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North American Aliyah

By by Donna Holbrook

TORONTO – The largest number of North American Jews ever to move to Israel in one day boarded two planes this summer with several immigrants who were helped on their way to Israel by the ICEJ.

Although the first waves of Aliyah were mostly Russian and former Soviet Union Jews, a smaller but steady stream of Jews from North America (many from Russian background) have been making Aliyah to Israel.

I was prompted to become involved with Aliyah in Canada after hearing and being spiritually impacted by a prophetic word that Russian Jews would come through Canada to make their way to Israel. Two years ago, I brought this up with ICEJ Executive Director Malcolm Hedding who told me he had heard the same word 10 years prior.

“So we are closer now to that time of fulfillment,” I responded.

I connected with A. Howard Flower, national director of ICEJ Russia, and we decided to develop a program through North America.

“The Lord had already put many of these Russian Jews in Canada,” Flower said. “There was a huge outpouring from the FSU (former Soviet Union) and some Russian Jews moved to Canada. It’s a cold country like most of the Soviet Union, it’s somewhat of a socialistic country and the Canadians have a heart for refugees.”

In the 1880s an exodus of Jews escaping the pogroms in Russia also chose Canada for the same reasons. Another wave of Jewish people who moved to Canada is from Cuba. Fidel Castro “let them go” and they went with the help of Canadians, Flower said.

To begin the ICEJ program, I contacted the Toronto Israel Aliyah Centre and through them, their agents in Montreal. This initial connection has developed into a friendly bond with these agencies. They were enthusiastic about our willingness and pro-active approach to assist them in returning their people to their homeland. To their knowledge, no Christian ministry had offered this assistance before.

Once they approve and complete the documentation of an individual, couple or family, ICEJ Canada is notified either by the “shlicha,” Jewish Aliyah agent, or, more regularly, through Flower in St. Petersburg who helps coordinate and fund Aliyah applicants. Funding also comes from Ministry to Israel, ICEJ Finland, Finnish Exodus Committee and ICEJ Russia.

The ICEJ project has so far helped more than 100 Jews emigrate from North America. Each person gets a grant of $500 (US) and is reimbursed for vouchers and sometimes traveling expenses.

One woman said she had no financial means to make Aliyah, although it was her heart’s desire. She was referred to the ICEJ and received a generous gift that enabled her to move to Israel.

“It was so encouraging and really important to know that there are people, even strangers, who are so excited and supportive of your decision to resettle in Israel that they are willing to help financially,” Ilana said.

There is no experience quite like the one when, for the first time, you meet the “olim” (immigrants to Israel) on their last day’s visit to the Aliyah Centre where you meet, shake hands and present them with a gift of money, made possible by hundreds of ICEJ supporters who have a heart to see God’s people return to their homeland, Israel.

They are thrilled and amazed that we want to help them make their move easier through this gift and through the support once they are in Israel through the ICEJ Jerusalem Support Center’s absorption program and Social Assistance Program.

It is a work of our heart to God’s people to see them restored to their land of promise.

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