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Crisis Deepens for Ethiopian and Ukrainian Jews

December 20, 2021

I am writing this with a heavy heart. Jewish lives are at risk. People are facing some of the most perilous times. I have received urgent appeals from leaders in Israel asking for help for the Ethiopian Jews and from our team in Ukraine. Please read about the situations and ask the Lord if you can help us save lives.

Ethiopian Civil War

For the past year, Ethiopia has been involved in a civil war between the ruling government and a rebel group. As the conflict has deepened, the country has been plunged into despair. The rebels are advancing on Addis Ababa. A state of emergency has been declared. Thousands have already perished in the conflict. The situation is compounded by a drought, a locust invasion and as a result, famine. In late November, the World Food Programme announced that 9.4 million people across northern Ethiopia required food aid.

In the midst of this chaos, 10,000 Ethiopian Jews are anxiously waiting for permission to flee to Israel. The Israeli government has met in recent days and agreed to bring 3,000 as quickly as possible, and hopefully to bring the remaining 7,000 soon. As a leader of a Christian organization, I received a call asking if we can help. Other Christian leaders have similarly been asked to help. The Ethiopian community is all gathered in Gondor and Addis Ababa waiting to come. Jewish emissaries are there, helping them prepare for aliyah (immigration to Israel). The entire situation is very volatile, and the risks are great.

In the book of Esther, Mordechai said to Queen Esther, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (4:14b). During the Holocaust, Christians saved Jewish lives at great risk to their own safety. Today, we can save lives without even leaving home through our prayers and financial donations. Perhaps God has raised us up at this time to help save 10,000 Ethiopian Jews and bring them to safety in Israel.

Rising Tensions in Ukraine

This week I received an email from our team in Ukraine. The war with Russia is threatening to deepen. Ever since Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, there has been a state of war. Our Project Rescue team has saved Jewish people from eastern Ukraine under fire, in many cases being protected from extreme danger in supernatural ways and guidance from above. Viktor told of the looming threat of an invasion from Russia with 175,000 Russian soldiers. Intelligence is forecasting the invasion to begin as early as January. Our team is urgently looking for a compound outside Kiev where they can flee to safety, and where they can rescue Jewish people on their way to Israel.

Now, more than ever, they need their Christian friends around the world to help them return to Israel.

We Can’t Delay

There is no time to wait and think about helping. This is a time for action. I pray that God will move the hearts of Christians around the world to give generously to bring these endangered Jewishpeople to Israel before it is too late. Thank you for standing with us in prayer and donations. You can make a difference today. Your gifts to Project Rescue will enable us to help the Jews of Ukraine. Gifts to the New Immigrant Fund will be used to help the Ethiopian Jews.

Blessings from Israel,
Rebecca J. Brimmer
International President and CEO

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