Bless an Immigrant

Dear Sponsors, I hope this message finds you well. As my program comes to an end in July 2025, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your generosity and support over the past 2 years I have been a part of this program. Your sponsorship has made a real difference in my student life, helping me focus on my studies without worry. This program has provided me with stability and allowed me to stay energized and engaged, both in the classroom and in my extracurricular activities. It allowed me to fully immerse myself in my coursework, connect with my peers, and contribute meaningfully to my community. Over the past year, I’ve grown not only academically, but personally and once the program concludes, I plan to continue living in Jerusalem, be an active member of my community and pursue a career in Public Relations and Marketing. I am truly grateful for the role you’ve played in my journey and for believing in my potential. Wishing you continued success, health, and happiness in all that you do. As well as peace and security for the Nation of Israel.  With gratitude, Atarah

Coming from Cleveland, OH in the United States, Michael made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) on 25 December 2019.  His wife Elisheva, coming from Brooklyn, NY, made Aliyah on 25 April 2018. The two met at a friend's wedding here in Israel. One year later they were married! Michael shared his love for Israel that came from his grandfather, who was a Holocaust survivor.  His grandfather came to Israel in the 1950s, then eventually settled in America. In honor of his grandfather, Michael came to Israel to study Torah. After two years in Israel, he knew without doubt that this was his forever home. “I just knew I was staying.”  Michael is writing finals for his first year in Occupational Therapy, and he is also teaching English part-time in Beit Shemesh.  Elishiva was educated in Brooklyn at a school that supported Zionism and Israel. At the age of eighteen, she attended an Israeli seminar which inspired her to move to Israel. She completed her year of National Service in Israel and then enrolled at Bar-Ilan University. Elishiva has been studying Biotechnology for the past six years and is working to obtain her PHD doctorate degree. Every day, she drives to the lab in Tel Aviv where she is currently closing a project. Her goal for next year is to teach at the University. The couple has dreams of establishing their roots in the soil of Israel and eventually having a family. Their hopes and dreams are to build long-term relationships and live a God-centered life.

Dear Sponsors, Please accept my warmest greetings, I want to express my sincere gratitude for all the support you gave me throughout the year through the Bridges for Peace program, it was a great help and joy. I want to highlight your generosity, your time, effort, joy and empathy that you had with me. In this period, in addition to receiving monthly food kits, I received gift cards, contributions for transportation .... was very significant for me, every time I went, it was a great surprise, joy and gratitude to Hashem and to you to see all that you contributed to me. I reinstate my gratitude for the unconditional support and solidarity, wishing you that all that mitzvah that you do, Hashem bless you greatly, in listening to your requests and desires of your hearts and grant them according to His perfect will and if you ever need my help with the help of G-d to be able to collaborate with you. May Hashem bring you peace soon! I would also like to thank the entire team of Bridges for Peace. With love and gratitude. Miriam

Zoe Zweier made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) on the 28th of August 2021 from Melbourne, Australia. Since she was young, it was Zoe’s dream to one day make Aliyah. This dream was inspired by her grandmother, who was one of the first to make Aliyah before 1948, when Israel was still under British Mandate. Zoe was inspired by her grandmother’s courage and captivated by the stories her grandmother shared. Eventually, her grandparents moved to Australia and settled in a Jewish community in Melbourne. Zoe’s heart was set on one day reestablishing her Jewish roots in the land of her forefathers. In 2021, at the age of twenty-one, she made Aliyah all by herself, without her family. Zoe embarked on a new adventure. She completed her year of National service on a Kibbutz in the North before moving to Jerusalem. She started with her studies (Bachelor in Education) online while working full time as a teacher at an Anglican school. In the school, she works with Christians, Jews, and Muslims, all united. Zoe mentioned how blessed she felt working with these unique students who inspire her as a teacher. In her free time, she likes to go up North to hike or camp and just enjoy nature.

Dear sponsors, Thank you for everything! I remember the day of the interview for the program well. Cold and rain. February. The hardest winter of my life. I am alone in Jerusalem. Loneliness, poverty. It is not clear why I am here, how to live here and for what purpose. I came to Jerusalem from St. Petersburg out of interest in finding myself in the city of Christ. In my bag was a diploma as a choir conductor, a teacher of philosophy and 200 dollars. The Lord gave me a house near the Saint-Simon Monastery, where, according to legend, Simeon the God-Receiver lived, who saw the Messiah in Christ. An old empty apartment, surrounded by noisy construction. A bus stops opposite the front door. Direct bus #13 to your office. What did your help mean to me? Every day and month, living in Jerusalem, I did not know what awaited me, where I would earn money for housing and food. But I knew one thing for sure: twice a month I could come to your office and get a huge basket of groceries, which had everything and more. Fruits, vegetables, milk, buckwheat (our favorite grain in Russia), pasta, a whole chicken (which we shared with my yard cats with great pleasure and joy), even avocado, canned tuna and much, much more! I don’t know how I would have survived without it. And also travel compensation. At the interview for the program, they asked me what they could pray for me. I said, a job in my specialty and a musical instrument. I will call this the hardest year of my life - transformation. I found work as a choir conductor, headed a choir of Russian-speaking grandmothers in Jerusalem and a children's ensemble in Tel Aviv. I got private vocal and piano students. In my apartment, furnished with furniture found on the streets of Jerusalem, I now have the best instrument in my life - an electric piano. Yes, I am still lonely and barely have enough money, but my life has changed a lot and now I stand firmly on my feet. In Jerusalem, I learned new ways of communicating with myself, the world and the people around me. I communicate with God. A deep bow to all of you, dear sponsors. I pray for you and with great gratitude I will remember everything you have done for me. God works through people. Through your hands, the Lord helped me too. It is symbolic that the end of the program coincided with my departure from this apartment. A new life awaits me, in better conditions, without construction and with air conditioning. Thank you for your participation in the transformation of my life. I will never forget this. God bless you, dear sponsors!!!     Shaul Petrovitsky, Jerusalem,

Dear Sponsors! I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your invaluable support that I received throughout the year. Thanks to your support, I was able to focus on my scientific research and studies, without being distracted by everyday worries. Your products have made my life much easier. I have saved both time and money, which has allowed me to focus more on important matters. I would especially like to note how my nutrition has improved - I began to eat more balanced and varied food, and this has certainly affected my well-being and concentration. The year on the program was very intense and productive. I conducted research on the development of a vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV), and this activity has become a real passion for me. I continue to work in this direction after completing the program, as I am sure that my research is of great importance for medicine. In the future, I plan to continue doing scientific work in the field of medicine and vaccine development in order to contribute to the fight against infectious diseases and improving human health. Thank you again for your support and faith in me. Without you my year would have been much more difficult. With respect and gratitude,  Maria M.

