By: Marelinke van der Riet

Last week, 19 Jewish students from various cities across Ukraine arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on an ICEJ-sponsored flight from Moldova to begin their high school studies in Israel.

Their journey as part of the Jewish Agency’s Naale program began with a farewell to their parents before embarking on a 12-hour bus ride to Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, and then the flight to Israel.

Launched in 1992 in St. Petersburg with just 50 students, the Naale Academy has since grown to include Jewish high school students from over 40 countries. More than 20,000 Naale participants have since become Israeli citizens, demonstrating the program’s success and far-reaching impact.

The Naale program, a collaboration between Israel’s Ministry of Education and the Jewish Agency for Israel, boasts an impressive success rate. Approximately 90% of the Jewish teenage participants decide to stay and become Israeli citizens, and 60% of their parents often follow suit.

The 19 students who arrived last week are all ages 14 to 15. The program spans three years, culminating in an Israeli high school diploma. Many of these students are eager to make Aliyah, with five in the new group already holding Israeli citizenship. Many have older siblings who have also made Aliyah, and their familiarity with Israeli culture through Jewish Agency camps has eased their transition.

Pnina Zubaryev, an ICEJ staff member originally from Ukraine, joined the students on the flight from Moldova to Ben Gurion Airport to meet the students and hear their stories along the way.

“Last year, there was a massive attack from Russia on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine,” “There is no future there. It’s a ghost town,” said Taisiia, who has an aunt that already lives in Israel. She is hopeful for a brighter future in her new land.

Another new student named Roman said his father, though already an Israeli citizen, has been stuck in Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict.

“My father made Aliyah years ago but paid visits back to Ukraine from time to time,” explained Roman. “The last visit was when the war started, and now he can’t leave because he also still has Ukrainian citizenship.”

Roman’s situation is a common problem right now for Ukrainian Jewish families who want to immigrate to Israel. Men between 18 and 60 years of age are still prohibited from leaving the country, and those 25 and older are subject to being drafted. Thus, many Ukrainian Jewish families making Aliyah have been separated over recent years, with some of the fathers, brothers and sons unable to leave for Israel yet.

Still, Roman has other family in Israel and he is excited to join them. For instance, he has an older sister, now 30, who also was part of the Naale program.

Meanwhile, Viacheslav was enthusiastic about his journey following in the footsteps of his older brother, who is in the final year of the Naale program and currently lives in Netanya. In fact, Viacheslav is already contemplating joining the Israeli army.

“Of course! We fight for our land!” he said with pride.

Zakhar was inspired to come study in Israel by an uncle, aged 27, who also completed the Naale program and now lives in Beersheva. Despite leaving his parents behind in Ukraine, Zakhar is excited about his new life in Israel and dreams of building a future here.

Since 2005, the ICEJ has been supporting Naale students at the request of the Jewish Agency’s senior representative in St. Petersburg. Our efforts have expanded to include Jewish teenagers from Belarus and the Baltic states, covering flights, pre-Aliyah logistics, testing, airport transfers, and summer camps. Despite such challenges as the COVID pandemic and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the ICEJ has assisted over 46,000 Ukrainian Jews to make the journey home to Israel since the 1990s.

“Everyone hopes and believes for a good life here,” noted our staff member Pnina, who made Aliyah from Odessa herself more than 15 years ago. “They did not leave Ukraine because of the war. They were prepared to come to Israel before it started.”

“These newest Naale students were extremely happy and grateful that their flight tickets were paid for by Christians,” added Pnina.

As these 19 Ukrainian Jewish students embark on their new journey in Israel, their stories remind us of the hope and determination that define the human spirit. Each student’s arrival brings the promise of a brighter future, made possible by the collective support of our generous Christian donors.s

The ICEJ is committed to providing these life-changing opportunities, but we need your continued help to do even more. Your donation helps students like Taisiia, Roman, Viacheslav and Zakhar achieve their dreams back in their ancestral homeland.

Please make a donation today to support our ongoing Aliyah efforts as we work together to make a lasting impact on Israel.

Donate at: help.icej.org/aliyah