“The Hardship Was Shared by All”

IFCJ Canada  |  November 14, 2025

Maya was four when the war started. “We had very little food. I remember my parents boiling a single potato in water to make soup—that was our meal,” she recalls.

Her memories of those years are etched with hardship: long walks to gather leaves and herbs to cook, cold nights, and the constant fear of what tomorrow would bring. Life in Uzbekistan was hard for everyone, but being Jewish made the struggle even sharper.

Maya’s resilience was forged in those early years, walking beside her mother and learning to survive with very little.

Years later, Maya and her husband Michael made aliyah (immigration to Israel). They live simply in a small apartment hostel, where warmth and comfort are limited, and every day comes with its own challenges.

Yet, despite a life marked by hardship, Maya’s spirit remains gentle and grateful.

“We are amazed by the help The Fellowship provides to elderly people like us. Thank you,” she says softly.

She has seen the worst of humanity and survived. And somehow, amid echoes of war, she keeps believing in a better world. Your generosity makes that possible.

Your gift today can help provide food, medicine, and the warmth and comfort elderly Jews like Maya. You’ll help offer dignity and hope—and remind them they’re never alone.