- Welcome
- About Us
- Poland in Serious Need
It is estimated there are between five-hundred-thousand to one-and-a-half million survivors of the Holocaust still alive today. Each month about one percent of these people pass on. Too often, their last years have been spent in nearly the same conditions in which they survived in the camps. These who suffered so much, continue to suffer---don''t they deserve better? We can help ease their last years. We can do something to care for their daily needs, and that we are supporting them in tangible ways.
Currently, a fleet of trucks and vans take food, clothing, and other supplies around the area of Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and other countries of the former Soviet Union. There, local distribution centers give out much needed food, clothing, and medicine.
Chevra means friendship. Our goal is to help our people in their time of need.
As people in the west began to hear of our work, they began to help by sending food, clothing and medicine. Most of this help came from people in England, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland. As quickly as aid came in, the amount of people that approached us for help also increased.
Eventually, people in the United States and Canada began to send help, and others became part of the group of workers. We are actively involved in many countries, and go by different names in each country, as laws regarding humanitarian organizations vary from country to country.
Chevra is the American entity for our international effort. Some countries are "giving countries" while others are "receiving countries." We have been so blessed and are so rich in North America and we have the ability to do much to alleviate the suffering and needs of others.
We have been working with a group of Polish Jewish Veterans who were partisans during the war, fighting the Nazis. They made us aware of fifteen holocaust survivors in Poland who are in dire conditions and need us to supplement their income by $300 each. It would come to a total of $4,500 a month, funds we don''t have. We are making a special appeal for people to help these elderly survivors of the holocaust in Poland. If you can help with a one-time gift, or monthly, large or small, it would go a long way in helping these needy Jewish survivors, and we would be grateful. We are limited in what we can do, but we want to do everything we can.
(December 2011)
December 2011
Irek was with a group of young Polish Catholic and Protestant volunteers in Ukraine (photo 1). He writes:
In Kiev two Americans joined us and two people from Former Soviet Union; Dzhambul from Vladikaukas who is helping Jewish People in the Caucasus area and Sasha, a Messianic leader from Crimea. With such a mixed group of cultures, language, age, denomination, and background, we decided to come and serve Jewish Community in the city of Korsun.
We''ve been visiting the city of Uman and helping there. We met with the Jewish Community, visited the sick, helped with medicines, exchanged old and rotten beds for new ones, supporting people physically and spiritually.
We met with Ghetto and Holocaust survivors, and most of us were impressed by the testimonies they shared:
- ..During the German occupation in Uman, a large group of Jews were forcibly dragged into the basement with the help of the Germans and the local police. They connected hoses to the cars and sent exhaust fumes into the interior. Most of the Jews were gassed; however, there were a few people who survived.
- ..Maria (81years) - She was 12 years old at the time. She was miraculously pulled out of this oppression and secretly smuggled into the country, thanks to God and good people there who remembered her grandfather and honored him (photo 2).
- ..Evgenii (71 years) - He was two years old at that time; his family escaped. He still remembers this nightmare, though he was then a small baby (photo 3).
- ..Bela (71 years) - She was two years old when her parents managed to escape from certain death at the last minute (photo 4).
Today, most of these people live in poverty, forgotten, with pensions of 80 Euros per month.
- ..Raja and Evgenii - Evenii is a 47-year-old man who has a rare disease that is associated with withering and gangrene of his limbs. He has now had his legs and almost all his toes amputated. His wife Raja is his nurse and they have two teenagers. With one small salary and pension it is hard to survive, but Raja is full of optimism and she has hope in spite of this terrible disease through which her husband goes. We helped them with the purchase of a new bed; they were very grateful and surprised by us (photo 5).
- ..Frida - she is 80 years old. She is alone and is very sick. She had a complicated life; her husband was wounded in the head during the II World War and has had mental problems. Forced deportations caused problems from the beginning. She raised three daughters and her husband died early. Ailing elderly are in need of help every day (photo 6).
People were crying and were very thankful for help. We also prayed with them and brought words of compassion and comfort to them. These visits also changed our people; they came back home with the new perspective and desire to serve and share with the poor, especially to God''s beloved chosen nation.
We collected our money. Everyone paid for the trip and gave some money for us to offer for Jewish people, so we could do very good things for a Yeshua''s glory. I send you thanks in the name of Jewish holocaust survivors in Ukraine. I hope one day we go with you to Ukraine.
With Yeshua''s love,
Irek
