- November 14, 2024
- 4:44 pm
- Israel
Israeli support for the Ukrainian Righteous Among the Nations has become an important link in saving these families from the consequences of the war. The “Word of the Righteous” project, founded by Margarita Ormotsadze, talks in detail about the mission to evacuate and help the righteous and their heirs.
How Israelis save the families of Ukrainian Righteous Among the Nations by taking them into evacuation during the Ukrainian-Russian war
Margarita Ormotsadzeco-founder of the “Word of the Righteous” project on the UJE website
Ukraine's Righteous Among the Nations – the people who risked their lives to save Jewish families during the Holocaust – need saving again. This time they are being taken out of war-torn Ukraine, with the active help of Israel and other countries. According to Margarita Ormotsadze, producer of the “Word of the Righteous” project, throughout February 2022, dozens of families whose relatives were once Righteous received offers of assistance with evacuation. This support came from charitable organizations, as well as directly from Israeli and international structures.
Key participants in the rescue mission
The main support for evacuated families is provided by:
- Memorial complex “Yad Vashem” – a leader in providing moral and material support to the righteous.
- Israeli embassies in Ukraine, Poland and Moldova — help cross borders and organize temporary housing for refugees.
- Israeli Ministry of Aliyah and Integration — deals with the adaptation of those arriving in Israel.
In addition to official structures, Israeli families, once saved by Ukrainian righteous people, played a huge role. Many of them welcome Ukrainian families into their homes, providing them with everything they need.
Stories of families who found shelter in Israel
1. The Arkhityuk-Sotnikov family from Rivne
Tamara, whose family ended up in Israel thanks to Yad Vashem, remembers the day her parents had to flee. Today she is 78 years old and has become a refugee again, this time due to the war in Ukraine.
2. Mrs. Lyubov from the Slobodyuk family
A pensioner from Odessa, evacuated to Jerusalem, receives help from the Word of the Righteous project in the form of funds for medical care.
3. Sergei and Vladimir Kuklin from the Romanyuk family
At the beginning of the war, this family remained in the village of Straklov in the Rivne region until the situation became unbearable. Thanks to the help, they were taken to Israel.
4. Lyudmila Gasparova from the Karpikov family
After the outbreak of hostilities, Lyudmila accepted the invitation of the Goldstein family from Netanya and moved to Israel. Here she began working at the fashion house Lee Petra Grebenau and creates unique products for clients.
Key quotes about the importance of help from Margarita Ormotsadze
“Our project is working to ensure that not a single Righteous person and their descendants are left without support. It is important that their wartime exploits are not forgotten and that they know that Israel and the world are grateful for their actions.”
“The families of Ukrainian Righteous Among the Nations continue to face enormous difficulties in the new country, especially the elderly. They need our help not only financially, but also emotionally, because every day is a test for them.”
The role of Israeli and international organizations
Evacuation and assistance on site: In the process of evacuation from Ukraine, foundations such as Sokhnut and Joint played a huge role, helping displaced people with food, housing and safe transportation to new places of residence. Relocation is taking place in Jerusalem and other cities that provide conditions for the integration of older people and people with special needs.
Families of the Righteous in statistics
| Surname | City | Age | Current status | Place of residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkhityuk | Smooth | 78 | Evacuated | Israel |
| Slobodyuk | Odessa | 85 | Under treatment | Jerusalem |
| Kuklin | Straklov | 82 | In evacuation | Israel |
| Gasparova | Kyiv | 65 | Employed | Netanya |
| Savchuk | Kyiv | 98 | Transported personally by the ambassador | Jerusalem |
This table reflects only a small part of the families who received assistance. Most of them are pensioners or elderly people who require medical support.
Financial and public support
These people not only need shelter and food, but also the means for daily survival and treatment. Both public and private funds help them in this. The Word of the Righteous Project expresses gratitude to a number of philanthropists and sponsors who fund assistance to these families.
Margarita Ormotsadze noted on the NAnovosti website that “every donation and every support restores trust and faith that the sacrifices and exploits of the past are not forgotten. Our project continues to raise funds in order to provide comfort and stability to the descendants of the Righteous.”
Project “Word of the Righteous”: Documentary work dedicated to the Righteous Among the Nations
“Word of the Righteous» (English) Word of the Righteous) is a documentary film and project created within the framework of Ukrainian-Israeli-American cooperation, dedicated to the memory of the Righteous Among the Nations. The project was developed by journalists Svetlana Levitas and Margarita Ormotsadze and became possible thanks to grants from Yad Vashem, Genesis Philanthropy GroupBabi Yar Holocaust Memorial Center, support Ukrgasbankcorporations Ukr-netas well as personal financial support of Ukrainian businessmen, bankers and film authors. Volunteers also joined the work on the film and contributed to the creation of a unique documentary.
The project highlights the stories of the descendants of the Righteous Among the Nations and supports their families located in Ukraine and other countries, especially given the difficult conditions associated with the war. Margarita Ormotsadze notes that assistance to these people is not limited to a temporary solution: most of them are elderly people of retirement age who do not have the opportunity to earn money on their own, and therefore need constant support. These older adults face enormous challenges in a new country, including language barriers, the need for medical treatment, and general adaptation to the new environment.
The “Word of the Righteous” project expresses gratitude to all friends and benefactors who support the families of the Righteous Among the Nations and Ukrainian refugees. More than 60 families remaining in Ukraine (from Kharkov to Lvov, from Odessa to Kyiv), as well as relatives and widows of the Righteous aged 80 years and older, continue to receive assistance.
Support and gratitude to philanthropists
On behalf of all the families of the Righteous Among the World, the “Word of the Righteous” project expresses gratitude to a number of benefactors, including: Gennady Helemsky, Konstantin and Ksenia Vaysman, Mikhail Komissaruk, Victoria Mikhailyo, Roman Shpek, Felix Indenbaum, Tim Kogan, Oleg Gavrish, Alya Komissarenko, Yaroslav Lomakin , Kirill Shevchenko, Denis Chernyshov, Vyacheslav Chernyakhovsky, Sergey Royt, Sergey Budkin, Elena Berezina, Dmitry Grizhuk, Rostislav Dyuk, Vasily Gorbal, Vladimir Mazover, Alexander Chernitsky, Alexander Kamotsky and many others.
The project also expresses sincere gratitude to the staff Yad Vashem, Dry And Israeli Ministry of Aliyah and Integration for their invaluable assistance to Ukrainian refugees from the families of the Righteous Among the Nations.
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