Responding To Increasing Unrest And Violence In Ukraine, Historic Fellowship Aliyah Flights Bring Hundreds Of Jewish Refugees From War-torn Region To Israel

Initial flight of new immigrants from Ukraine, among them dozens of families fleeing the eastern part of the country, lands in Israel as part of an air convoy on December 22, the 7th day of Hanukkah

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International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

Dec 22, 2014, 01:06 ET

JERUSALEM, Dec. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Founder and President of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship): "The Fellowship will continue to ensure that any Jew who is in danger or who faces hardship from the violence and unrest in Ukraine will receive shelter and a home in Israel. The first Fellowship flights have opened a new chapter in our already vital and significant contribution to immigration and absorption in Israel. We thank our partners in this effort and we promise to help the immigrants in their swift and successful absorption in Israel."

As an effort to support the embattled Jewish community of eastern Ukraine, where fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian separatists has led to widespread violence and chaos, on December 22 The Fellowship organized a flight to Israel for 226 new olim (immigrants). This flight is the first of many which will bring thousands of Jews to Israel in the future, and is being organized in conjunction with Israel's Ministry of Immigration and Absorption, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the global Ezra movement and Nativ.

Since many of the new olim are refugees from Ukraine and have suffered from the dire conditions in the country, The Fellowship is also giving grants of $1,000 to every adult and $500 to every child in addition to funding their immigration. The Fellowship support has led to a greater than expected immediate demand to come to Israel, and therefore The Fellowship has arranged for a second flight on December 30.

The new olim on the initial flight were received in a formal ceremony held at Terminal 1 of Ben Gurion Airport on Monday, December 22, attended by such dignitaries as: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman; Minister of Immigration and Absorption Sofa Landver; Fellowship Founder and President, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein; Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Mr. Natan Sharansky; and Director of the global Ezra movement, Mr. Danny Elinson.

Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Mr. Natan Sharansky, said, "We shall continue to help any Jew who needs our assistance. The important work of promoting aliyah is done thanks to the generosity of important donors, chief among them The Fellowship, headed by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, which has placed aliyah at the top of its priorities, and is acting in cooperation with the Jewish Agency to enable us to bring the immigrants to Israel in a concentrated manner."

About The Fellowship

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) was founded in 1983 to promote better understanding and cooperation between Christians and Jews, and build broad support for Israel. Today it is one of the leading forces in helping Israel, and Jews in need worldwide — and is the largest channel of Christian support for Israel. Led by its founder and president Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, The Fellowship now raises more than $130 million per year, mostly from Christians, to assist Israel and the Jewish people. Since its founding, The Fellowship has raised more than $800 million for this work. The organization has offices in Jerusalem, Chicago, Toronto, and Seoul.