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ALIYAH FROM THE NORTH

“See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth” (Jeremiah 31:8).  Ezra International works in the nations of the former USSR—the lands of the north—where there are still tens of thousands of Jewish people who want to leave for Israel.  Before they can make aliyah, they must obtain permission from authorities in their home country.  They also must document their Jewish heritage through birth certificates, marriage licenses, and other paperwork so that they can receive the Israeli visa that allows them to move to their biblical homeland. 

Many families hid their Jewish ancestry because of anti-Semitism under communism, and locating documents that prove Jewish heritage can be a difficult process.  Sometimes such paperwork is archived in a different country, as the republics of the USSR became independent from one another in 1991.  Ezra International’s teams in the former Soviet Union help those making aliyah at every stage of this process, offering both practical and moral support as we use our experience and expertise to help document their Jewish ancestry.

Financial need and expenses also present barriers for Jewish people making aliyah from the former USSR.  Many who have the desire and the right to return to Israel are unable to make aliyah because they cannot afford visits to the Israeli consul in their country for visa interviews.  Geographical distances in large countries such as Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan mean that these trips to the consulate can be lengthy and expensive.  Additionally, fees for foreign and internal passports, plus the cost of travel and paperwork, can add up to as much as two months’ salary—a price that many Jewish individuals and families simply cannot pay on their own.

The Jewish Agency in Israel covers the cost of airplane flights to Israel from the former USSR, but there is still one more hurdle for these olim to overcome:  travel from their homes to the airport!  The elderly and infirmed face special challenges as they travel to the airport.  Ezra International’s teams in these countries offer practical assistance, coordinating transportation for families from their homes to the airport.

As our team members and the olim they assist have time to talk and get to know one another, our representatives share that they are Christians who love to the God of Israel.  With great joy, they tell these Jewish families about the prophecies from Jewish Scriptures that relate to their return to Israel.  They also offer them friendship and support, encouraging and comforting them at this vulnerable and often difficult time in their lives.