April 3, 2025
On April 3, 2025, a deeply moving reunion took place at Shalom House in Caesarea. Holocaust survivors from Hadera, led by Seema Fiedosova, came together to celebrate Passover with their long-time friends and sponsors from Poland—a moment filled with both joyful connection and heartfelt remembrance.
Pastor Jurek Rycharski, his son pastor Filip Rycharski and pastor Janusz Wanat traveled to Israel to reunite with survivors they had met years ago. The bond formed in those early encounters had endured, and this long-awaited visit brought back cherished memories and renewed hope.
The gathering opened with warm words of welcome from Bozena and Andre Gasiorowski, who graciously introduced the guests. Early in the program, Rachel Tzeitlin offered a heartfelt prayer for the safety of Israeli soldiers—our sons, daughters, and grandchildren—setting a tone of reverence and reflection.
The Passover celebration began with a blessing from Bozena, followed by a festive and joyful meal. Pastor Jurek later addressed the group, sharing words of love and encouragement from many in Poland, affirming God’s steadfast care for His people.
Andre Gasiorowski shared a remarkable historical story from Jurek’s hometown, where a local Polish prince had once welcomed Jews and granted them legal protection. This act of courage later inspired the king to extend these protections nationwide, making Poland the only European country at the time to offer official refuge to Jews fleeing persecution.
The celebration continued with nice music, as Irina Corolyova, leader of the Hadera Survivors’ Choir, performed Passover songs alongside Tatyana Kravits. Raisa Ravva, a 90-year-old survivor, moved everyone by reciting verses from Konstantin Simonov, reminding all of the enduring power of love and family.
The gathering closed with a touching performance by Uliana Istaev, who sang from the Pesach Haggadah, leaving everyone uplifted and assured of God’s enduring protection over His beloved people.
