Viktor and his wife, Svitlana, made aliyah to Israel last April. 2025 was a tumultuous time for the country, marked by ongoing war with Hamas, efforts to secure the release of hostages from Gaza, and the 12-Day War with Iran. Still, the elderly couple knew they needed to be with their three children and six grandchildren, who live in the city of Kiryat Shmona after making their own aliyah some time ago.
Today, the situation in Kiryat Shmona is even more dire, as the northern community has again been under constant fire from Iran and Hezbollah.
Svitlana said, “I will say right away: I have not regretted moving here for even a minute. Despite the war, despite the sirens, this is our home and the home of our children. Of course, living so close to war means carrying anxiety inside you every single day. It means waking up and falling asleep with the thought of what will happen today, what will happen tonight, will we make it, will we survive, will something terrible happen to us or to our loved ones?”
Kiryat Shmona is just three miles from the Lebanese border. Locals say that rockets often fall before the sirens sound, since Hezbollah launch sites are so close. Svitlana and Viktor said their children taught them what to do in emergencies. Their children also rented them an apartment in a building with an elevator so they can reach shelters more easily, given their health and mobility challenges.
The Fellowship has been helping Svitlana and Viktor since they arrived in Israel. When they moved into their new apartment, they did not have a refrigerator or washing machine. The Fellowship quickly provided both, along with financial support for food and clothing. With Viktor disabled and Svitlana requiring ongoing medical appointments and tests, living in a city under constant rocket threat is frightening. Yet their family gives them comfort they would not have anywhere else.
“I am lucky to have my family, because family support is important for every one of us,” she said. “However, I not only have the support of my family—I also have the support of many caring people here in Israel and beyond. I am sincerely grateful to the donors, volunteers, and staff of The Fellowship. It is deeply comforting and reassuring to know that there are people who care about the fate of Israel, who pray for us and support us not only morally, but financially as well. In days when you are afraid for your life, when anxiety does not let go day or night, that kind of support becomes a real source of strength and helps keep you from breaking down.”