  Alisa made Aliyah (Immigrated to Israel) on the 3rd of November from Berlin, Germany. Alisa believes that God has a plan and purpose for everyone. Her purpose is to stand with the land of her ancestors. Alisa’s parents originally emigrated from Russia when the Soviet Union fell. Her parents decided to keep their identity as Jews quiet because of what they experienced in Russia as they built a new life in Berlin, Germany. Alisa, however, felt drawn to God and she didn’t want to hide the fact that she was Jewish. The family was used to a lot of antisemitism living in Germany thus Alisa decided to make Aliyah late last year. “I’d rather hide in a shelter than hide my Jewishness,” she said proudly. She is currently a university student in a preparatory program at Hebrew University Jerusalem. Alisa hopes to finish her studies with good grades and enroll in Psychology since she wants to work with children who suffer from traumatic experiences. Alisa wishes to live here in Jerusalem. One day she hopes to get married, have a family, and continue to make Israel her forever home. “Laying down roots,” she explained with great excitement. Her dream of making Aliyah left a spark behind in Germany because Alisa said some of her family members are also seriously considering making Aliyah.

The Stukalin Family made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) on the 20th of October 2022 from Moscow, Russia.  “We had a good full life in Moscow,” said Alla. Anton and Alla met each other in Moscow thirteen years ago and got married there three years later. Alla is originally from Uzbekistan and more than half of her family are Ukrainian.  The couple had their first child, Vera, a girl in 2019 and their son, Lev was born four months after the war Russia brought against Ukraine. “It was a big decision to make,” said Alla. They’ve started with very little but together they managed to have a good apartment in Moscow. Their life was full. But they didn’t want Anton to be drafted into this war where he would be forced to hurt Ukrainian people when Alla’s has family still living in Ukraine. They locked up their apartment and left with two children and four suitcases in hand. Fortunately, because Anton is Jewish they were able to make an emergency Aliyah.  Since they’ve moved here the family made an effort to integrate well into their new home. Both Anton and Alla have completed their first level of Ulpan (Learning the Hebrew language) Their oldest, Vera was recently diagnosed with Autism and is getting the essential care that she needs. “The people here take such good care of the children” Alla gratefully said. Lev, their second child on the other hand has started preschool and he is thriving. Despite the difficulties the family is deeply moved by the genuine care and support they received from the country and the people.

Dvorkin, Nikolai made Aliyah (Immigrated to Israel) on the 29th of July 2024 from Rostov na-Donu, Russia. Nikolai grew up in a loving family with three older sisters. His parents previously lived in Israel and he was born in Jerusalem. As a family they moved to Russia when he was just three years old. Ever since he could remember his parents talked about Israel, of how much they loved it and that perked at his curiosity about the land. Nikolai enjoyed high school, especially his favorite subject is mathematics. But when it came to deciding where he would study, Nikolai knew for certain that it wouldn’t be in Russia. He chose Israel because of its high marks in education. It was also his first choice because of the history he had here and the curiosity of his Jewish ethnicity. Nikolai enjoys his new life as a student at Hebrew University, where he enrolled into a Mechina program (a preparatory program) and he’s working hard to improve his Hebrew. Even though living here in Jerusalem is expensive and he misses his family, Nikolai appreciates the opportunity and uses every chance he gets to integrate well into Israeli society. His hope is to go on and study mathematics and physics next year. These are his biggest interests in which he hopes to find an occupation and work in one day. For the rest he intends to build a stable life for himself here in Israel, his new home. Please pray that Nikolai integrates well into society and grows in the skills he needs to become established here. He specifically asked prayers for protection of his family who is living in Russia.

Dear sponsors, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your support. We have been receiving food packages from your organization for a year, but the program is now coming to an end. Your participation helped us reduce expenses in our family. The money saved went to pay for the education of our youngest son at the Havat Hanuar ha Tzioni school. In addition, since I am the only one providing for the family (the eldest son serves in the Israeli army, and my husband remained in Ukraine), your food packages helped us to survive financially. Thanks to you and the people working in your organization, we not only receive material support, but also receive a very important understanding that Israel will not abandon us in difficult times. This feeling of a strong shoulder gives us confidence that we made the right choice when we made aliyah. Thank you again for your valuable support at the beginning of our life in Israel, which I will always remember with deep respect and gratitude and wish you and your organization prosperity in your business. With gratitude, Yulia Rabenko

Viktoriia Yelhaieva made Aliyah (Immigrated to Israel) from Odesa, Ukraine on the 12th of October 2023. Viktoriia is described by her daughter as the strongest woman she knows.  She was battling with one of the worst forms of cancer that robbed of her vibrant and independent life. At the healthy age of 63, Viktoriia started to have pain in her mouth, specifically in her tongue, which had caused her to eat less and a few months later she lost over 25kg. It was clear that she needed help and with the current situation between Russia and Ukraine, it became evident that she needed to make a difficult decision. Even though her whole life was in Odesa; born and raised, and working as an exceptional nurse for other patients. Viktoriia counts herself blessed to have a beloved daughter, who insisted she make Aliyah and live with her and her husband in Jerusalem. It was only when she came to Israel that they started proper treatment for oropharyngeal (tongue cancer) in the special care of her daughter, Maria. Right now Viktoriia is receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat the cancer, and consuming only baby food or soups. The most important factor is that Viktoriia remains positive in her fight against cancer. We ask for prayers of healing and restoration for Viktoriia as she continues to stay strong in the fight against this cancer. We have hope that she’ll overcome this and be victorious.

