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).
Denise and Marcelo S from Buenos Aires
“We are Denise and Marcelo, along with our son Alex from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Aliyah means finding a better future for our family.” “Recently my daughter entered the Naale study program and went to live in Israel for 3 years. We believe that she will definitely...
Veronika and Aleksandr T from Rostov on Don
“Aliyah is a family reunion for me. My sister already lives in Israel and 18 months ago my daughter left on the NAALE education program. I had to go through a process of DNA testing to check the relationship with my father. He had three daughters from three different...
Sarah W from Sao Paulo
“My name is Sarah, I am from São Paulo, Brazil. I am making aliyah with my daughter Eliane and son Leonardo.” “Aliyah means an opportunity to restore life. I made the decision to make aliyah when I exhausted all my strength to continue believing in Brazil. It's been...
Larisa B from Usole-Sibirskoe
My grandfather, Isaak, died in Ukraine during the Second World War. My grandmother, Maria, was evacu“ated to Irkutsk in 1941 where my father Eduard was born. Dad lived and studied in Usole-Sibirskoe where he married my mother and later my brother and I were added to...
Gabriel P from Cordoba
“My name is Gabriel, I´m from Córdoba, Argentina. Aliyah for me means being able to "go back" to my roots, my origins and reconnect with who I truly am. I made the decision to make aliyah being aware that my professional experience is in Tourism and Theater, both of...
Evgenii U from Brovary
“Israel, for me, is a country of opportunities and I see my future only there! I am 23 years and have a higher technical education. I tried to study well in school, and I think I have already achieved a lot. It is difficult to get a job in my speciality as a design...
Stories
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...
Ruth P from Sao Paulo
“My name is Ruth, I’m from São Paulo, Brazil.” “Aliyah means my return home. To make aliyah is much more than to live in Israel, it means to be Jewish, in a JEWISH COUNTRY. I am going alone in a new stage of my life; returning to the roots of our patriarchs. I hope to...
Anna K from Melitopol
“I have always wanted to live in Israel. While I was still a student, I wanted to leave on one of the Jewish Agency’s programs but then got married and my son, Nazar, was born. So, the question of aliyah was postponed for a while. Then my husband and I divorced, and...
Maxim and Natalie Z from Marseille
Ezra France helped Maxim and Natalie, along with 9 of their children, to make aliyah! Maxim tells a little of their story. “Making aliyah is important to us because it is part of the process of spiritual elevation by connection to the Holy Land. The decision to make...
Smadar B from Sao Paulo
“My name is Smadar and I am from Sao Paulo in Brazil. I’m a single mother with three teenage children – Hanan 16, Haim 14 and Itai 14. I have decided to make aliyah because this is what my boys want. They want to study and live in Israel in the Naale school. I...