UJIA Women raise more than £50k for Ukrainian olim
Trustee Karen Goodkind says supporting those seeking refuge in Israel was a fitting way to mark the one-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine
A fundraising event by UJIA Women has raised more than £50,000 for the charity’s work assisting in the absorption of Ukrainian and Russian Jews into Israel following the Russian invasion.
The event at north west London’s Sorting Office saw 120 women come together for an evening of cocktails and conversation, compered by BBC DJ Gary Davies, with wellness experts Nicole Goodman and Lauren Mishcon of the ‘Self Care Club’ podcast.
With some 70,000 olim having arrived in Israel in the last year, the audience heard from 19-year old Illia Virshubskyi, who was an active member of the Tzofim youth movement in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine.
He escaped to Barcelona with his mother after the Russian invasion and arrived in Israel in October 2022 where, with UJIA support, he is now adapting to Israeli life.
Living in Nitzana, in the south of Israel, he is participating in the Selah learning programme and said: “I’m trying my best to keep in touch with my parents and other family members who are staying in Ukraine. I love sharing good news with them about my experiences in Israel – I know it gives them peace of mind to hear that I am doing well. I want to thank you and UJIA on behalf of all the Selah participants, for your love and support, and all you have done to ensure our safety and success in our new lives in Israel. We feel it every single day.”
Valentina Khomenko, the manager of absorption programmes for young adults at The Jewish Agency for Israel described the situation facing new olim and thanked UJIA women for their support: “Young people who have fled Ukraine are deeply challenged by separation from other members of their families who remained behind. – many suffer from trauma and post-trauma, of bombing, extended travel and journeying through harsh circumstances, hunger, and facing a completely unknown future.”
UJIA trustee Karen Goodkind said she was delighted with the turnout and the money raised: “It felt fitting to mark the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by raising funds to support those who, because of the war, have needed to find refuge in Israel.”
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