[VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Attached are photos of the Olim from this morning at the airport. Credit: IFCJ

Earlier today about 250 Olim from the Ukraine landed in Israel airport. This is a renewed wave after the respite of flights due to the Chagim. Among the Olim there are 117 families, which will all settle in the north and center of Israel. The Olim of the upcoming flight will be helped out by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). The eldest Ola today is 86, along with her 52 children will become citizens, 7 of them are under two years old.

The Olim before getting on the plain said they were very hopeful that coming on Aliyah will allow them to begin a new life in a more peaceful and safe place then their birthplace. When hearing there personal stories it is clear that these Olim have experienced war in its vilest way.

According to Valentina, who is coming on Aliyah with her husband and three children, her children’s life was saved miraculously a few times during the battles. “Life under a shelter had become a routine during the time we were living in Mariupol. There was fighting at one point that forced us to stay within a shelter for over two months”.

“The day to day situation in the Ukraine now is awful and in some mysterious way only getting worse” mentions Olga, another Olah on the flight today. “Throughout the battles as time became stressful my family and I were forced to live on the streets. I am so grateful for this opportunity to come and live in Israel with the help of IFCJ and to establish my home in the land of my ancestors, my historic homeland”.

Maria and her two children, originally from Donetsk, landed in Israel. This is there first time visiting the country “I have never been to Israel before but I am confident that this is the best place for my family and me now. We lived in fear, I was depressed during this time period more than once and my son developed a stutter as a result of these difficult times. I fell in love with Israel before I set foot in it, I love the country and the endless opportunities it may offer me.”

Additional to the Olim from the Ukraine over the next two days 50 more olim will be arriving from France. These Olim will be coming in from three different main cities, Frankfurt, Marseille and Paris. The Olim described the latest anti-Semitism events occurring in Europe and France as the main trigger to bring them to make their decision to come on Aliyah.

During 2016 over 2,500 Olim arrived in Israel with the help of the IFCJ, additional to the flights arriving today and tomorrow, as a joint effort of the fellowship to help the Aliyah process in Israel. The Olim in the upcoming flights will be assisted by the IFCJ, not only after arriving at Israel but during the integration period in Israel as well. After arriving at Israel, IFCJ will provide 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. During the following week the Olim will be joining an integration seminary arranged by the IFCJ.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, President of the IFCJ: “As a part of our engagement with Aliyah we are often exposed to moving stories of Jews from all around the world that have been through numerous troubles and now at last are fulfilling their Zionist dream and coming to live in Israel. We assist thousands of Jews from tens of countries from the Ukraine throughout Brazil to come and live in Israel. We help all Olim when integrating in the Israeli society and economy by closely following up and providing financial aid so that we can assure the best possible integration”.

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