Dear sponsors, In this letter I want to tell you what the past year has been like for me. As I told you a year ago, I started professionally studying music in Israel, academic vocals. Since I started quite abruptly and later than my colleagues, I decided to spend as little time as possible on anything else, and spend as much time as possible in music. Therefore, I did not get any non-musical part-time jobs, but performed almost all the time with various groups and solo works, and spent time at rehearsals. Few of my colleagues can afford such a lifestyle - the work of a classical singer at the beginning of his career in Israel is not highly valued, and if it is enough for housing and food, then the lifestyle must be ascetic. As a reward for this, you can get complete immersion in music. I specifically decided to remind you of this again for the following reason. Thanks to you and your participation in the program of assistance to people like me, I almost did not have to think about paying for transportation and worrying about having nothing to eat.  Every day since the beginning of the program and until now, I have food at home and I have no worries about the coming weeks in my head, and these are not just empty words. Thanks to this confidence and freedom in the distribution of time, I have made significant progress in my specialty, which I am incredibly happy about. At the beginning of the program, I was finishing my second year at the music academy and showed promise as a good student. Now I am finishing my third year at the academy. This year I won three vocal competitions, performed three opera roles, participated in an international opera master class, sang a solo with an orchestra under the baton of a top-class German conductor, took part in several collaborations with baroque ensembles, and also took part in a vocal festival in Georgia with my choir. All this is the result of total immersion in music, and it would not have been possible for me without your help. Next year will be my fourth and last year as part of my bachelor's degree at the Jerusalem Academy of Music. The successes achieved this year are incredibly inspiring to me, and next year I will definitely be no less immersed in music. Plans and offers for concerts with various groups up until January are already appearing, so I am anxiously awaiting the start of the season. At the end of my letter, I would like to thank you once again for your support. I hope I have managed to show that you have helped me continue to move towards my dream. I hope and wish you the same tailwind on the path to your dreams that you have made for me. With gratitude,   Dmitrii N

Hello, dear sponsors! Our names are Alexander and Alexandra. We grew up on the same street in Yekaterinburg, went to the same school, and received the same names from our parents, but our relationship took place because each of us considered it important to participate in a volunteer project for older people in our community.  As a child, Alexandra studied at a Jewish elementary school, and I realized my identity in a teenage club at the synagogue. We both actively participated in the life of the community, worked in summer camps for Jewish youth, led projects in the Hillel student organization and the Menorah community center. For example, I participated in the creation of an exhibition about the history of the Jewish community in Yekaterinburg and did several projects for the Jewish Museum in Moscow, and my wife participated in the international regional television project School with an Accent. With the beginning of the military invasion of Ukraine, everything changed for us, our family members found themselves on the other side of the border, in danger and under occupation. Therefore, when the threat of mobilization loomed over me, I immediately fled with one backpack across all of Kazakhstan, to Georgia, where Alexandra arrived after me. Despite all the difficulties, we created a home community there for guys like us who fled from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, helping them adapt and create connections with the local community in Georgia. Many of them then also decided to repatriate to Israel. We both thought about moving to Israel before the wedding, but apparently somewhere in heaven we decided that our Aliyah should happen together and be so memorable. The feeling of losing everything - home and parting with loved ones - ceased to be so painful when we moved to Israel, and here we finally felt at home at the Masa Beitar aliyah preparation program.  Now any problems don’t seem so terrible, and with God’s help, we will be able to overcome all the difficulties of adaptation in Israel and create a new home here.    Sincerely,  Alexander and Alexandra Belorusets

Galina and her two children, Natalia and Alexander, made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) from Moscow, Russia on April 9, 2024.  Galina had long been dreamed of living in Israel. Though she and her two children were living comfortably, their circumstances changed drastically when the war started between Russia and Ukraine. Food prices went up along with the cost of rent and as a single mother she was struggling to make ends meet. Beyond the economic hardship, Galina did not want to raise her children in a society that enforced propaganda without the freedom to speak about sensitive topics. Together these matters made her seriously consider making aliyah. After a tedious journey to gain all the necessary documents that proved their Jewish descent, Galina and her children finally made aliyah to Israel.  Since their arrival Galina has been overjoyed of all the help they received including a welcome gift from the BFP Immigrant Welcome Gift program. Her first impression of Jerusalem was of all the beautiful flowers and she fell in love with “Jerusalem, desert city in bloom.” She has hope that anything is possible here. When we asked about her dreams for the future, she answered that living in Israel was her dream, now she needs a new one  Both she and the children are actively learning Hebrew while her 11-year-old son continues to pursue computer programming and playing the piano. Her 14-year-old daughter loves biology and drawing. Together the family is making every effort to integrate into their new home with refreshed hope for the future. 

Dear sponsors, I hope this letter finds you well. My family and I would like to express our gratitude for the support you have provided us through Bridges for Peace over the past year. As new immigrants in Israel, we faced many challenges, but your assistance with groceries has been a tremendous help during these trying times. Your kindness and support have not only helped us stay afloat but have also made us feel cared for in a new country.  This sense of community has been invaluable to us. I am happy to share that by the end of the program, both my wife and I have found permanent jobs. This was no small feat, and your support played a crucial role in giving us the stability we needed to achieve this milestone. Moreover, we have successfully taken steps to integrate into Israeli society. We learned Hebrew, and our eldest daughter was accepted into one of the best schools in town, Leyada. These achievements mark significant progress in our journey here. As we prepare to move forward independently, we carry with us not only the practical help you have given but also the spirit of care and compassion. Please know that your support has truly made a difference in our lives. Thank you once again. Warm regards, Timur and Anna

Sharon Maya Rodriguez made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) on June 15, 2021, from Cancun, Mexico.  In Mexico, Sharon worked as a tour guide, taking tourists to ancient Mayan sites. When a group she was touring wanted to re-enact an old sacrificial ritual, she realized that Mexico wasn't where she wanted to be anymore. She grew up knowing about her Jewish roots but was the only one in her family to keep Shabbat (Sabbath), her favorite part of the week.  She thought that after moving to Israel, things would be better but she has gone through many ups and downs. Recently, she experienced a breakdown, which left her in a difficult position of trying to cover her living expenses and school fees. Sharon is currently studying to be a tour guide in Israel with a focus on archeological and historical perspectives. The course is very intense with a significant amount of material. Her final exam will be in December of 2028. She loves the culture of community in Israel, something she did not experience back home in Mexico. She regularly volunteers to help families prepare and host Shabbat dinners, celebrating with them. She enjoys keeping herself healthy, doing yoga, and playing the guitar, though with her studies she doesn't have much time to pursue those activities. Maya has been trying to acclimatize to Israel though she's here alone. She enjoyed playing guitar to decompress but doesn't have one here. Like mentioned above, because of all the pressure she had a breakdown in her studies and we (Bridges for Peace) felt like it would be helpful for her to be blessed with her own guitar but also to do something she loves as she works hard to build a life. From the moment the instrument was in her hands she sat down and started to play. Maya was overwhelmed with joy and anyone could tell the gift touched her deeply.Maya was overwhelmed with joy and anyone could tell the gift touched her deeply.

