Dear Fellowship Friend,

The former Soviet Union is home to some of the world’s poorest Jews. Hundreds of thousands of elderly, many of them Holocaust survivors, cannot afford basic necessities like food, medicine, or heat. Children live in appalling conditions, with little hope for a better future.

The story of young Ekatrina—also known as "Kate"—is all too common. Six years ago, Ekaterina lived in a modest but comfortable apartment with her family in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. But suddenly Kate's childhood was stolen from her when crushing debts forced her family to sell their belongings and move.

Today, fifteen-year-old Kate lives with her mother, Nina, and her grandmother, Vilgemina, in a dilapidated two-room apartment. The building is in serious disrepair, missing doors and windows. A makeshift curtain provides privacy for the bathroom. The tap near the toilet is the only source of water for the entire floor.

One of the rooms is even missing a portion of an outer wall, leaving it exposed to the elements. "In winter it is extremely cold," Kate says. "We heat the facility with a wood-burning stove, and since wood costs a lot, my granny and I collect pieces from the forest nearby. In winter, I do my homework wrapped in a blanket to keep warm."

To make matters worse, all three members of Kate's family have serious health problems. Vilgemina is disabled, Nina has diabetes and cannot work, and Kate is pre-diabetic and must constantly check her blood sugar. Aside from the change they get from collecting and selling scrap metal, the family's only source of income is grandmother's $37 per month pension.

Despite these hardships, Kate is a bright young woman who dreams of one day becoming a doctor, lawyer, or teacher. Fortunately, Kate's aspirations—and her family's day-to-day well-being—are being nurtured with the help of the local Hesed center, funded by The Fellowship's Isaiah 58 program. "I was five when I started coming to the Hesed," Kate says. "Hesed gave medical help to granny and my mother. Our family has received medications, clothes, hot meals, and many other necessary things. I've received school supplies, a debit card for food, regular medical check-ups to control my diabetes, and winter relief, including clothes, bed linen, and blankets."

Kate has known hardship all her young life, but today, thanks to The Fellowship's Isaiah 58 partners, she has more than material assistance—she has hope for the future. Today, I ask you to provide hope to other poor children, elderly, and families in the former Soviet Union with your donation to Isaiah 58. Through your generosity, children like Kate will know that they are cared for by loving friends half a world away.

On behalf of Kate and so many others like her, I offer my deepest thanks to you, my friends. I pray that God will bless you for your generosity, even as you have blessed His children, Israel.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein