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Helping Immigrants Thrive in Israel

May 1, 2012

Every month Jewish people arrive in Israel to start a new life. Some come with resources and are able to finance their new life. Others need help in order to survive and thrive in their new land. I know how it feels. My husband Tom and I also left our home country when we moved to Israel over 20 years ago. In part, because of our experiences, we have great empathy and admiration for Israel’s new immigrants.

The challenges are huge, starting with not knowing the language of the land and adjusting to a new culture. They worry about learning the language and culture quickly, so that they can find jobs and support their families. For some, like the Ethiopians, the change from a very simple rural, tribal environment to a modern, technological, city environment threatens the family unit and generations-old traditions. Often many immigrants arrive without having the necessary resources, which magnifies the difficulty for every aspect of the transition.

It is our privilege and blessing to be able to assist many on this journey. Bridges for Peace has helped thousands of immigrants over the years. First, we welcome newcomers with gifts of blankets, pots and pans, and Tanachs (Gen.–Mal.) in Hebrew alongside their native language. Each gift includes a card that lets them know the gift comes from Christians around the world who love the Jewish people.

Subsequently, many are added to our Adoption Program, which means they are paired with Christian sponsors who help meet their basic needs over a one-year period. The immigrants receive regular, generous supplies of food (dried goods, dairy and meat products, and fresh fruits and vegetables), help with transportation, and lots of encouragement from our bilingual staff. Many times, they comment on the fact that the encouragement always came when they needed it the most. Sponsors also build relationships with their immigrants, as our translators facilitate letter writing between the parties, making communication on a personal level possible.

As Christians, it is wonderful to know that by helping new immigrants, we are part of Bible prophecy. We aren’t just sitting in our comfortable armchairs reading about God’s plans and purposes that are being fulfilled today. We are active participants in welcoming the Jewish people home to their promised land.

The Adoption Program provides vital assistance to families and students here without families to support them. Often they send us letters of thanks. I want to share a couple of those letters with you.

Overcoming All the Difficulties

We are the Golder family who addressed you for help a year ago. We want to thank you for your support with food and bus tickets that we received from you at the Adoption Program of Bridges for Peace. Thanks to your support, we could achieve a lot during the past year.

My husband Mikhail found a good job, and I (Ekaterina) finished a course of advanced professional training. Our son Ilya studies successfully at school and is fluent in Hebrew.

Our family has no fear of the future in this land any more. On the contrary, we have confidence in the future, and little by little, we are overcoming all the difficulties that we face in our path.

Thank you very much for your care and support,

The Golder family

Appreciating Our Love and Care

My name is Alla Pavlova and I am finishing from the Adoption Program of Bridges for Peace. I would like to say that I am very thankful to the sponsors, volunteers, and staff members of this wonderful program.

It was extremely hard for me to get adjusted to life at an absolutely unfamiliar and new place. I came to the land by myself, and it took me some time to get familiar to such a diverse and absolutely new culture and traditions. I am very impressed with this country, and now I can proudly call it my homeland. There are Jews who came to Israel from different countries and have a different background, but they all are united by their love for this wonderful land. One cannot help falling in love with these beautiful views and this responsive people.

My participation in the Adoption Program of Bridges for Peace is another proof of the fact that there are kind people in the world. I am very thankful to get acquainted with the Adoption staff at Bridges for Peace, who are always affable and friendly. Such people like these are always concerned about others and ready to give a helping hand, and these are the character traits that I value so much.

Your charitable work makes a difference in my life and in the life of many new immigrants in Israel, and I greatly appreciate all that love and care that you invest in your work. Thank you very much!!!

Alla Pavlova

Join God in Welcoming the Jewish People Home

I can just imagine the enthusiasm of God as He watches His people come home just as He prophesied through the prophets. I feel that same thrill as I realize that He is allowing Bridges for Peace and Christians all over the globe to participate in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy such as Isaiah 14:1: “For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob.”

You can join yourself to those who are settling here in Israel by being a part of this joyful program. Your one-year commitment to sponsor an individual or family as they start a new life in Israel will greatly impact you and those you help. Or, send a one-time gift to our Immigrant Welcome Gifts Program to bless the immigrants as they arrive in Israel.

As we so often say at Bridges for Peace, “Why just read about Bible prophecy when you can be a part of it?”

Blessings from Israel,

Rebecca J. Brimmer
International President and CEO