March Update

We are genuinely grateful for your priceless duly help. It has been timely rendered, at the very discouraging moment, when the sad anniversary of the large-scale war brought about tears of despair and bitterness.

We are desperately trying our best to withstand and survive this damn war; and most of all, we are dreaming to end this endless horror as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it does not end, and the mere fact that this terror has been going on for a second year, dives us into a stupor of helplessness and impotence.

Our olim are also on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and immediately here is your help – it is like a balm for their souls. Really, it is so important to get support in moments of despair. Our olim are incredibly happy about your helpful, kind, and compassionate attitude. Really, your hand is a given friendly hand of support throughout their difficult trip – a journey home to Israel. It is indeed invaluable and so important that our friends are always there. We highly appreciate your kindness, concern, and compassion. Thank you so much.

Meanwhile, the flow of olim is not lessening. The war relentlessly hunts, pursues, and compels them to flee. Many families did not want to leave without their men, since it is not always possible for men to travel outside the borders of Ukraine. But the war is on and on with no end in sight, so far. Many olim families, instead of welcoming home their dearest ones receive bitter tragic news of their death on the battlefield. Such is the grave reality of this vicious inhuman war. The terrible reality, indeed.

The Ilyukhin family from the city of Zaporizhzhia is a special family among two families that we have helped. The head of the family, Vitaly, perished in August 2022 in bloody battles for the village of Peski, Donetsk region. Before the war, every morning he walked his mongrel dog Beta out in the local park. Now his family – 11year-old son Gleb and widowed wife Katerina – walk this dog out. Vitaly died at the age of 40, and his entire bereaved family was orphaned: Katerina got widowed, the son lost his dad, and their pet Bet – its dearest owner. The grave grief stunned Katerina, bitter thoughts about the loss of her husband swaddled her, she could not get out of the cocoon of grave memories. This mournful emotional state still constrains her actions, it is difficult for her to overcome it and move forward, but she has already begun her journey toward her home in Israel. It is the path for the sake of her son’s future. We have attached three photos to our brief information about the Ilyukhins olim family:

1.Vitaly with his beloved pet dog before the large-scale war
2.Vitaly at the front line some days before his death
3.The bereaved family

We are immensely thankful to you and other donors for truly generous help and support that you have been rendering to all our olim during this difficult time, the time of trials and tribulations.