Trusting in The Fellowship
IFCJ Canada | January 10, 2025
Anna, an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor from Ukraine, was just two years old when World War II broke out. She fled with her mother and other siblings, and they spent the war years in Uzbekistan.
When she was older, she made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) and she tells us it was a dream come true. “Israel is my home. I love this country with all my heart. I went through the First Lebanon War here, and now, for over a year, we are again fleeing due to war.”
While she remains in her home, she is aware of the risks, especially after a missile struck a shopping centre just two minutes away.
That day, when she heard the siren, she immediately headed for the shelter: “I’m old now, and it takes me a long time to descend the stairs. Suddenly, I heard a huge explosion. I’ve never heard such a loud noise. I raised my hands because I felt the ceiling was about to collapse on me. I thought the sound of the explosion would be the last thing I would ever hear. I was terrified.”
And then she told us something that was so heartbreaking: “Since then, I’m afraid to fall asleep at night. I sleep in my clothes so that I’m ready to run if there’s another siren.”
“I find comfort in the help from The Fellowship. I almost never leave my home, and I rely on the food I receive thanks to The Fellowship. Thank you for everything you do to help Jews in Israel.”