A Brave Jewish Heroine

MEET SYLA, A POOR JEWISH WIDOW living alone in a dilapidated, two-room shack in the former Soviet Union. Her house has no electricity or running water, and she suffers from numerous medical problems. Syla's suffering is especially tragic because she is a heroine whose story of bravery deserves to be told.

As a young girl, Syla learned to speak German from her family's neighbors. This was very rare among Jewish girls in her area — and, little did she know, it would later save her life, her children's lives, and many other Jews.

In 1941, Nazi armies invaded Syla's village. They were followed by the notorious killing squads, the Einsatzgruppen, who followed the German army, murdering Jews and other "undesirables." Because Syla could speak German, she managed to convince the Nazis that she and her children were Germans.

Syla was determined to help others escape too. Because her home was often used by the Nazis, she learned in advance of the planned killing of local Jews. To alert Jews in other villages that they were in danger, she would send her sons out at night to put bags of salt on the doorsteps of those who were targeted, so they could flee. Syla helped untold numbers of Jews escape certain death.

Today, Syla is just one of many elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union who live in great economic hardship. But she no longer has to struggle to survive — thanks to the gifts of compassionate friends like you, The Fellowship, and our Isaiah 58 program. Syla receives food, medication and medical consultation, heating fuel, and visits from an Isaiah 58-provided home care worker.

Even if economic conditions were to improve dramatically in the FSU, it is likely to have little impact on the needs of hundreds of thousands of elderly Jews like Syla. Therefore, it is vital that we continue providing all possible aid to those who need us.

Please help supply more lifesaving Isaiah 58 assistance, to help Syla and others like her enjoy a measure of comfort and dignity. Shalom and God bless you.