Blessed at work - A report from our Aliyah fieldworker Koen Carlier

We look back on a blessed 2012, and are grateful for all we could do to console and encourage the Ukrainian Jewish People on their way to the Promised Land.

2012 ended on a hectic note. We had a couple of short trips with Jewish families to the airport in Kiev, and some long journeys from the Hungarian, Romanian and Moldavian borders. Driving on these roads in winter time is no fun. We planned two extra food parcel packaging and -distribution actions and were informed that the 'Evangelische Omroep' (Evangelical Broadcasting) from the Netherlands wished to visit the Ukraine with a film crew.

Winter
Winter’s merciless and swift arrival in December had catastrophic consequences for the traffic. We were hoping, in all sincerity, that the olim’s flights would be cancelled, but all went ahead as planned. The heavy snowfall compelled us to take extra driving time into consideration in order to be on time, and we needed breakdowns like a hole in the head! This is nail-biting stuff; especially when you are stuck in the snow. The film crew experienced it a few times but kindly assisted in getting the bus going again.

All departing olim, whom we’ve assisted, have a story about making aliyah to Israel. Alyona Firsova (22 years) from Mukachevo, realized after completion of her studies at a Jewish school in Odessa, that she no longer belonged in the Ukraine, but in Israel. She left for Israel, permanently, with her family and twelve other olim, at the end of December 2012. Margarita, 67 years old, also left for Israel on December 27th. Thanks to your prayers and gifts, we will be able to continue with this important task in 2013.

Making Aliyah from the Ukraine costs €135, per person. Your help is greatly appreciated!

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