September 19th, 2024 – Ilya made aliyah to Israel with his wife from Ukraine in the first month of the war. Younger males were not allowed to leave Ukraine at that time, and most were drafted into the army. So some members of his family had to stay behind, but his granddaughter also managed to leave Ukraine at that time.
Thankfully, Ilya was able to visit his son in Ukraine over the summer. He was so happy to receive GAiN financial support and a visit from Helping Hand Coalition for Israel team member upon his return. He sends his love to his German sponsor.
He says that the situation there is still very worrying and not safe, he also hopes that the war in Israel will not reach Hadera. And that regardless of all, he proudly stated that Israel is now his home.
Ilya is survivor of the Holocaust and survivor of the Ukrainian war. It is unbelievable to think that he has gone through so many wars in his lifetime, from his early childhood to his older present days, escaping the Ukraine war few years ago and living in the current Israeli conflict.
