The Fellowship Applauds Israel’s Aid to Venezuelan Olim

The Fellowship  |  August 14, 2017

Stand for Israel has kept you abreast of The Fellowship’s ongoing Freedom Flights rescuing Venezuelan Jews from the violence and instability in their country and bringing them to their biblical homeland. Now our friends at JNS report on the Israeli government’s work to aid these new olim (immigrants), as well:

“We are profoundly grateful to the Minister of Aliyah and Absorption Sofa Landver for agreeing to increase this critical support for these new olim,” said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of The Fellowship. “This additional aid will go a long way toward helping the Jews of Venezuela as they begin new lives in Israel and incentivize others to come on aliyah as well.”

The Fellowship said it provides $800 per adult and $400 per child on top of the Israeli government’s support for the immigrants. Additionally, the group conducts follow-up visits to assist families with needs such as food, appliances, furniture, day care, vocational training and dental care.

In late July, 26 Venezuelan Jews arrived in Israel. An additional 138 Venezuelan Jews have made aliyah during the last 18 months. The South American nation has recently been rocked by political upheaval and violence as President Nicholas Maduro has destroyed the country’s remaining democratic institutions and economy, essentially establishing himself as a dictator. The oil-rich country has seen skyrocketing murder rates, nearly continuous anti-government protests, and widespread food and medicine shortages. Around 10,000 Jews are believed to remain in the once-prosperous country.