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).
Nataliya D from Konotop
“It is a tremendous miracle for me that my mother was able to find documents proving our Jewish roots and that we can make aliyah. We have been dreaming about this in our family for a long time but only now is the dream coming true.” “When I was a teenager, I wanted...
Simona and Viktor F from Samara
“Making aliyah for us means to live in our own country, our own land together with people who are close and dear to us. Our daughters and grandchildren have been living in Israel already for a long time. We decided we wanted to live near them. We are hoping...
Yanina and Alejandro B from Buenos Aires
My name is Yanina, I´m from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am making aliyah with my husband, Alejandro, and daughter, Iara. We come from Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina – 3 Jews by birth with Jewish culture!” “For us aliyah means being able to start a new life...
Aleksandr and Tatiana S from Kremenchug
“I am Russian according to my passport, Jewish by nationality, a former military pilot. We have been living in Ukraine for a long time in the city of Kremenchug. Our daughter and her family have lived in Israel for a very long time. Although there was talk about war...
Rodolfo and Suzanna O from Sao Paulo
“We are Rodolfo and Suzanna from São Paulo, Brazil. Aliyah for us means a return to our origins. My children made aliyah and now we also have grandchildren, we intend to be close to them.” “We had difficulties with bureaucracy and high and hard expenses to get the...
Rafik and Raisa I from Baku
“Our children would call us and convince us that we should come to them in Israel. At first, we did not dare to leave and then we said, ‘what do we lose if we go?’ You have to leave while you can. How do you know what will happen tomorrow? It is all unknown. So,...
Stories
Maia and Kakha T from Gori
“Israel is a very promising country, and my Jewish roots allow me to go there with my husband Kakha and son, Sergo. Israel is my ancient homeland.” “We live very poorly here in Georgia and that pushed us towards the idea of making aliyah. Here in Georgia, we tried...
Alan and Dalia R from Buenos Aires
“We are Alan and Dalia from Buenos Aires, Argentina and we are making aliyah with our small daughter, Tamara. Aliyah is to fulfill a dream that is ours, as well as that of our ancestors who could not fulfill it. I (Alan) made the decision by talking as a family,...
Bukuri Tornike
“I feel what I do is right. The minimum reason why I’m moving to Israel is my family and little kid. I want to create a successful future for them. I always wanted to go to Israel but was looking for right time and I lacked some documents. When my uncle received a...
Souli and Perla M from Sao Paulo
“My name is Souli, I am from São Paulo, Brazil. I am making aliyah with my wife Perla. Our connection with Israel goes back a long time, as most of our families live there. We have had a very strong connection with Judaism for a long time and our roots are very...
Gabriel F from Sao Paulo
“My name is Gabriel and I am from São Paulo, Brazil. I decided to make Aliyah, because for me it means being able to reconnect in Israel. Here in Brazil I can't be myself, and in Israel, I can. My hope is to get a job, have a better future within my Jewish land. I...
Boris and Inessa Y from Angarsk
“For us as a family making aliyah is primarily an opportunity to reunite with a brother who already lives in Israel. Secondly, we see opportunities for our three children (Mark, Evgenii and Ivana). And thirdly, the opportunity for us to start a new life. The...
Miriam and Luis G from Salta
“My name is Miriam, I´m from Salta, Argentina. I am making aliyah with my husband Luis and my children, Tomas and Tali. For me – aliyah means realizing myself as a Jew. We want to make Aliyah to reunite the whole family, because we are Jews and we want to continue...
Kirill and Olga B from Omsk
“My parents live in Israel, so along with my wife Olga and son, Ilya, we decided we would go and join them. For me aliyah is something new – I want something better or different. I also see aliyah as the future for my son.” “Once we arrive, we will go to Ulpan. ...
Mark K from Feodosia
“My mom and younger brother have been living in Israel for twenty-five years. And three years ago, my elder daughter also moved there, to study under the NAALE program. By the way, you also helped her in this move. And this year my younger daughter will be traveling...
Dan and Avital S from Marseille
Dan and Avital are making Aliyah with their daughter Avigail. Dan tells their story. “Aliyah for us represents a return to our Holy Land of Israel that God gave us to live in in order to fulfil all the commandments of the Torah. We visited Israel 6 years ago as part...
Nicolás U from Buenos Aires, Argentina
“My name is Nicolás, I´m from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Aliyah means a great opportunity to change my life. I decided to make Aliyah by talking to my sister (who lives in Israel). I am practically alone in Argentina and having the possibility of improving my life with...
Elmira and Nukri I from Tbilisi
“The main reason we are making Aliyah is thanks to my Hebrew roots. The second reason is that we are still young to try something new. It’s not easy now, but it’s a chance to change our life and have a better future for our family. We lack many things in Georgia...
Sofia O from Irkutsk
“I have two sons who already live in Israel so I’m going to be reunited with them. I plan to help them. I have known Ezra International for a long time. We attended concerts organized by them on Jewish holidays. When I decided to make Aliyah, I turned to Ezra and...
Elizabeth and Rafael M from Santa Fe
“My name is Elizabeth. I am married to Rafael and we have 4 children – 3 boys (Ezequiel, Uziel and Ariel) and 1 girl (Shirel). We are from Santa Fé, Argentina.” “Aliyah means living in our country, and having a better future for our children and ourselves. It is...
Reynan S from Sao Paulo
“My name is Reynan, I am from São Paulo, Brazil. Aliyah for me means a new start in life in the Holy Land. I decided to make Aliyah because I am Jewish and I believe that it will be the best option. I am looking for stability, studies and work, even feeling the...
Khamlet and Samira I from Baku
“We consider that making Aliyah is important. If we didn’t think so we would not be leaving here!” “Here it’s difficult with work. I worked as a tour operator in Turkey. After the introduction of quarantine due to the pandemic I had to leave everything and return...
Eliana A from Sao Paulo
“My name is Eliana, I am a widow from São Paulo, Brazil and I’m making aliyah with my son Leo and his wife Kesia.” “Aliyah means a search for greater spirituality, a change of life for the whole family, with unity, love and hope. I want to live life as a Jew, a...
Vladimir y Tatyana B from Sebastopol
“Twenty years ago, my parents moved to Israel, my dad is already ninety-two years old, and mom is ninety. Two years ago my father had serious heart problems and underwent surgery. Thank God, the operation was successful. My parents are of such an age that it is no...
Viktor and Marina Y from Donetsk
Viktor is making Aliyah with his wife, Marina and son, Dmytro. He tells their story: “My wife and I are from Donetsk and are both doctors by profession. I am a surgeon, and my wife is a rehabilitation therapist. We have two sons – the elder is 24 years old. He...