Jonathan and Deborah M from Strasbourg

We received a love for Israel from our parents from childhood.

For 21 years, we had been planning to make Aliyah. We made several plans that we hadn’t yet fulfilled. Four of our children immigrated after high school through Massa programs and completed their studies. It was very difficult being separated from our children.  Now we are making aliyah with our other three children – Elle, Noah and Orit.

This year has been particularly difficult because our son, being a hayal (a term of respect for Israel), has been serving since the beginning of the war. In addition to the worry, being far away has been especially hard, even though we were very proud of him. We bought very expensive tickets for his first leave. But we were very sad not to be able to welcome him and take care of him during his other rare and short leaves. So, since October 7th, our desire to immigrate has become even more urgent. The feeling of insecurity and the rise of antisemitism accelerated a reflection that had been present for a long time. It was particularly moving to go up, to join our family, and especially to hold our son in our arms, who miraculously escaped Hamas sniper fire in Gaza… We hope to integrate, master Hebrew, and feel happy.  The hardest part is leaving behind a sense of stability, our home, our friends, and our community.

Like many Jews in France, we have faced an increasingly oppressive atmosphere, filled with tension and sometimes fear (our mezuzah was torn off, a swastika was painted on our building, and my 6-year-old son asked us why “people want to kill us” after seeing a Palestinian demonstration in the street).

Ezra helped us financially by paying for the ulpan, the passport stamps, and the taxi to the airport. This support was an encouragement and a sign of solidarity that helped me move forward with more confidence in this decisive step of my life. We also received human warmth and the feeling of being supported and not alone in facing this big step.

We would like to thank Ezra’s sponsors for their invaluable support and warmth, and encourage them to continue, because many Jews around us would like to make Aliyah, but they lack the courage, and a helping hand would be invaluable. Thanks to them, life projects become possible. Their generosity doesn’t just finance Aliyah; it accompanies a rebirth.