Mijal made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) on the 7th of November 2019 from a Jewish community in Santiago, Chile. In 2015 she participated in a Masa program (Hebrew word for “journey” specifically for young adults) and came to live in Israel for a year. It was during this special time that Mijal made her decision to one day immigrate to Israel. Although she went back to Chile and entered university, she concluded that her longing for Israel was too strong. Finally, in 2019 she arrived in Haifa, Israel. Mijar passed her psychometric test and was accepted into the Education Program at the David Yelin College in Jerusalem. She moved into an apartment with other students who share the same love for Israel and they are all grateful to be here. She entered into a TAKA program (prepares immigrant students for academic life in Israel) to continue her studies at a university in Jerusalem. Unfortunately six months into her first year, the Covid-19 pandemic broke out and life came to a standstill. Her entry into university was delayed by more than a year and a half. Mijal decided to work for a Judeo-Zionist youth movement until it was time for her to begin her studies. Then the war broke out. “It has been challenging,” Mijal admits “But I have no doubt that Israel is my home and this is where I want to be.” It is tough for her to both study and work full time which is why Mijal is so grateful for the kindness and care she receives from Bridges for Peace which extended a hand to support her as she persisted in building a life for herself in Israel.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for supporting me financially this past year. It makes my life easier to save money on everyday expenses—especially as I focus on my education in order to advance my life. Being able to study is one of the greatest gifts I am given every single day. I am passionate about learning, and your help allows me to study with a quieter mind. My studies are demanding, and I am unable to work as often as I would like to. Your help makes all the difference. I can focus and put my energy into learning because I do not have to worry about putting food on the table. Not only am I able to focus, but I am able to be present and enjoy my studies because of the help that I receive. Every day I wake up early to catch the bus for school and I have the most beautiful commute. Your financial assistance helps me pay for this daily expense.  I am also incredibly grateful for the help with groceries. I have a group of friends that also receive assistance from Bridges for Peace, and we often eat meals together on Shabbat (the Sabbath). Oftentimes, we remind each other of how grateful we are to receive the food from this wonderful organization. We are able to prepare food for each other and enjoy each other’s company which is one of the greatest gifts. Words cannot describe my gratitude for the help I have received from Bridges for Peace throughout this year. It truly made a difference in my life. All the best.  Grace.

Dmitrii and Aiuna are a family from Siberia, Russia, next to Lake Baikal. Dimitrii worked in marketing and special event management and Aiuna worked as an economist. They have one son who is nine years old. Dimitrii was aware of his Jewish heritage, which made him curious about Israel, but it was the war in Ukraine that compelled them to make aliyah. Fortunately, they were able to come in 2022 with emergency visas. Dmitri said that it was a good decision for their family. “The Israelis are strong people. It doesn’t matter what they face, they never give up.” Since they’ve been in Israel, he and his wife successfully completed level one in Hebrew class. While his wife managed to find work in a factory, their son started school with extra classes given, because he is exceptionally intelligent. Their son loves to read books about history and enjoys learning about economics. Recently, Dmitri had an opportunity to participate in an international chess tournament representing Israel in Italy, which they won. Asking him what his hopes for the future are, Dmitri sighed, “Peace!” He exclaimed, “There’s too much war.” Dmitri’ hopes and dreams for the future are simply his family’s wellbeing and opportunities to prosper. During the interview, we also blessed Dmitrii with a gift card to an Israeli bookstore to buy school stationery and also some books for him to enjoy reading.

Vira G. received new immigrant status on November, 27, 2023. She started the aliyah (Immigration) process to Israel in October 2019.  Unfortunately, the process took four years and because of this, she was not eligible for the benefits provided by the Israeli government to new immigrants. Vira lived all her life in one city in Ukraine. She worked as a spinner in a yarn spinning factory for her whole career. In 1980, she married her husband, Ilya. In 2003, her husband suffered two severe strokes and became disabled, completely dependent on care. This put a stop to any plans they had of immigration to Israel. In April 2019, he passed away. She then reinitiated the aliyah process to come to Israel. Vira hopes to now spend the rest of her life with her daughter and grandchildren. Her daughter immigrated to Israel on her own 14 years ago and has her own family. Vira likes the people in Israel, how everyone is always happy to assist others and also the unity of the country. She lives in Jerusalem, and loves going for walks with her grandchildren and taking them swimming. She also loves to read in her spare time. She tries to make sure she is always doing something, especially reading and being with her family. Her hopes for the future is to stay with her daughter and her family and to learn Hebrew better.

Miryam B. made aliyah (Immigrated to Israel) on August 5, 2020, from Melilla, Spain. She grew up in a small but close community. Her parents were religious, celebrating Shabbat, going to synagogue, participating in the feasts and delivering food to the elderly of the community who were alone. Miryam had always wanted to make aliyah, and came to Israel with her twin and best friend. She has completed Mehina (the preparatory course for university) and is now studying toward a degree in Special Education. To achieve her qualification, she will be doing a residency at a local school for three years to learn the practical skills needed. She currently works one day a week at a restaurant to save some extra money, but is unable to do more due to the heavy load of her studies. Because Hebrew is not her first language, it takes her a long time to study the necessary materials. Miryam loves life in Israel; it is a dream come true. She loves walking the streets of Jerusalem. It feels like home. She feels safe here, and is always overjoyed when different families invite her in for Shabbat to celebrate with them. Miryam hopes to find a good job, to establish herself in the hope that her parents will also make aliyah and join her in Israel. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the gym with friends.  

Joan, Gabriel, Irina, and Liah L. made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) from Sochi, Russia, on November 22, 2022. At the time of immigration, Joan was already 6 weeks pregnant. David, her youngest son and fourth child, was born in Israel on August 1, 2023. Joan was born and raised in Israel and met and married her Russian husband. They have been living in Russia for eight years. They decided to repatriate to Israel and came back via a Family Reunion Program. However, her husband was denied entry at Ben Gurion airport (he is not Jewish). They are applying to the Ministry of Interior for him to gain entry to join them in Israel. In Russia, she owned and managed a small clothing boutique. Her husband, who had left his job to come to Israel, is now working in heavy-load transportation with a very low wage. Joan and their family are living in Pisgat Ze'ev, Jerusalem. The children are all settled in school and Joan is looking after the baby at home. Joan loves everything about Israel. She described it as "my happiness." As a family, they hope to be reunited soon. Joan hopes to study psychology in counseling and therapy for teenagers. She hopes to work in this field in the future. Joan has little leisure time these days but when she has some free time, she enjoys making jewelry. They have fun as a family creating Lego projects.  

