Taking Ukraine’s Jews to the Promised Land

When war broke out in Ukraine in February 2022, Keren Hayesod-UIA and the Jewish Agency for Israel were two of the leading organisations to immediately mobilise and rescue Jewish refugees from the conflict. These efforts also targeted thousands of Jews living in Russia and other republics of the Former Soviet Union.

Rescue efforts were carried out in two stages: the first involved evacuating people to safe neighbouring countries. The second stage involved the absorption of these immigrants into Israeli society, which is an ongoing project of continuously mapping their specific needs.

Keren Hayesod-UIA has assisted 15,213 new olim to immigrate from Ukraine to Israel.

Since men aged between 18 and 60 are still restricted from leaving Ukraine, the vast majority of new immigrants are mothers with young children. One such child who has experienced the trauma of war and the challenges of integration into a new country and culture is Talia, who fled Ukraine with her mother and grandmother. After spending several weeks in a refugee camp in Poland, the three arrived in Israel.

Talia joined other students living at the KH-UIA supported Ramat Hadassah Youth Village, which provides a warm and safe community where students can continue their education, graduate from high school and become contributing members of Israeli society.

Talia has difficulty with the Hebrew language and requires enrichment and tutoring to advance academically. She also receives psychological counselling which gives her the skills to cope with the stressful experience of fleeing Ukraine and integrating into a new and foreign society. Despite this, with the help of KH-UIA supported programs like the one she is part of, Talia hopes to continue her education at Ramat Hadassah and graduate from high school.

Instead of attending university as she had planned, Arina and her family went to the nearby shelter – a storage room under a shop – when the war began.

They used cardboard and shelves to improvise as beds. When a bomb hit a nearby power station, they were left without power and heating for two days when it was minus 13 degrees outside. At her parents’ request, Arina and her 17-year-old sister Lada fled to Israel. This began with a day-long journey by train to Lviv, and from there, they waited to cross the border into Poland. Once in Poland, they arrived at a Jewish Agency transit centre in Warsaw, where they received warm meals, clothing and shelter, as they waited for their aliyah process to be completed and board their flight to Israel.

Once in Israel, Arina and Lada moved to the Jewish Agency absorption centre in Karmiel. They also joined the KH-UIA supported Kadima program, a five-month absorption framework for young immigrants from Ukraine and Russia who arrived during the war. Through the program, participants study in an intensive Hebrew language ulpan and prepare for the army and university psychometric exams while learning about Israel, the land and its people.

Arina and Lada finished the Kadima program in July 2022. Shortly thereafter, Arina moved to the Ra’anana absorption centre where she started Garin Tzabar, a pre-army program. In November, Lada started Selah, a KH-UIA supported 10-month absorption program in Karmiel. Arina hopes to enlist in the army in April.

Arina and Lada’s father will soon turn 60 and once he is allowed to leave Ukraine, their parents will make aliyah and finally the family will be reunited in Israel.

In addition to those it has brought to Israel, $514,800 In emergency grants received by KH-UIA has been allocated to 95 organisations in Ukraine, 3121 Ukrainian youths have attended summer camps coordinated by KH-UIA and 4586 participants enrolled in KH-UIA ulpan programs in 2022.

“It is remarkable to think that it is already a year since this tragedy commenced,” UIA Australia CEO Yair Miller said.

“The work that our community has supported through Keen Hayesod-UIA has ensured that tens of thousands of lives were saved and that many of those are now living safely and happily in Israel with the support they need to ensure they become productive citizens. Our unique global family proved once again that the unique role that we play in rescuing Jews and supporting aliyah is as relevant today as it has been for more than 120 years.”

More info: uiaaustralia.org.au