbilisi to return to Ukraine we met with Abraham, his wife Sarah and their only son Isaac. They were elderly and knew the Bible well, but whether they would ever make Aliyah was uncertain.
To Israel as soon as possible
The good news is that in August, just before the outbreak of the war, 8 Olim reached the airport in Tbilisi safely and left for Israel where they have since started a new chapter in their lives.
As I am writing this, Alex Katz, head of the Jewish Agency in the former Soviet Union is in Georgia himself. He has arranged for extra El-Al flights so that Jews wanting to leave, can get to Israel as quickly as possible. In August, through negotiation tens of Jews have been able to leave the town of Gori, occupied by Russian forces and situated in Central Georgia, and have now arrived safely in Israel, their home. We appreciate your prayers for the volunteers and drivers who are staying there under difficult circumstances and are still escorting Jews to the airport on roads in an even worse state than before (as a result of the bombings).
You can help a Jew make Aliyah to Israel by donating a gift to the following bank account: 52.93.10.252 or giro 3223. Christians for Israel, Nijkerk, with the words ‘Helping the Jews home.’ It costs €115 to help one Jew make Aliyah, and if you donate this or more you will receive a certificate with your name and the name(s) of the person or persons you have sponsored as well as – until the end of this year – the DVD ‘New Olim reporting from the Promised Land’, as described below.
Free DVD
A new 15 minute DVD, ‘New Olim reporting from the Promised Land’ has recently been released in collaboration with the ‘Collective Israel Action’ (Keren Hayesod). It shows Jewish immigrants from France, Siberia en Ethiopia who recently arrived in Israel. They talk about how their lives have changed since and what motivates them to stay in Israel. As a bonus the DVD also contains our 18 minute educative documentary ‘The birth of Israel’. It is free of charge for anyone who donates €50 or more to ‘Helping the Jews home’.
@ro: Georgian-Jewish immigrants arriving safely in Israel a few days after the war broke out this summer in their country.
@ro1: A Russian tank in Georgia. Because of the conflict is has become more difficult for Jews to leave the country and make Aliyah to Israel.