  Dear sponsors! Thank you in advance for the opportunity to receive support for starting a new life! This is very significant for us as new immigrants in such a difficult time and at this stage of our new life! I would like to share some history of our immigration. Our family repatriated and arrived in Israel a year ago on April 19, 2022 from Russia, from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which is located on a peninsula in the far east [of the country]. There are many volcanoes, frequent earthquakes and black sand along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is a place where many different species of salmon reside, and for fun we go skiing and climb volcanoes. It is a miracle that we ended up in the Holy Land. We had been planning to repatriate for a long time—over 14 years—and had collected documents and made an appointment with the consul. There is no Jewish Agency in our region and they only come to the city of Khabarovsk where we live once every six months. At the last moment, my mother did not give her family history documents, which meant we did not get the approval to move to Israel. So we lived, worked, made our plans, gave birth to our third child and didn’t think about it again. But when my grandmother suddenly died and my mother’s brother flew from Israel to attend the funeral, he managed to convince my mother to give the documents necessary to return “home” to the Promised Land. We immediately went to Jewish Agency. We found out very quickly what was needed and started collecting documents. There was one complication. While we were getting ready, we realized that our eldest son would be turning 18 in six months. He would not be able to make aliyah independently since our children are already the 4th generation, thus great-grandchildren. The queue for an appointment with the consul was long but we sent the documents to the Consulate in Moscow on February 9, 2022. And then, on February 24, the war began. Due to the influx of people wanting to leave the country, the queue at the consulate increased even more. We began to panic that we would not have time to pass the consular check and leave. But as they say, adversity opens the door to opportunity. Emergency repatriation centers were opening in Israel, and we could go straight there.  In our country, the imposition of sanctions, bans on freedom of speech, constant fear of expressing one’s opinion and active propaganda were in full swing. We just gave up everything, barely managed to sell the car, paid off some loans and bought one-way tickets. It was not and still is not possible to exchange anything for dollars or take much money out of the country. That’s how we arrived, each with one suitcase. Now we are slowly settling into our country. We met amazingly kind people along the way! They helped us cope with loneliness and bureaucratic difficulties, and supported our family in every possible way, both financially and emotionally.   It has been difficult for us due to the lack of Hebrew. We are studying in ulpan (Hebrew language school) to achieve our educational diplomas. They do not pay high salaries without these and we want to provide for our children who are still in school (our daughter is in the first year of college and son is finishing 11th grade). For the sake of our future and the future of our children, we decided to step back a little by embracing these difficulties of a new country, so that we can go forward with living in our true homeland. Therefore, our dear sponsors, we ask you for this temporary help! And thank you so much for all you do!!! Sincerely, Mariia Butina and family.  

Dear sponsors, Hello, my name is Elizaveta S. I moved to Israel almost eight years ago. Currently, I’m a fourth-year student of the Visual Communication department at Bezalel Academy of Arts. I was lucky to join the Bridges for Peace program during my studies. It was a very intense period for me and the help I got from you was essential to me. It can be really overwhelming sometimes to be a responsible student and to work at the same time. Sometimes I didn’t have spare time and money to go grocery shopping. I literally could go two weeks with no time for grocery shopping. So I can’t even describe how essential the help you provided me was during this year. The food and the money for transportation were so vital for me so many times. When I had zero or a minus on my bank account, your help made me feel so much love and appreciation. I honestly can’t thank you enough for the opportunity you gave me. Your contribution to my study success is priceless. I’d like to thank you for all the help you so kindly provided to me. I appreciate the possibility Bridges for Peace gave me and all new Israeli youth a lot in such an uneasy time for us students. I’m very grateful for your support and love! Thank you for your kindness and for making a warm place for those who need it most.

My name is Arkady R. I am writing to you with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for your generous support and assistance that you have provided to me as an immigrant student. Your kind heart and devotion to the principles of the Christian faith have become a source of inspiration and positive strength for me. I want to express my gratitude for your generous financial assistance, which facilitated my adaptation in Israel. Thanks to your gift, I was able to focus more on my studies and other important things in life. I have managed to improve the quality of my diet, which was reflected in my attentiveness and productivity in general. I began to think less about everyday difficulties and, as a result, directed more energy to other significant matters. My current main goal is to complete my education and to graduate as a certified accountant. In the future, I would like to work in a business that develops the economy and society as a whole. My dream is to found a non-profit organization in Israel that provides legal support and assistance to people in cases of disputes with the companies that provide services in an inappropriate way. Therefore, I aim to improve the quality of services offered in the country, as in my opinion, the level of service being delivered in Israel nowadays is, unfortunately, lagging behind the USA and Europe. I also appreciate your respect for my beliefs and desire to be an immigrant to Zion, the land of my ancestors. Your support sheds light on the path I have chosen and gives me confidence in the future and hope that my dreams will come true. It motivates me to continue to develop, help other people and make the world a better place. I believe that every person, regardless of faith and nationality, has the right for freedom, peace and happiness, and you embody these ideals in your actions. Thank you very much! With the kindest regards from Israel, Arkadii R

Dear Donors, I hope this message finds you well. My name is Dalia Rivka, and I simply wanted to take a moment to share my personal journey with you. I grew up in the wonderful town of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and a few years ago, I set out on an adventure that changed my life forever. Back in 2018, I packed my bags and headed to Israel to study at a Jewish seminary for a year. Initially, I had plans to return home the following summer, but something remarkable happened during that time. As I delved deeper into Israel's history and explored its breathtaking beauty, I found myself captivated by its essence. It was during a trip to Poland that everything fell into place for me. I felt an overwhelming connection to my homeland and a deep sense of responsibility. It was then, on November 20th, 2019, that I made the decision to officially embrace aliyah. It was a dream come true, not just for me, but also for those who perished in the Holocaust, their dreams now fulfilled through my actions.  The following year, I dedicated my time to national service, volunteering at an elementary school for children with learning disabilities. It was an incredibly rewarding experience. I assisted in lessons, helped the children with their work, and, above all, forged meaningful relationships with them. Believing in these children when they doubted themselves became my mission, and it inspired me to pursue a path in special education. I knew I wanted to make a difference in the lives of many more children in the future.  Currently, I am a student at Efrata, where I am wholeheartedly studying special education. I couldn't be more excited about what lies ahead. The future is full of promise and possibilities, and I am grateful for the support and kindness that has brought me to this point. I want to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you, our incredible donors. Your kindness and support mean the world to people like me, who are starting their lives in a new country with a bigger purpose. Your generosity gives us hope and strength, and we are forever grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Warmest regards, Dalia Rivka

