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Back in Moldova, Dr. Irena Zemchugov, a physician specializing in family medicine, saw no future for her 11-year old son Zhenya. They immigrated to Israel from Moldova less than two months ago. | "I have wanted to make aliyah for many years," said Dr. Irina Zemchugov. "But frankly I was scared to make the move alone with my son. Being part of this program and this group made me feel more secure."
Dr. Zemchugov, 39, immigrated to Israel with her 11 year-old son Zhenya in late February along with nine other one-parent families from the Republic of Moldova in the former Soviet Union. The mothers and their children are living at the Jewish Agency's Absorption Center in Karmiel. They are participating in a new Jewish Agency pilot program designed to enhance their absorption, and are being given special assistance by the United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh's Jewish community is involved in a trilateral relationship with Israel's Karmiel-Misgav region and the Moldovan Jewish community.
"This is a pilot project," explained Marcie Lang, Israel Coordinator for the United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh, "and we have been pleased to lend a helping hand for the aliyah of these deserving families. We hope for a successful absorption for everyone and that, as a result, other federations will pick up on this project."
Dr. Zemchugov said that she had heard many good things about Israel and has not been disappointed in her first weeks in the country. "After all, this is my homeland," she asserted, "and I am already beginning to feel at home here."
A graduate of Moldova State University Medical School, she hopes to continue practicing family medicine in Israel. "The economic situation in Moldova is very difficult," she said, "and I saw no future for my son there. After just two weeks in Israel I already know that he has a much brighter future here."
Ziona Eisenstein, director of the Karmiel Absorption Center, described the Moldovan newcomers as a very strong group.
"Jewish Agency officials spent considerable time helping the participants with their pre-aliyah preparation and orientation," she said. "They were chosen from among 30 candidates. Most of them are university graduates. They are strong and determined and have bonded well as a group. This means that -- above and beyond the help that the Jewish Agency can give them -- they will be able to support each other after they leave the Absorption Center."
Ina Hudis, 36, and her son Edouard, 13, are also participants in the program. Ina's husband Sasha wanted to emigrate to Germany, while Ina had set her heart on Israel. The difference of opinion reflected other irreconcilable disagreements and the couple went their separate ways.
"It meant that we could finally come to Israel," said Hudis, who speaks Hebrew, having twice taken courses in Israel - a course in Occupational Therapy at Shaare Zedek Hospital in 1998 and a course in Jewish identity at Kibbutz Ein Tzurim near Ashkelon last summer. An occupational therapist and speech therapist, Hudis is a graduate of Moldova State University's Nursing School.
"This is home," she stressed. "To be honest, in the days of the Soviet Union I hardly knew I was Jewish. The only outward sign I remember was a Passover meal each year put together by my grandparents. But since the collapse of the Soviet regime, I have learned so much about our religion and history."
Edouard, who attended the Jewish day school in Kishniev, also speaks Hebrew. "I love my new school," he said. "They gave me a warm reception and I already have lots of new friends."
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Zelda Mester, a railway engineer, hopes to find employment in her field. She and her 10-year old daughter Kira are participating in the Jewish Agency's single-parent family enhanced absorption project in Karmiel. |
Zelda Mester, 47, who made aliyah with her 10 year-old daughter Kira, had also wanted to immigrate to Israel since visiting the country in 1996. She was unable to do so because she had to look after her ailing mother, who recently passed away. A railway engineer, Mester has heard that the railways in Israel are undergoing major expansion and hopes to find employment in that field.
"The economic situation is very bad in Kishniev now," she observed. "So we're not especially bothered by the renewed problems with the Palestinians. We have had our wars in Moldova and there is a lot of crime there. We are used to violence."
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Inga Drogomiretzky, an elementary school teacher and an artist, came to Israel with her daughter Ola, 12, and her son Roman, 11. "I always dreamed that one day I would live in Israel," she said. |
Inga Drogomiretzky, 32, from Belz came to Israel with her daughter Ola, 12 and her son Roman, 11. An elementary school teacher and graduate of the Belz school of Education, she is also an artist specializing in painting scenery for the theater.
"I just want to lead a normal life," she said. "I know there is a problem with terrorism here but the violent crime and ethnic wars in Moldova are worse."
"I always wanted to come to Israel," she added. "When I was a small child my grandmother would speak about Israel as the promised land - as our land. I always dreamed that one day I would live in Israel."
When the single parent families have completed their five-month Hebrew language ulpan, they will then be found apartments and offered courses in English, math and computers prior to the necessary professional retraining or updating of their skills that they will need to undergo.
"They will not be alone," emphasized Yael Reich, Partnership 2000 manager for Pittsburgh/Karmiel-Misgav. "Even after they leave the Absorption Center we will continue helping them." Credits: Photos by Douglas Guthrie |