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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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...
Stories
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...
Anna P from Kiev
“I always have had the desire to live in my homeland but difficulties in life held me back – including health issues. However, loneliness and health have both worsened. My blindness does not allow me to live a full life. I want now to be near my grandson – a year...
Nani and Mikheil B from Tbilisi
“My husband and I both have health problems and we are making Aliyah hoping to recover in Israel. Many of our relatives and family members are already there. Our daughter and grandchild will join us later”. “At one time we were living quite well in Georgia but as the...
Luiz and Helena L from Rio de Janeiro
“My name is Helena and I’m making Aliyah with my husband, Luiz, daughter, Thayanni, and son, Theo. We are from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil”.“Aliyah, for us, means a fresh start! We have high expectations of improvement in our quality of life. We want to be closer to our...