‘I Was Always the Support’

IFCJ Canada  |  May 21, 2026

The story of 87-year-old Nicolay from Moldova is a powerful reminder that even the strongest among us sometimes need help.

Nicolay was just two years old when the Nazis invaded his hometown of Kishinev in 1941. Evacuated with his family to Uzbekistan, he endured unimaginable hardship—working in cotton fields at just 3-years-old alongside his grandparents simply to survive. When the family returned home years later, everything had changed. The Kishinev they knew was gone.

For the rest of his life, Nicolay became the person others relied on—always ready to lead, solve problems, and support those around him.

Now, Nicolay faces battles of his own. At 87, he lives with his late wife’s sister, whom he helps care for, while struggling with diabetes, heart disease, failing vision, and limited mobility. His small pension barely covers basic necessities.

“I was always the support,” Nicolay says. “I don’t like standing with my hand out.”

But thanks to The Fellowship, Nicolay receives nourishing meals and compassionate care—reminders that he is not alone.

“When I express gratitude, it applies to everyone who makes this possible,” he says.

Today, countless elderly Jews and Holocaust survivors in the former Soviet Union and Israel are facing similar hardship. Your gift can help be the lifeline that brings food, care, and hope to someone like Nicolay.