Lonely & Alone, Our Sister Masha

LONELY AND ALONE IN UKRAINE... OUR SISTER MASHA

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. 

Psalm 71:9

I would like to introduce you to Masha, an 84 year old Holocaust Survivor who our rescue team found suffering and all alone, while they were checking on one of her neighbours. This sweet sister immediately broke down crying, when she opened her front door and found our caring team standing there to check on her.  

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened the door to find a group of smiling warm faces staring at me”, says Masha. “It was like the flood gates opened up and my eyes were crying from pain, but also happiness at the same time. Someone was finally here to visit me! It had been months since I have spoken to anyone, and now, caring people were here at my doorstep”.

Masha is no stranger to suffering and pain. When she was just a little girl, World War 2 came to the Soviet Union while her mother was traveling. Her father was immediately called up to fight in the army, and was forced to bring Masha to an orphanage because her mother was retained at the border. Losing both of her parents in an instant was devastating for this baby and would go on to forever change her life.

“Living in the orphanage was really terrible,” says Masha. “It was always so cold and damp with little to no food to eat each day.”

When the Germans came into the village where the orphanage was situated, the director sent all of the Jewish children to live in a basement across the street. With tears rolling down her cheeks, Masha told us that they were locked up with rats all around them, and often suffered from bites on their little legs and feet.    

Many years after the war ended, Masha was finally reunited with her mother who informed her that her beloved father was killed while fighting. It was at that moment that Masha made the decision to dedicate her life to helping those who have suffered from immense pain in their lives. She lived up to that promise by working for a Jewish relief agency for years, until she was no longer able to walk on her own.

Because of your love, Masha is now in our Senior Care Program where we are providing her with healthy meals, medical services and the loving care and companionship that she so desperately needs to survive.

Challah Bread Recipe

Challah Bread recipe

My Family, once you try this enriched and sweet loaf, you will never want to eat regular bread again! It is delicious, and the leftovers make a lovely French toast too. 

You will need:

  • 4 cups strong white bread flour
  • 1/4 cup caster sugar
  • 2 teaspoons sachet fast-action dried yeast
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1/4 cup sunflower oil
  • 1tbsp poppy or sesame seeds (optional)
  • 1 cup lukewarm water


  • 500g strong white bread flour
  • 70g caster sugar
  • 2 teaspoons sachet fast-action dried yeast
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1/4 cup sunflower oil
  • 1tbsp poppy or sesame seeds (optional)
  • 200ml lukewarm water
  • STEP 1

Combine the yeast, a pinch of the sugar and a couple tablespoons of lukewarm water in a small bowl. Stir to dissolve the yeast, then leave for 10 mins until foamy.

  • STEP 2

Meanwhile, combine the flour, the remaining sugar and 2 tsp fine salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre, then add half the beaten egg, the yeast mixture and the oil. Pour in 1 cup (200ml) of lukewarm water (it should feel slightly warm to the touch) and stir with a spoon, then mix using one hand, keeping the other clean while you bring the dough together. If there are a lot of very dry bits, gradually add a little water to just bring it together – you don’t want it to get too wet and sticky. The dough should be moist, but not soggy.

  • STEP 3

Once the dough has come together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead using both hands for 10 mins until smooth and a bit springy. If it gets very sticky, add a very small amount of flour – as little as possible. A dough scraper is useful if the dough is sticking to the work surface. Stretch the sides of the dough down and pull together to form a ball. Lightly oil a bowl, then lightly roll the dough ball around the bowl so it’s coated in the oil. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm place for 1 hr, or until dough has doubled in size.

  • STEP 4

Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and divide into three equal pieces, weighing for accuracy, if you like. Roll each piece into a long sausage shape about 25cm long, tapering them slightly at both ends. Lay the pieces out in front of you, parallel to one another with a couple centimetres between each. Bring the sausages together at the top end, then plait them down the length, tucking in the ends when you reach the bottom. Carefully transfer the loaf to the prepared baking sheet and loosely cover with a clean tea towel. Leave to rise until puffy and billowy, about 40 mins.

