IFCJ Reviews How Ukraine Donations Go Directly to Those in Need

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (“The Fellowship”) has jumped into action since tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated into an all-out war. Because of The Fellowship’s 30-year history of providing aid on a daily basis to Jewish organizations in Ukraine, they are uniquely positioned to help those most in need.

Not only has The Fellowship provided more than $4 million in emergency assistance, but they are sponsoring aliyah flights to Israel for hundreds of orphans, families, and at-risk individuals who are seeking asylum from the airstrikes.

Recently, Yael Eckstein President and CEO of IFCJ reviews how the organization was able to coordinate the evacuation of 100 orphans from Ukraine to Israel. The orphans ranged in age from 2 months to 17 years old, and many require the support of social workers, which have been provided to them by The Fellowship. After a traumatic experience and long journey, these children were welcomed safely in Israel, joyously celebrating Purim together. The Fellowship was also able to evacuate another orphanage to Romania, where those children have been received safely as well.

But The Fellowship continues to reach out to many Ukrainians in need, especially families. Roman and Vika, a young couple who are pregnant with their first child, have been working with The Fellowship closely in an attempt to flee Ukraine. After being rescheduled from their Fellowship aliyah due to a positive Covid test, the couple drove for many hours as airstrikes rained down around them. The Fellowship has kept consistent contact with Roman and Vika and has them in line for the next available flight, after which they will reunite with Roman’s mother in Israel.

Jahana and Alexei and their three children are a family who are fleeing to the Karpaty region. “Today we heard about the possibility of evacuating from the city and we went straight to the synagogue,” Alexei said. “We want to get to a safe place where our children will not be in danger. The Fellowship and the Jewish community are the only ones who have helped us all these days. We received moral support that strengthened us greatly and helped us overcome fear. The possibility of evacuation is a miracle that could save our lives.”

As Eckstein points out, many Holocaust survivors reside in Ukraine and need help to evacuate. One such man is Boris Minkovich, who relied on the help of over 200 individuals to slowly but surely make his way from his home in Kharkiv, to Israel. Minkovich, who is 91 years old, was born in Sumy, Ukraine, and was forced to flee to Uzbekistan in 1941 in an effort to avoid the horrors of the Holocaust. It was Boris’s grandson, Samuel, who persuaded Boris to leave Ukraine. With a lot of help, Boris traveled to Moldova, where he received pertinent medical attention and was then airlifted to Tel Aviv thanks to The Fellowship.

Fellowship employees at their office in Kharkiv have continued showing up for work despite the lack of a bomb shelter and frequent airstrike attacks. Even without electricity and internet at the office, they have managed to stay in touch with The Fellowship.

“We are continuing to pray for peace,” said Yael Eckstein, Fellowship president, and CEO. “But as we pray, we are also acting to provide for those in need and save as many lives as possible. I am so grateful to all of our staff, partners, volunteers, and wonderful supporters who have come together to be part of this sacred work.”

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