With the help of Stephen Wise Temple and Schools, a plane full of of Ukrainian refugees has landed in Israel as part of United Hatzalah’s Operation Orange Wings.
At 2:17 p.m. (local time) on Thursday, 147 Ukrainian refugees boarded cars, busses, and vans as they departed United Hatzalah of Israel’s field hospital and command center in Kishinev, Moldova, headed for the airport.
They had fled their homes in haste, packing only what they could carry on their backs as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion decimated their country. They had found sanctuary across the border, a respite from the horrors of war. As they left that sanctuary, they clutched their only remaining belongings, preparing for yet another journey.
In partnership with Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New Jersey, Stephen Wise Temple and Schools raised over $250,000 in less than two weeks to help Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war, more than doubling the campaign’s initial goal. At the heart of that campaign was this flight, which landed at Ben Gurion Airport at 12:40 a.m. on April 1.
“I want to say ‘Thank you very much,’ for all who worked for us, who serve us like angels,” said Alex, an English-speaking refugee from Odessa.
The refugees—including 17 children, two infants, and four pets—made their way to Israel via United Hatzalah’s Operation Orange Wings. Across Israel, United Hatzalah provides free emergency medical aid to anybody in need, regardless of race, religion, or national origin. With the onset of the war in Ukraine, they extended their mission to those displaced by the Russian invasion. Through Operation Orange Wings, United Hatzalah scheduled charter flights from Israel to Moldova, carrying medics, medical supplies, and medical equipment for field hospitals in Moldova and Lviv, aiding all refugees fleeing the fighting. On the return flights, those same planes carried 150 refugees to safety in Israel.
This flight—which left Kishinev at 8:30 p.m. on March 31—was a modern-day Exodus: The 147 passengers had fled streets strewn with bodies and lined with bombed out buildings; they came on foot and in wheelchairs, some with walkers, others carrying children. As the plane touched down, they all broke into song—Hava Nagila—and waved Israeli flags. Many didn’t speak English or Hebrew, and if they did, only very little.
Yelena, a wheelchair-bound woman from Kyiv, used what little Hebrew she knew to express her thanks (translated): “Thank you. Thank you very much. I don’t understand Hebrew. I don’t speak Hebrew, but I want… Glory to Israel. Glory to Ukraine and glory to Israel. Thank you very much.”
Though these refugees are now safe, the war has not stopped, and neither will this effort. As of Friday morning, the campaign has raised over $254,000, and will continue on for as long as is needed. Money from the campaign has been used to send medicine and medical equipment to the Jewish communities in Ziev, Odessa, and Dnipro, as well as Chernihiv. Funds being donated to the campaign now will go toward funding a cargo plane from Israel to Slovakia, delivering kosher-for-Passover food to Jewish communities in Kishinev, Moldova, Bratislava, and Kosice in Slovakia, and Uzghorod in Ukraine. Become a part of this continuing effort, and donate today.
“The Eternal said to Abram: Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” — Genesis 12:1
About United Hatzalah of Israel: When emergencies occur all across Israel, United Hatzalah is there to respond, free of cost, no matter who is in need, regardless of religion, race, or national origin. Using specially-equipped motorcycle ambulances, United Hatzalah’s network of more than 6,000 volunteer medics help save thousands of lives each year by providing emergency medical treatment with an average response time of three minutes or less.
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- The United Hatzalah of Israel team from Operation Orange Wings prepares to leave Kishinev, Moldova, with a flight of Ukrainian refugees. The plane landed in Israel on March 31, 2022, thanks to the combined fundraising efforts of Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- An elderly Ukrainian refugee woman is helped to a wheelchair by United Hatzalah of Israel medics in Moldova on March 31, 2022. She was evacuated to Israel thanks to an effort sponsored by Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- Ukrainiain refugees are evacuated from Moldova by United Hatzalah of Israel on March 31, 2022, in an effort sponsored by Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- An elderly Ukrainian refugee woman is helped from a van by a United Hatzalah of Israel medic in Moldova on March 31, 2022. She was evacuated to Israel thanks to an effort sponsored by Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- Refugees from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine arrive at the airport in Kishinev, Moldova, for a flight to Israel on March 31, 2022. They landed safely in Israel thanks to the combined fundraising efforts of Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- Refugees from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine travel to the airport in Kishinev, Moldova, for a flight to Israel on March 31, 2022. They arrived safely in Israel thanks to the combined fundraising efforts of Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- An elderly Ukrainian refugee man is assisted by a United Hatzalah of Israel medic in Moldova on March 31, 2022. He was evacuated to Israel thanks to an effort sponsored by Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- Refugees from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine arrive at the airport in Kishinev, Moldova, for a flight to Israel on March 31, 2022. They arrived safely in Israel thanks to the combined fundraising efforts of Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- The team of United Hatzalah of Israel medics staffing the Operation Orange Wings flight from Moldova to Israel on March 31, 2022. The team evacuated Ukrainian refugees to Israel in an effort sponsored by Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- An elderly Ukrainian woman waves an Israeli flag as she arrives at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. She arrived on an Operation Orange Wings flight chartered by United Hatzalah of Israel, and sponsored by Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- Refugees from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel on March 31, 2022, thanks to the combined fundraising efforts of Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.
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- Svetlana and her daughter Maria arrive in Israel on March 31, 2022, after being evacuated on a United Hatzalah of Israel Operation Orange Wings flight sponsored by Stephen Wise Temple and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.