Oleksandr and his wife, Yuliia, along with their children, Kristina and Alisa, fulfilled their years-long dream of making aliyah thanks to The Fellowship. Originally from Odesa, the couple had dreamed of living in their biblical homeland of Israel before they were even married. Their first visit to Israel was for their honeymoon, which left a lasting impression—they knew they wanted to raise a family here.
However, like many people The Fellowship helps make aliyah, they became entangled in the lengthy and complex process of gathering documentation and completing paperwork. During this time, their children were born, and in 2022, war broke out in Ukraine just as they were preparing to move. After four long years of finalizing the process with The Fellowship’s help, the family was finally able to make aliyah in June.
Oleksandr, Yuliia, and their daughters arrived in Tel Aviv and then traveled to Akko—a beautiful and ancient city along Israel’s northern coastal plain. The family arrived in the Holy Land with only the luggage they had brought with them—no friends or relatives awaiting them. But their belief that they had made the right decision, along with their strong desire to begin a new life, brought them this far and will continue to carry them forward.
Kristina is starting seventh grade, and Alisa will be in first grade as they eagerly begin the school year. Yuliia says the girls do not yet know what to expect from schools in Israel, but this uncertainty does not frighten them. Rather, it makes them curious and excited about what lies ahead. Kristina watches video blogs from other students her age to learn about everyday school life, while Alisa hopes to have a kind teacher, a peaceful classroom, and recess spent with friends. The Fellowship provided gift cards for the girls so they could buy school supplies with their parents.
The gift cards were just the beginning. The Fellowship also helped the family furnish their new apartment in Akko with a sofa, wardrobe, and desk for doing homework. Already, Kristina and Alisa are planning their after-school activities. They hope to try everything from art to sports.
Yuliia says, “When I look at my daughters, at my husband, and then at myself in the mirror, I see a truly happy family. We have a new life and a new home. Now we have so many opportunities—to study, to work, to grow, and simply to live in peace. I am deeply grateful to The Fellowship for our new life and for the future my daughters now have. We have received so much care, attention, patience, and financial support—more than you sometimes expect, even from close relatives.”