By Nativia Samuelsen

“Do you know that thing that sits on your back all week and you just want to finish with it until the next time you must do it again? That is how my volunteering started,” shared Liat, a university student participating in an ICEJ-supported ‘Immigrants in Hebrew’ learning program.

Through the sponsorship of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, this initiative provides scholarships to Israeli university students like Liat, helping them focus on their studies without the constant worry of financial strain. In exchange, these students mentor immigrant children, offering critical support in areas such as Hebrew language skills, academic assistance, and social development—all while receiving the financial help they need to continue their education.

With the support of Christians around the world, the program does more than help immigrant children integrate into Israeli society—it also empowers the next generation of Israeli leaders by giving them the opportunity to make a real, tangible difference in their communities. The students provide essential support in three key areas:

1. Language Skills: Teaching Hebrew is a key to unlocking academic success and social integration.
2. Academic Assistance: Helping children catch up in subjects where they have fallen behind, often due to language barriers or difficulties in their lives.
3. Social Development: Encouraging teamwork and emotional resilience through group activities and one-on-one mentoring.

When Liat began her mentorship, she found it to be far more challenging than she had imagined. The children she worked with had vastly different levels of skill and attention. “One child was hyperactive, another so shy she could barely speak, and a third was disengaged,” Liat recalled. “They kept slipping back into Russian, ignoring me.”

But instead of giving up, Liat embraced the program’s spirit of creativity. She turned lessons into games, encouraging the children to guess Hebrew words through drawing. She introduced music, using familiar songs to teach vocabulary and spark conversations.

The result? Breakthrough moments of connection and learning. “By the end of our lessons, we were singing and dancing to ‘Am Yisrael Chai’,” she said. “I realised learning works best when it is fun.”

The results of the program on the children speak for themselves:

• 75% of the children reported feeling they could speak Hebrew better.
• 92% of the children said they could write better in Hebrew.
• 83% of the children felt they could read better in Hebrew.

The 2023–2024 academic year brought additional challenges. As the war in northern Israel intensified, Acre found itself on the front line. Many of the immigrant children, already fleeing the conflict in Ukraine or Russia, faced new trauma.

The program adapted swiftly. When safety concerns prevented in-person meetings, sessions continued online. University students, some of whom were called to military service, maintained contact with their mentees, ensuring the support system remained intact.

Despite these challenges, the program reached 343 children across four cities—Acre, Netanya, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem—thanks to the dedication of 82 students who contributed a total of 15,580 volunteer hours.

By simultaneously supporting university students and immigrant children, the program provides both groups with essential tools for success.

For the children, the mentorship helps them connect with the land and language while also giving them a friend—a vital part of finding their place in a new country. “The dual support offered here is one of the things that we liked the most about this program,” shared Vice President for AID and Aliyah Nicole Yoder. “When visiting, we heard from a Druze criminology student, a Jewish law student, and many others. Each one had an inspiring personal story to share. We witnessed the tight community that developed as the students became role models, encouragers, and like big brothers and sisters to the immigrant kids.  This is critical support for parents who are themselves in a kind of survival mode as they adjust to a new life as well. Acre has experienced such a tremendous influx of Russian-speaking immigrants in recent years, so our sponsorship is critical.”

The experience is transformative for the students. They develop leadership and creative problem-solving skills, gaining hands-on experience in education and mentorship.

As Liat reflected, “This program is not just about teaching—it is about connecting. We are not just helping children learn Hebrew; we are helping them feel at home.”

Through this program, we are bridging gaps in language, culture, and opportunity—and together, we are building a stronger, brighter future for everyone involved.

Your giving has an amazing impact on the lives of Jewish immigrants to Israel. Please support our Aliyah and Integration fund today. Donate at: help.icej.org/aliyah

Main photo: ICEJ VP of Aid and Aliyah Nicole Yoder (L) at SBC Leaders of Tomorrow Event.