VIDEO UPDATE: Exodus Ukraine / Feb 15, 2023
It has been a year since the conflict in Ukraine began and its effect on the people, particularly children, continues to be felt. The constant mobility and lack of access to proper education and basic necessities have forced them to grow up all too quickly. But, despite the challenges, a beautiful celebration emerged.
On a beautiful day in Romania, two residents of Tikva Children’s Home, Maksim and Alla, became chosson and kallah in a heartwarming chuppah ceremony. Maksim, also known as Avraham, had been a part of the Tikva family since he was just three years old. His early years were marked by extreme poverty and hardship, as he lived in a tiny apartment with 20 family members in Belgorod-Dnestrovsky town. The apartment had no water or electricity supply, and the family had to cook food on a wood fire inside the house.
Despite these challenging circumstances, Maksim persevered, and when he joined Tikva, he found a safe and nurturing environment to grow up in. The yeshiva’s educational system provided him with the tools he needed to succeed, from kindergarten all the way up to university. Through hard work and dedication, Maksim emerged as a confident and accomplished young man, ready to take on the world.
Alla’s story is equally inspiring. She joined Tikva just six years ago, seeking refuge from the poverty and hardship that had plagued her family. With Tikva’s support, Alla flourished and went on to become a designer for a high-end Judaica company. When war broke out in her homeland, she was evacuated with the Tikva mishpacha to Romania.
It was in this safe and supportive environment that Maksim and Alla found each other. Their relationship blossomed amidst the challenges of war and the daily struggles of living in a foreign country. This week, the Tikva Family and many others were lucky to share in this couple’s beautiful wedding that was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Hazor’im Be’dimah, Be’rinah Yiktzoru
The nachas of witnessing these couples embark on building a new home is particularly rewarding as it comes at a time that Tikva will be relocating hundreds of refugees to a more stable environment in Bucharest, Romania. The complex in Bucharest, now under heavy renovation, will provide families with housing, schools, orphanages for boys and girls, supermarkets, pharmacies, and much more.
The resettlement of Ukrainian refugees in Bucharest is a step in the right direction and a symbol of hope for a better future, and now YOU can support this transformation!
Please contribute generously to our Charidy campaign by visiting: charidy.com/bringthemhome, or call 718-540-5736.
Tizku L’mitvos!
