By Anja Weippert and First Home in the Homeland
When Jews from all over the world make Aliyah – that is, return to Israel, the land of their ancestors – they do so for many reasons. The challenges they face are just as diverse. The First Home in the Homeland program, initiated by the Israeli immigration organization The Jewish Agency for Israel, offers very practical help, and we as Christians stand with Israel to support it.
When the war against Ukraine broke out in 2022, Oleksandr fled his hometown of Kharkiv with his wife Natalia and their two children, Maria (6) and Mark (8). The family initially went to Poland. Then Oleksandr decided to emigrate to Israel: “Even though I always knew that Israel was my second home, it wasn’t an easy decision for me. I was worried about my wife and children. But as they say, ‘the darkest night is just before the sun rises.’”
Thanks to the First Home in the Homeland immigration program, the transition went smoothly: The family was placed in Kibbutz Ashdot Yakov Meubad. Here, Oleksandr and Natalia were able to learn Hebrew in an Ulpan (a Hebrew-language course) and familiarize themselves with Israeli culture and society. Their two children attended kindergarten and school and received after-school care. This allowed the couple to take important exams after just six months – helpful steps toward successful integration into their new, still unfamiliar homeland. Life on the kibbutz also facilitated integration, and Oleksandr expressed his gratitude to the Jewish Agency staff: “Life on the kibbutz is unique, which is why we don't want to leave. We thank you for this wonderful time; without you, our lives here would have been very different.”
A new beginning in caravan number 6
Ksenia also faced the difficult decision to leave her home in Moscow with her 15-year-old son, Boris. For a single mother, this was a particular challenge. She, too, contacted First Home in the Homeland and received invaluable support. As she had worked as a psycho-physiologist for 20 years, she was placed in Kibbutz Merhavia, which had a special program for medical personnel. When Ksenia successfully completed the reintegration program, she looked back with gratitude:
"As I locked the door of my caravan number 6 at Kibbutz Merhavia today, I realized this was my true first 'sweet home,' a soft landing in Israel thanks to the Jewish Agency, thanks to the First Home in the Homeland program, the coordinator Anna, my dear classmates, neighbors, and friends. I am grateful for everything—from your 'Let's grab a coffee!' on the first morning to 'How do you manage to get your bike into the car? Let us help you!' on the last day. And that's exactly what you did. Honestly, we experienced many things here that I will cherish in my heart forever."
These are two stories of Olim, Israeli immigrants who have benefited from the support of the Jewish Agency. According to the Jewish Agency website, more than 76,261 Jews from around the world made Aliyah in 2022 alone, and the movement continues. Christians Standing with Israel (CSI) is currently assisting Jews, particularly those from Ukraine, with their immigration to Israel and is working closely with the Jewish Agency.
If you would like to help the new immigrants, you can here . We sincerely thank all donors who have supported this work so far!
You can download the letter of intent from CSI and the Jewish Agency here .
