Nine Holocaust survivors and other immigrants arrived in Israel Thursday evening on a ZAKA medical rescue plane with the assistance of Or Avner, The Fellowship and Yad Israel as part of a special flight program of the ZAKA, Chabad Moldova, JDC, and the Jewish Agency.
On Thursday, a medical rescue plane landed in Israel with elderly Holocaust survivors, sick and wounded rescued by ZAKA volunteers from the combat zones in the heart of Ukraine.
A special team of ZAKA doctors and paramedics accompanied the medical flight from Moldova to Israel.
Rescued survivors in this mission include Trizna Sofia, 80, Lerman Mykhailo, 82, Lototska Alla, 82, Skomorovsky Victor 85, Krachun Liudmila 87, Zhilinska Ninel 87, Krasylovskiy Leonid 94, Ripina Ludmila 98 and Ryabaya Tatyna 99.
On the flight was also carried the body of the late Holocaust survivor Aharon Skamorovsky, who was rescued with his wife from Kiev by ZAKA volunteers and unfortunately passed away, at the hospital in Kishinev, surrounded by his family.
The immigrants were greeted by Mrs. Pnina Tamano Sheta, the Minister of Aliyah and Absorption, Dubi Weissenstein, CEO ZAKA, the director of The Fellowship, Ayelet Shilo Tamir, and employees of the Ministry of Aliya, escorted by ambulances of Zaka and Ezer Mizion prepared ahead of time.
Minister of Aliyah and Absorption, Pnina Temano Sheta, greeted the Holocaust survivors upon their landing in Israel and said: “80 years ago the Jewish people had nowhere to run, and today every Jew in the world has a sheltered home. It is a privilege and highest priority task to help the Holocaust survivors, accompany them through difficult moments and make sure that at their elderly age they will have physical and mental security. It is our duty and we will do it.”
Ayelet Shilo Tamir, CEO of The Fellowship, said: “I am proud of the privilege we have of granting Holocaust survivors, who for the second time in their lives were in real danger and became refugees, a closing of a circle which allowed them to return home – Israel.”
“The fourth medical flight operation from Moldova ended successfully,” said Dubi Weissenstein, ZAKA CEO. “Dozens of refugees brought to Israel were rescued from Ukraine in complex operations led and thanks to a combination of united forces and cooperation with the organizations and foundations working alongside us in a courageous partnership led by Shlomie Peles and Dovid Mondshine of Or Avner, The Fellowship, Chabad Moldova led by Rabbi Zushe Abelsky, Yad Israel led by Rabbi Moshe Pima, Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moldova, Representatives of Netiv, Ambassador of Israel to Moldova Mr. Yoel Leon, JDC Israel, The Jewish Agency, Rabbi Yitzchak Halfon and his wife. Despite the complex situation, ZAKA volunteers continue to work in every arena to save lives and Kibbud Hames.”
This is so heartwarming!