Alexandr’s aliyah from Kazakhstan is especially significant because he, his wife Lyubov, and their youngest son and his family aren’t just moving to their biblical homeland—they are reuniting with loved ones. Alexandr is 75 years old, and Lyubov is 74. They have three children, all of whom have families of their own. Two of their children have already been living in Israel with their families for the past 15 years. After years of delays and with assistance from The Fellowship, four generations of their family are finally together again.
Born after World War II and the Holocaust, Alexandr grew up hearing from his grandparents that what mattered most wasn’t what was written on someone’s passport or their country of origin, but the value of honest work and how well they did it. He also remembers his grandmother telling him stories about Israel. As a child, the Holy Land sounded like a fairy tale to him. As Alexandr grew older, met Lyubov, and started a family, Jewish life in Kazakhstan became increasingly distant. The couple didn’t live in a town with a synagogue or Jewish community center.
Alexandr, Lyubov, their youngest son, and his family arrived in Israel just before the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks—a day Alexandr remembers all too well. The first thing he did when he heard about the attacks was call his children in Israel, as very little information was available about what was happening. He felt somewhat relieved after hearing the voices of his children and grandchildren but continued following the news as more details emerged. Alexandr was always careful not to watch the news when Lyubov was in the room, knowing how much she worried. It wasn’t easy for him either, as he felt a profound connection to the suffering and loss of life that day.
The couple had previously visited their children in Israel twice. Alexandr’s favorite hobby is fishing, and during those visits, he would take his grandchildren on fishing trips. Together, they fished in the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and even the open sea. When he lived in Kazakhstan, Alexandr would take his own children fishing every weekend. He says fishing in the Holy Land made him feel 10 years younger. His children had been asking him to move to Israel for years, but something always seemed to get in the way.
Alexandr says, “Now we are going to live in Israel ourselves. I just want Israel to live. To live, to be strong, and to prosper. I want our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to be able to live peacefully in their own country. Thank God, now we will finally be together again.”
One of the reasons Alexandr’s move was delayed was Lyubov’s health crisis, which required surgery to remove a brain tumor. They didn’t have medical insurance, a doctor lined up, or the money to cover the costs of surgery and recovery. Despite receiving a grim prognosis, the family came together and worked to ensure she received the care she needed. Although Lyubov still struggles with sleep problems and an irregular heartbeat, she was able to make the journey to Israel. Now, she can receive medical care in Israel, which Alexandr says is far better than what was available to them in Kazakhstan. Moving to Israel will also provide more specialized support for his grandson, who has autism. The family plans to settle in Kiryat Yam, where their other relatives live.
Alexandr expresses his deepest gratitude, saying, “My entire family and I are sincerely grateful to The Fellowship’s donors, to The Fellowship staff in Kazakhstan, and to every person who helped make our aliyah possible. I wish all of them good health and happiness. Thanks to your help, our family will finally be together again.”