  • STEP 5

Meanwhile, heat the oven to 400F (200C) Gently brush the rest of the beaten egg all over the challah, getting it into all the crevices, and sprinkle with the poppy or sesame seeds, if using. Bake on a middle shelf of the oven for 25-30 mins, until the loaf is golden brown underneath and sounds hollow when tapped. Check after about 15 mins – if the top of the loaf has started to get too dark, cover it with foil. Leave to cool, then serve.

Israeli Salad Recipe

Israeli salad recipe

This fresh Israeli Salad is always our favorite go-to dish whenever we are in The Holy Land! My Family, if you haven’t already, you must give this simple but tasty recipe a try at home. You will love it!

For the salad you will need:

  • Persian cucumbers (diced)
  • Tomatoes (seeded and diced)
  • 1/3 cup of minced onion (optional)

For the dressing:

  • 3 tbsp virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup fresh parsley

Mix all the ingredients together and enjoy!

Each ingredient in the salad not only tastes delicious but also has amazing health benefits. Fresh Persian cucumbers are fat-free, full of water, and a good source of fibre. Fresh tomatoes provide Vitamin C, A, and cancer fighting lycopene. Onions can lower blood sugar levels, and they’ve also been shown to help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Finally, fresh parsley and lemon juice contain a great source of vitamins and anti-oxidants. 

Emergency Aliyah Rescue

boris and maria

So there is hope for you in the future,” says the Lord. “Your children will return 

to their own Land.    Jeremiah 31:17

It was a very cold December evening in a small village in the Donetsk Region of Ukraine. Maria was standing in the kitchen staring at an empty refrigerator while listening to the distant and muffled sounds of explosions. A massive wave of anxiety began to consume her body as she broke out in a cold sweat. At that moment she began to cry uncontrollably and sunk down to the floor. Her husband Boris immediately rushed into the kitchen and said, “Maria! What happened my love? What is wrong? Are you hurt?” 

Maria looked up at Boris with tears rolling down her cheeks and said, “We have worked so hard and built our life in this town. We saved and bought this house which was our dream when we first married. Boris, I don’t know how much longer we can stay here. We are out of food, we don’t have electricity most days and I am afraid that we can be killed at any moment…”

Boris reached out his hands to his beloved wife and helped her up off of the kitchen floor. He held her tightly as she sobbed and whispered this into her ear. “My Maria, it is time for us to let go of our material processions, our house and most of all, this terrible war. We have already lost friends and I will not let us lose each other. It is time we make Aliyah.”

A few days later, Boris and Maria packed a few bags with their most important possessions. They then walked out of their front door holding each other’s hands, then turned around for a moment for one last look, and then boarded a bus that would take them to our Aliyah office just outside of Kiev.

I am so happy to tell you that with the help of our Aliyah co-ordinators, today Boris and Maria have made Aliyah! They are living in Be’er Sheva, Israel where they are studying the Hebrew language and getting their new flat into shape. What a blessing it that we could help bring this couple safely home to The Holy Land!

My family, we have so much more work to do as thousands of our Jewish brothers and sisters are suffering in life-threatening conditions. Let’s continue to work closely together in answering God’s calling to bless and bring them home to Israel, healthy and whole.

Kalaniot Children’s Home

KALANIOT CHILDREN’S HOME

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”  Mark 9:37

This horrific war in Ukraine continues to rip families apart, often leaving children like little Dima, severely traumatized and without a home to live in. 

Little Dima’s father had been suffering from a severe illness and died right before the fighting began. His mom Oksana, worked 18 hours a day to earn enough money for her and Dima to live on, but that all ended when fighting came to their area. Now, Oksana was unable to find employment and provide her son with the essentials that he needed to stay healthy and well. This poor woman was forced to make a choice that no mother should ever have to make. 

“I was dreading this day for months, but I knew that I had to do this for my son who I love with all of my heart”, says Oksana. “This morning I looked down at Dima sleeping, his tiny face was so peaceful and calm. Today, I was going to give up my son, so that he could live in a safe and secure home, eat healthy meals and live without the constant fear of where we would eat and sleep. I am crushed, devastated and feel like a failure, but I can’t let my little boy go hungry anymore…” 

We just brought Dima into our life-saving Kalaniot Children’s Home where he is beginning to deal with the pain and trauma that he is suffering so terribly from. Let’s together, embrace this sweet child and shower him with a safe and loving home, healthy meals, clothing and the rehabilitative services that he needs to rise up once again.