MAR 29, 2024 JLM 69°F 05:47 PM 10:47 AM EST
Ukrainian Holocaust Survivor Rescued to Israel, Reunited with Last Remaining Relatives

On Thursday, as part of its first-ever chartered humanitarian aid flight to assist Ukrainians who made it across the border to Moldova, United Hatzalah, a volunteer-based emergency medical services organization, airlifted 160 refugees to Israel.

Some held Israeli citizenship, some came via the Law of Return, and some had decided to immigrate to Israel and make it their permanent home.

Under the Law of Return, all non-Israeli Jews are entitled to settle in Israel and receive full Israeli citizenship. This includes non-Jewish children, grandchildren and spouses, so that families would not be torn apart.

Raisa, a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor who has difficulty walking, was living on her own in Odessa. Her son had passed away two years ago due to illness. Her three grand-daughers, who all live in Israel, are her only remaining family.

When Russian invaded Ukraine last week and war broke out, people fled the city.

Raisa’s granddaughters reached out to United Hatzalah and asked them to help save the elderly woman’s life.

Rabbi Hillel Cohen, director of United Hatzalah in Ukraine, arranged for an ambulance to bring her to the Moldovan border. There she met United Hatzalah’s volunteers, who brought her food and clothing and checked her medical status.

On Wednesday, Raisa was brought to a shelter in Chisinau run by the local Jewish community.

Early Thursday morning, together with other Ukrainian refugees, she was brought by bus to the airport in Romania, where she boarded a flight to Israel.

“When the plane arrived in Israel, there were a lot of tears,” said United Hatzalah Vice President of Operations Dov Maisel, who accompanied the refugees for the return trip.

“I’ve seen my fair share of disaster zones and I don’t get emotional easily, but seeing Raisa reunited with her granddaughters brought me to tears.”

“What happened here was a miracle,” said Michal, one of Raisa’s granddaughters. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

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Comments
Sonny Van 07:17 05.03.2022
Miracle, you say, Michal? We just happen to know that God is in the MIRACLE business. That's because He loves us so much!
Sonny Van 07:12 05.03.2022
Blessed be the lonely lost sheep who is returned to her flock. I can see an image of Raisa's granddaughters hugging her and planting kisses all over her face.
Rhoda Wright 06:51 05.03.2022
Praise the Lord , God Bless all
[Anonymous] 05:58 05.03.2022
Praise the Lord, her remaining years shall be happy ones!
Robert Mcmaster 02:18 05.03.2022
Thank you for your Jewish leadership, and showing the world the importance of life. May the grandmother and her grandaughters have joyful life, blessed by GD and possible Aliyah from Ukraine to Israel
Lonnie Lane 02:14 05.03.2022
My grandparents came to America from There. I can relate. The largest Messianic Jewish congregation in the world is in Kiev. Pray God will protect His people & all in Ukraine & end the war quickly.
Pamela Lovejoy 02:09 05.03.2022
What a true blessing 🙏.
Michael Tirkey 02:08 05.03.2022
JESUS BLESS EVERYONE
Michael Tirkey 02:08 05.03.2022
Praise The Lord
blair jensen 02:04 05.03.2022
Praise the. Lord!
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