‘Very Meaningful to Me’
The Fellowship | November 6, 2024
Maya is 86 years old and living in a small apartment in a senior residence in Lod, Israel. A year and a half ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a difficult surgery.
When we visited her just before the special Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, she told us: “I am slowly returning to myself after recovering from cancer. I appreciate that you supported me during my illness and didn’t forget about me.”
Maya was born in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union (FSU). She was 3 years old when World War II began. Her family relocated to Siberia due to her father’s work. “Just before the war started, my mother took me to visit our family who had stayed behind in Mykolaiv. The war caught us there, and we managed to escape, by what felt like a miracle just before the Nazis arrived.” Maya says it was difficult growing up in the FSU. As a child, she had to hide her Jewish identity.
“The support from The Fellowship is very meaningful to me. Recently, I recovered from cancer, and I feel fortunate to be alive. Your help is so important to me. It allows me to buy products for the holiday and welcome the New Year with a smile.”
