“Israel Was Calling to Me”

Lila grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, where the fear of anti-Semitism made it nearly impossible to be a practicing Jew. Lila, though, always had strong faith in her Creator and remembers many conversations she had with God as a little girl. “I was curious about Judaism and what it meant to be Jewish, and so I addressed God with all my questions,” she recalls.

As she grew up, her interest in Israel, and in Judaism, continued to grow. “My connection to Judaism and to Israel was calling me, and I could not ignore that voice inside me” Lila remembers.

Coming from a family that could barely provide for her basic needs, she did not know what to do. She didn’t speak a word of Hebrew, had no family in Israel, and no money. But Lila was desperate to get to Jerusalem and it seemed only a miracle would get her there.

At the age of 29, Lila finally made it to the Holy Land with help from The Fellowship friends like you and now lives and learns in Jerusalem in a Fellowship-supported program with other girls who have also immigrated to Israel.

“I feel so incredibly blessed by The Fellowship, which has assisted and guided me,” she says. “I can only hope to contribute back to Israel as my way of showing appreciation for all The Fellowship has done to help me realize my dream.”

On May 17th, Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, Lila will be happy to celebrate in the land where she finally belongs. You can show your support for the Holy Land and her people, like Lila, by making a gift to Guardians of Israel today.

 

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