Food Assistance to Holocaust Survivors in the FSU

Thanks to friends like you, The Fellowship has programs that meet the basic food, heating fuel, clothing, and medical needs of the elderly and aging Holocaust survivors around the world. And in 2020, we helped provide basic needs to thousands of elderly and Holocaust survivors in the former Soviet Union!

As the psalmist prayed, “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone” (Psalm 71:9). The Fellowship takes these words of the Bible to heart in caring for frail Holocaust survivors who are in dire need … survivors like Raisa.

Having Hope Once Again

“I miss my parents very much,” admits 90-year-old Raisa, a Holocaust survivor. “I miss the time when everything was peaceful. We were always poor, but we were happy,” Raisa says as tears roll down her wrinkled cheeks. When World War II began, everything changed. Today, she is the only one alive in her family… left all alone with painful memories.

When the Nazis entered Raisa’s village in Ukraine, her mother heard that they were shooting Jewish families. Her mother took Raisa and her siblings to hide in the trenches that their fellow Jews were digging in the ground.

With gunfire all around them, the seven siblings tried to keep quiet. When the shooting stopped, Raisa and her youngest sister climbed out of the trench, thinking it was safe, and suddenly a young Nazi soldier approached them. Their mother screamed.

But the Nazi put his finger to his mouth to signal them to stay quiet, he urged them to hide back in the trench and he brought them a pillow and blanket. Raisa never forgot this unexpected kindness. This one small act of humanity helped Raisa hold onto the hope that there might be a future.

Today, Raisa is in need of some kindness again. This precious Holocaust survivor is now completely bedridden. She lives all alone after the recent passing of her husband, and often goes hungry.

But when The Fellowship arrived with food and love from friends around the world, this kindness brought a smile to her face, giving her a reason to hope once again.