EZRA INTERNATIONAL
Rescue, Return, Restore – Poor Jewish People to Israel
Stories from the Field
Stories of Jewish people we’ve helped make aliyah (emigrate to Israel).
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Aleksandr and KseniyaT from Uzhno Sakhalinsk
Aleksandr is making Aliyah with his wife, Kseniya and two sons – Artem and Daniil. Aleksandr (Sasha) is from Uzhno Sakhalinsk which is the furthest point in Eastern Russia. This is where the sun rises, and it is close to Japan. Aleksandr is Jewish on his father’s...
Stanislav and Elena N from Samara
Stanislav and Elena are making Aliyah along with their son, Matvei. Stanislav has wanted to make Aliyah for some time, but Elena did not want to leave. It took two years of persuasion before she was ready to move! They see the move as a positive influence also for...
Lela and Paata B from Gori, Georgia
Lela is making Aliyah with her husband Paata and two children – daughter Nato and son Nika. Lela tells their story: “I have been waiting for this for a long time and I know that in this strange time worldwide my family is taking the right steps in going to Israel. ...
Evgenii and Elena P from Tiraspol
“Many families who decide to repatriate to Israel are concerned about the question: where to start? One way or another, in order to successfully assimilate into a new environment, it is important to honestly answer yourself a couple of questions: Do I really want to...
David G from Sumgant (Azerbaijan)
“I decided already a long time ago to make Aliyah but, somehow, I couldn’t leave. I am Jewish. My relatives have always told me that I should move to Israel. To be honest I wasn’t drawn to it and therefore somehow didn’t dare to take that step. I married an...
Tatyana T from Sevastopol
“I thought about Israel from time to time, especially when I again felt a negative attitude towards me because of my Jewishness. I don’t have big problems due to anti-Semitism but sometimes I feel a very strong desire to be in a society where I can feel 100% at ease...
Stories
Tinatin and Tengiz P from Tbilisi
Tinatin made Aliyah along with her husband Tengiz and daughter Liza. “All I know about Israel is from my Mom and it became a little dream that my family and I could become a part of that country. We have a small child and as we are young and able to work hard, we...
Benjamin Z from Buenos Aires
My name is Bejamin and I was born in Buenos Aires in 1958. I am a descendant of a family of settlers from Russia who arrived in Moises Ville in 1898 with the great migration to the lands of Baron Hirsch. From that colony almost everyone migrated to Rosario and later...
Bruno C from Porto Alegre
My name is Bruno, I am from Porto Alegre, Brazil. Aliyah for me means to ascend spiritually and also personal evolution. I aim to do become a Rabbi. The difficulties in making aliyah are leaving family, friends and memories, but I have had problems with anti-Semitism...
Gvantsa and Salome M from Tbilisi
Gvantsa and Salome are sisters making Aliyah together. Gvantsa tells their story: “Israel is our dream country and our roots are there. Not only our ancestors are from Israel, but our parents live there, and we want to be close to them. So, while we are young, we...
Boris (Baruch) and Natalya M from Odessa
Boris – known as Baruch – and Natalya made Aliyah with their six children – sons Menachem, Efraim, and Shmuel and daughters Rivka, Ester, and Bat Sheva. The couple is well known in the Jewish community in Odessa where Baruch is head of the local synagogue and a...
Youth Aliyah
Patricia Z, Lea S, Ester Carla, and Leonardo M from Rio de Janeiro. These four young people gained authorization from the Jewish Agency to make their aliyah in June 2020. They have been waiting to leave since February when they already received the green light from...
Alena and Evgenii M from Khabarovsk
Alena and Evgenii came from Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East. They were making Aliyah along with their son, Alexei. They are a very interesting, strong family from a village background. Nevertheless, they chose repatriation to Israel. Khabarovsk used to be the...
Yosif Sh from Odessa
While Yosif’s wife was alive they didn’t think about repatriation. They lived very modestly and had enough from their pensions. But after her death Yosif decided to make his Aliyah. Yosif is 75 and his sister who lives in Israel has invited him to come live with her....
Leonardo and Sheila W from Rio de Janeiro
Leonardo and Sheila made Aliyah along with their daughters Priscila and Caroline. It is Priscila who shares her story: “My name is Priscila and I am from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I’m making Aliyah with my parents and also my sister, Caroline. Aliyah for me means a...
Oleg G from Krvoi Rog
“I live only with my grandmother in Krivoi Rog. I do not have parents. I don’t see any prospects for myself here, so I decided to repatriate. I have many friends who have left for various programs in Israel. In 2018 I visited Israel on the Taglit program. I...
Nikoloz and Sophio G from Tbilisi
Nikoloz made Aliyah with his wife Sophio and son, Aleksandre. He tells their story. “I think the main reason for our leaving is poverty. I was always busy and working as a distributor in different companies but was never paid enough! All that I earned was used just...
Maria S from Sao Paulo
“My name is Maria de Fátima, I´m from, São Paulo, Brazil. I am making Aliyah with my Aunt and Uncle. Aliyah, for me, it means living in Israel with the people I love. I want to be close to these people who are dear to me.” “In São Paulo I faced some problems with...
Eva and Leonid Ch from Kiev
“My husband and I are both purebred Jews. I am now 80 years old and he is 9 years older than me. He will turn 90 this year! This year will also be a special anniversary of our life together – we have been married for 60 years! We live modestly. We had no savings...
Damiana C from Sao Paulo
“My name is Damiana, I´m from, São Paulo, Brazil. I am fulfilling my dream of making aliyah, for the love of Israel, for the love of Torah and for the love of the people. My dream is to achieve a better future in every way.” “I learned about Ezra's work in the...
Benjamin and Mazal A from Marseille, France
Benjamin and Mazal A from Marseille, France Benjamin and his wife, Mazal, are making Aliyah along with their 3 daughters – Odelia, Neoray and Tali Sarah and their 2 sons – Aviel and Yaniv. Mazal tells their story: We are making Aliyah because it is very important to...
Ekaterina and Sergei T from Bender
Ekaterina and Sergei T from BenderEkaterina and Sergei made Aliyah with their sons Sergei and Artem and their daughter, Eleonora. Ekaterina tells their story:I was born in May 1986, the granddaughter of a Jew – making me entitled to repatriation under Israel’s Law of...
Vladimir and Maria R from St Petersburg
Vladimir and Maria made Aliyah along with their daughter, Maya. Vladimir tells their story: “Aliyah for our family is more than just moving to another country. We consider Israel to be our home – so Aliyah for us is returning home!” “The idea of making Aliyah came...
Felix and Pascale T from Marseille
Felix and Pascale made Aliyah from France with their 3 children – daughters Jessica and Noemie, and son, Yoni. Felix explains their decision:“Making Aliyah is important to us as we want to be surrounded by our family. We decided to make Aliyah for the future of our...
Irma and Tamaz N from Gori
Irma and Tamaz made Aliyah with their son, Temuri and daughter, Elene. Irma tells their story: “If I had known in 2008 that I had the chance to go to Israel I would have done that. But, it’s never too late and after 10 months taking the steps towards this I’m...