Mordy and Rivka—Guardians of Israel Blesses a Family in Need

Print Page »
Bookmark Page »

At a high school gym in Jerusalem, needy Jewish immigrants from Ethiopia, Russia, Yemen, and many other countries flood the basketball court to receive the food they need to celebrate the Passover holiday. The food baskets are provided by The Fellowship's Guardians of Israel program, and as the immigrants line up, volunteers work tirelessly to hand them out.

Two of those waiting to receive baskets are Mordy and his wife Rivka, who hail from the former Soviet republic of Belarus. They moved to Israel after the fall of Communism, married, and looked forward to sharing their lives in this beautiful and Holy Land.

Little did they know they would face many trials. The first came when it appeared they would be unable to have children. But they both trusted in God, and after ten long years of waiting, He blessed them with their first child, a son named Shlomo. At the time Mordy was a successful electrician and Rivka was a full time mother.

Eventually, in order to make extra money, Rivka found part-time work as a seamstress. God blessed Mordy and Rivka with six more children and, though they were not wealthy, to them, things could not have been better—they were living out their dream.

Then, four years ago, tragedy struck. Rivka was diagnosed with cancer. Despite aggressive treatment, it spread through her body. Shaking with emotion, Mordy told a Fellowship representative that he can't work anymore. "Who will watch our kids if I leave for work?" he asked with tears in his eyes. "Because of Rivka's condition, she can barely help care for the children when I am home."

Whenever Mordy has a free moment he runs out to do some work in the neighborhood. However, the amount of money that he makes does not go a long way toward covering the costs of raising a family of nine.

Guardians of Israel has become a bright spot in Mordy and Rivka's difficult and challenging lives. Mordy is deeply grateful for all that Guardians' generous support has done for his family. As Mordy carried away his Passover food boxes with his eldest son Shlomo, he blessed our ministry for helping them celebrate Passover with joy, and for restoring their dignity.

This Passover, when the Jewish people celebrate their redemption from slavery, you have given this family and so many others like them the gift of freedom—freedom from want. Thank you, and may God bless you and your families, as you have blessed His nation, Israel.