Hello dear sponsors! My name is Maria. In October 2021, my husband, Alexander, and I came from St.Petersburg to Jerusalem for the Masa Tlalim Start program, and in May 2022, we became full-fledged Israelis.  Until 2010, my Jewishness was the most ephemeral concept. But studying at the university brought me together with a Jewish girl who told me about Taglit (Birthright Israel). And I went! I returned from the trip with the full feeling that a wooden chest with family heirlooms had been opened within me. Before, I hadn’t known about it, and no one had given me the key. 3 years passed and by that time I was already going to synagogue for classes. I listened to lectures by Rabbi Zvi Pinsky and his wife Dina Pinsky, translator and Yiddish expert Valery Dymshits, historian and guide Lenya Land, artist, and specialist in the Tanakh, Isaac Rokhlin, I attended Shabbatons and celebrated holidays in the community. And I felt Israel was "mine" with goosebumps. I was embracing it all with questions and seeking answers. After another 3 years, I met my husband, who, as I learned right from the first conversation, had always wanted to live abroad. And I, a fanatical Petersburger, just shrugged my shoulders, not imagining my life anywhere but my native city. I am crazy about travel and admire the versatility of our world, but how can there be another home? “Except Israel,” I added. Another 3 years on and we, already a married couple, find ourselves in a pandemic. This event made us think a lot and rethink a lot. Sasha and I understand that we both want something different for ourselves and our future children. We want civil rights, we want our lives to mean something for the state, and to have voices for the future. With these thoughts and with our age exceeding the upper limit for the Masa program, in 2021 we applied for repatriation. But at this moment in Israel, they decided to expand the age limits for the MASA program, and we happily flew out with the first batch of “old” people. Today, as I describe our history, it is the Day of Remembrance of Catastrophe and Heroism, Yom Hashoah. And a year ago we heard the siren live for the first time. There are no words to describe what awe we experienced when we saw dozens of people and vehicles frozen in a united feeling of grief, pride, and duty. We are still proud and grateful when we realize that this country has become our home. We admire how highly human life and civil liberties are valued here, how wonderfully ordinary mutual assistance is, and how brightly the sun shines here.

To my dear sponsors, Thank you so much for your support during this past year. The food I received twice a month from Bridges for Peace was a real blessing to me and enabled me to reduce my monthly costs as it is expensive to buy many food products here in Israel. I am pleased to say that I have finished my studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music with a final grade above 90%, and I feel that part of this success has been being able to focus on my studies and to know that people are supporting me and care about my wellbeing. I have also been working, teaching music lessons, and fortunately this work has increased a lot since the beginning of the food program so I feel able to manage the cost of living over the next year. In March I was very blessed to marry my beautiful wife Sarah who I got to know over the past couple of years through my local congregation here in Jerusalem! During the coming year we both plan to invest in building our careers, and for me personally this will involve playing more concerts here in Israel. I cannot thank you enough for giving from your hard-earned resources to support new immigrants like myself here in Israel. May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, may He turn his face toward you and give you peace. My prayer is that the Lord will also provide for you in every area where you are in need of support.   Kind regards, David

  For 6 months, I had the honor to be a part of the “Bridges for Peace” Food program. I came across this program when I was in desperate need. I was in the process of completing my MA and working part time. This made it difficult to make ends meet. I was very happy to find out about this opportunity. I instantly decided to write an email to Viktoriya requesting to become a part of your wonderful program. I was surprised to find out that this program was much more than I expected. I was very fortunate to have met some wonderful people who work there. I can affirm with complete certainty that they are amazing people with huge hearts and the purest intentions. During 6 months, I could receive produce twice a month which helped me tremendously during those trying times. Furthermore I received assistance with public transportation fees. Today I’m a graduate of the  Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and it’s been a month since I’ve found stable employment in the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration where I assist new immigrants to achieve a soft landing in Israel.  Because of my very tight schedule I’m unable to visit your facilities in person, so I requested to finish the program early. Also I would love as many people as possible to be given the same opportunity that was given to me 6 months ago.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you the best of luck. With the sincerest appreciation and the best regards, Anna

Hello dear sponsors, I wanted to write you a letter, because of the feelings I had the last time I came to Jerusalem to the Bridges for Peace office to get my help. I felt incredibly thankful and sentimental about the fact that some people in another country, whom I don’t know personally, helped me so much. I think that without your help I would not be able to complete my studies in the academy. I work and study so much that I barely have free time; and only because of your help, I have what I need to make a living. That’s why I feel so lucky about your help—I literally can’t imagine what I would do without it! It is also so sweet and lovely that I get this help as food—it makes me feel like I have some relatives in Jerusalem who care about me getting healthy and fresh food, and eating my vitamins and protein to stay healthy. I am very thankful that you chose to help me. I want you to know that this help is changing my life for the better and giving me opportunities to get an education. Thank you very much! With love and best wishes, Rimma G.

Dear sponsors of Bridges for Peace, My name is Ela. My family and I made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) from St. Petersburg, Russia on May 31, 2022. We made the decision to repatriate to Israel because we felt the call on our hearts.  Hotels were no longer available for olim (new immigrants) from Russia when we arrived, so we had no choice but to settle with friends here in Jerusalem, significantly crowding their way of life. As a group of 14 people, we lived in a 3-room apartment for a whole month, until we found housing for rent at an affordable price. We settled into the apartment, arranged for the children to go to school, and are getting used to the new place. My husband is not Jewish and is now in the country with the status of a tourist. For the time being, he does not have a work permit. I am a housewife, I do not work. We thank you for the assistance you have provided. We truly need the food because the children are very active and need to eat well.  Thank you for your help.  Sincerely, Ela and Pavel K.  

The Sliepoi family left Ukraine in a hurry – they realized that it wasn't safe to stay in the middle of conflict with Russia.  They left with two bags between all of them. Avraham, Naomi, Rafael, Sheina, and Mordechai Sliepoi made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) from Odessa, Ukraine in March 2022. In Ukraine, Naomi worked as an economist for a national bank, and Avraham as an inspector of kosher foods for restaurants in Odessa.  Since arriving in Israel, their children have enrolled in school but they have been struggling to learn Hebrew. Nevertheless they currently are receiving additional online lessons from their school in Odessa to support their learning.  The extra lessons supporting their studies from the Jewish school they attended in Ukraine and the gift of laptops from Bridges for Peace have lifted the battle to adjust to their new life here. The photo of the family, with BFP volunteer Remi, was taken when they received their gifts. Avraham and Naomi are both studying at ulpan (Hebrew language school). They are renting their own apartment. What they have really appreciated about Israel is the way people have helped them since they arrived. They appreciate that people are happy, bright, and open. They are very interested in the Holy Places and enjoy visiting them. Their hopes and dreams are to achieve a proficient level of Hebrew so that they can work in their professions.  The Sliepoli family is working hard to establish their lives in a new country after having made the decision to leave with only a few hours to pack. They left and arrived with 2 bags between all five of them. But together as a family, they’re filled with hope after receiving the welcome they didn’t expect!

