Since our founding, The Fellowship has helped more than 780,000 Jews return to their biblical homeland of Israel through aliyah. These new immigrants include families, elderly individuals, and young men and women seeking to build new lives rooted in their faith.
Many of these young people serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). They are known as lone soldiers—arriving with little more than open hearts, determination, and a deep desire to be part of the Holy Land. Twenty-two-year-old Theo from Brazil is one of them.
Theo made aliyah last year with the help of The Fellowship after spending much of his time in Israel following high school in Rio de Janeiro. Through a gap-year program, he worked and volunteered with several organizations across Israel. Theo says he was always active in the Jewish community in Brazil and strongly identified with Israel.
“I traveled across the world for a while, but I ultimately came to the conclusion that Israel is my place in the world,” he said.
On October 7, 2023, Theo was working at a hostel in Tel Aviv when he heard the news of the attacks. He had nearly purchased a ticket to attend the Nova Festival but had made other plans that day. Although his family in Brazil begged him to return home, Theo chose to remain in Israel, feeling a deep obligation to stay with his people—even during times of great suffering.
Theo returned to Brazil once more before officially making aliyah in 2024. By then, anti-Semitism had begun to surface in places he once believed were immune to it. At the university where his sister studies, many students openly glorified Hamas and its actions on October 7. She also witnessed an exhibit portraying Jews as rats, with the Star of David distorted into a swastika.
Eight months later, Theo contacted Fellowship staff in Brazil to begin planning his aliyah. He arrived in Israel last January and began his IDF service in May. He is currently stationed at the Re’im base near Gaza—one of the bases attacked and overtaken by terrorists on October 7. Theo says he is now considering a long-term military career in the IDF.
“The Fellowship was incredible to me,” Theo shared. “They made sure everything was in order—from the flight to the preparations. I was able to travel with an extra suitcase and received much-needed financial assistance. After I arrived, Israeli staff visited me before I joined the army, and I continue to receive gifts and help whenever I need it. It has made an enormous difference in my life, and I’m very grateful to the organization and everyone who supports it.”