Hello, it is a pleasure to greet you. We are Samuel and Lorena (renamed Aliyah since arriving in Israel) from Venezuela. We made aliyah [immigrated] to Israel in January 2022. We are both engineers and we dedicated ourselves to this profession in that country. In recent years, as is well known, the situation in Venezuela has deteriorated from every point of view; economic, social and political, and we were at crossroads, because we are a young married couple that was beginning to struggle to acquire their belongings and establish a life and a family together. However, it became impossible for us due to the constant problems in Venezuela, food shortages, inflation, constant power cuts, and social insecurity. So we set ourselves a new course and our first idea was to come to Israel due to many factors such as religion and Zionist ideals.  It's been a few years since we graduated (2016) so we were already evaluating the idea of making aliyah to Israel, but due to many factors (family, friends, work...) it always remained in the background, but when we realized that with our income we could not achieve our goals. Taking into account that the minimum wage in our country has deteriorated so much in the last four years that it is not more than US $5 per month, that is to say US $60 per year. That means a whole year of equivalent work is worth less than a day of work in any stable country. Coupled with all the problems present in the country, we formally started the aliyah process in 2020. Due to the bureaucracy to obtain apostille documents in Venezuela, we were able to complete the collections for our aliyah at the end of the year 2021, arriving in Israel happily at the beginning of this year 2022.  We sold all our belongings, said goodbye to friends and family and started this new life in this wonderful country Israel. However due to the economic deterioration of Venezuela, when we sold our belongings we could not obtain enough money, and in principle we only had the help of the State of Israel. However, we think that everything happens for a reason, and we are happy to have made aliyah. We think that it was the best decision of our life.  

Dear sponsors, Hi, my name is Elena and I'm from Ukraine. I have a happy family, a favorite business, two dogs, a cat, a house, a car and a young cherry tree near the window. Oh, now I can't say "I have" anymore; to be honest I had it.  Because on the 24th of February the blast in my beloved peaceful Odessa woke us up at 5 am.  At 15:00 we were already leaving the city, leaving part of our family, leaving our house, animals, business and our cherry tree that was ready to bloom for the first time.  I did not want to leave the house, I couldn't even imagine that it wasn't a horror movie.  Almost everybody thought that it would finish in 3-4 days. But I really trust my husband and his intuition. We took a minimum of things, an inhaler for our eldest son, a couple of blankets, we hugged my parents and left.  My husband was anxious, I had a huge sense of guilt, and the kids didn't understand why our day didn't go according to plan. The planned 4 hour trip turned into 7 hours, that night we slept in our clothes, then back on the road again through the whole country with short stops and when we arrived we were an hour late to Lviv—the Israeli Embassy was leaving Ukraine.  Pain, fear, unbelief, despair… Then the Jewish Agency found us and led us by the hand through the long road to Israel. And even though after 5 months of being in Israel, I already understand that everything wasn't for nothing and I made the right decision, my heart, like my family, like my life, are divided into two parts: before and after...My “before”: I am the founder of the SHA Odessa clothing brand. We had a small store in the city center, our own production, regular customers, and we took part in fashion shows and sponsorship.   My husband and I used to spend 80 percent of our time together and we loved it. I also have wonderful friends, beloved parents, a grandfather and a happy life with plans for tomorrow, spring, summer and much more. We have two sons. The youngest is almost 3 years old and is just about to go to kindergarten. The eldest is 10; he has more and more signs of being a teenager, has many friends, and enjoys school, karate, basketball, English and his own PC with his favorite games. Then, my "after" began on the 24th of February, 2022 at 5:00. It was a nervous and sleepless night, as if the air was already crackling. There was the terrible sound of planes flying low, the roar and the call of my military friend in the middle of the night, who has 3 children: “Lena, it has begun...The war has begun!” They were the most terrible words for all my 32 years.  My husband had to stay in Ukraine. Now he is in the army (Armed Forces of Ukraine) and is doing his best, like everyone else in Ukraine, so that peace will come sooner.  When I came to Israel with our sons, I was the loneliest person in the world (it was in my head), I didn't know what to do, where to go and I didn't want to stay here even for a day. But we've received so much support, help and kindness and love here that I couldn't imagine. It looked like a miracle.   I really appreciate your help, it means a lot to me, and even my parents who are still in Odessa, are very grateful to you. Life has become much easier and colorful than two months ago.  We are clothed, fed and warmed, and have a cozy home but sometimes the aching feeling of loneliness comes back.  

Dear Sponsors, My name is Fabio Astur, and I am writing this letter to thank you for the opportunity to receive this donation, which strongly helped me follow the master´s degree and concentrate in my professional career. As I am a 33-year-old immigrant who came alone to Israel from Brazil three years and a half ago and have no family here, I can assert that this donation was very important to help me overcome the obstacles involved in the choice I made, also considering situations like the more difficult times of the pandemic.  During the last two years, the pandemic forced us to stay at home for long periods and limited the opportunities for work. The uncertainty regarding the possibility of circulating in public spaces significantly changed the experience in the university, which had to adapt using online tools. Luckily, I live with people that I care for and that care for me, allowing us to pass through this situation in the best possible way considering the circumstances.   In this sense, the donations surely constituted a very relevant help to face those challenges. To be sure that, once every two weeks, I would be provided with essential resources for my daily life was a psychological and material security for me. It facilitated the routine in a lot of ways. The fact that I have no family here, as well as most of my friends from our Latin-American community, makes the donations even more relevant, as they provided a good support that cannot come from other circles.   I am now finishing my master’s studies in education at the Hebrew University. It was a challenging experience, but I consider that it was very successful, both in personal and academic ways. I feel more familiar with Israeli culture and educational views. I feel prepared to work in the education field in Israel. In the last four months I have been working in a non-formal education institution with young Jews from the Latin American Diaspora (Jews living outside Israel). I have been able to use the tools and knowledge that I learned at Hebrew University to improve my performance and improve the work of the institution. I hope I can keep working in this field in the following years.   All those achievements were possible with the help of the donations I received from you. Despite the problems and challenges, I am pretty happy with where I am now and my achievements. It is impossible to be self-sufficient in today’s world, and this pandemic showed us how we depend on each other even in the most basic areas, like our health. Every moment we are alive, we are simultaneously helping and being helped by others, and by becoming aware of it, we develop a more accurate sense of empathy and solidarity. In my particular case, these donations helped me deal with all sorts of adversities. I hope that I am taking the necessary steps to, in the future, be able to help others. I did not choose to study education for personal greed, but instead because I believe that this is the best way to build a better world for everyone. And Bridges for Peace donations were definitely an important factor in my pursuit for this goal, which I am already putting in practice. Thank you very much for everything,   Fabio Astur   

Dear sponsors,  Our family (Nadja, 34-years old; Vadim, 33-years old; David, three-years old) took part in the Adoption program of Bridges for Peace.  I remember the day when we came to Bridges for Peace to get the first set of  groceries. It was just before Rosh Hashanah (New Year). We were talking about how to organize the New Year table for our child, and we really wanted to have the opportunity to invite our friends. And at Bridges for Peace, we got all we needed to celebrate the holiday, including a very touching special gift for the New Year. It was our first Rosh Hashanah in Israel and the happiest holiday thanks to all the team and sponsors of Bridges for Peace!  Thinking about the plans that we had a year ago, I see that most of them were realized. Nadja found the work that she loves; I study at the university and have my own small business. Our son has new friends in a good kindergarten. But this all couldn't happen without stability at home. Volunteers and sponsors from all over the world supported our family the whole year until we established ourselves. There were not only meals that we got, but also the refunding of transport expenditures and gift cards that allowed us to buy some things for our home. Sometimes this support had a highly critical role for us.  Maybe you don't know it, but you supported us emotionally as well. We were amazed to understand that we were not alone in our new life in Israel, that people from very far countries donated their money, time, and power to support us!  As I said, now our life is sustainable, and we have the opportunity to help other Jewish people who come to Israel. It is such an inspiring feeling to help somebody to "rise" in the fatherland!  So thanks a lot to all the donors, volunteers, and staff of Bridges for Peace! We love you and send you best wishes! Reizman family, Vadim, Nadja, and David

Hello, my dear sponsors, How can I thank you for your generosity? What you’ve given me is more than just physical items. You gave me freedom during my studies to enjoy my life here in Jerusalem. With your kind sponsorship, I was able to keep up my GPA, excel in my extracurriculars, and maintain my part-time job of nannying and teaching English to three young Israeli boys. Thank you so much for sponsoring me for the past year. When I moved to Israel, it was a bit daunting, but I will say that the Bridges for Peace community has been an amazing one to be absorbed into. Thank you again, and I wish only the best for you and your family through these turbulent times. Sincerely, Scarlett

Dear sponsors!  My son and I experienced difficulties during our repatriation. When you start "life from the beginning," a lot needs to be done, from paperwork to basic household items such as dishes or linens. We had to choose what we would do in a given month—buy food or spend money on studies.  Thanks to your organization, we didn’t have to think about our daily bread for a whole year and could go about our business in peace: to study. I was able to finish the second level of ulpan—now I’m studying full-time. I’m finishing my studies and at the same time I will be able to get a job with a good salary as a result of my higher education.  Your assistance with the travel expenses helped me solve the problem of needing to spend money on travel to my current job; which although not very highly paying, has been necessary for my development as a person in Israel.  Nikita is enrolled in a good school in the capital of Israel and has made friends. Thanks to you, we did not break down and leave Jerusalem, but stayed and are moving forward.  Thank you for everything and I hope that your organization will prosper and give goodness to other people in need! All the best to you and long life!  Special thanks to Viktoriya! You are a very attentive and cheerful person, always ready to support with even a word. As you know, the word heals!  Your entire team is very pleasant and smiling. All the best to you in your hard work! Thank you for the table and chair that you gave my son. He wrote a lot of essays and solved many problems at school, very convenient things!  My heart is yours,  Nikita and Anastasia.

Dear sponsors, My name is Oriya. I want to express my thanks to you for sponsoring me as a new immigrant and student here in Israel.  From the bottom of my heart I want to thank you for your help this past  year. Thank you so much for helping pay for my public transportation.  Living in Jerusalem is a gift because the transportation makes getting  around and being independent very easy. Everything here in Jerusalem is  compact and close together.  I also want to thank you for helping me get food this year. The food and transportation donations helped me save money and gave me more peace and time to focus on my studies. My friends and I all observe the Jewish Sabbath and oftentimes we have potluck meals together. A number of us are sponsored by Bridges for Peace and we all make dishes to share with each other. It is fun to see what fun dishes people make from the same ingredients.  We sometimes give a little thank you to Bridges for Peace for sponsoring our meals. The donations that you have given us help us build community!  As our year together comes to an end, I want to express my gratitude for your consistent support throughout this past year. All the best, Oriya

To the esteemed donor,  I have finished my participation in the program and wanted to say thank you!  As a new immigrant student living in Israel without a family around me, it was difficult to survive on a scholarship alone. The economic difficulty worried me during my first days in the country. Since I immigrated to Israel, I have not received assistance from my parents.  Thanks to your help my life has become easier, the worry that has been removed from me  following the help is immense.  The food was excellent and the treatment I received when I arrived to pick it up was warm  and embracing.  I do not know how I would have finished my degree without your help.  Every day I opened the fridge door and said thank you for the help of people I do not really know.  The generosity of others warms the heart in a way that is hard to describe.  I knew I would return home and not be hungry, that I would not have to go to work after school hours which in any case barely leave time for sleep.  I knew there was no need to be afraid that the fridge would be left empty and I could  concentrate on studying in my free time, being like all the other students at the university  whose parents supported them.  I would like to get even a little bit of the ability to help others like you and I promise that  thanks to you one day I will do a similar deed and help as much as I can.  So thank you again from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the endless giving, thanks to you I finished the degree without starving in an attempt to keep up. It is important to me that you know that your help is very significant and I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this wonderful program.  Now I had to stop participating in the program, because after I graduated from university I left Jerusalem and started my military service. I currently serve at an Air Force base in the south of the country as a dentist.  So dear donors, I wish you all the best in the world, that you can continue your blessed work for many years to come and help many more new immigrants and students like me.  Thank you and appreciation,  Linara