Some 243 Ukrainan Olim [immigrants] landed in Israel in honor of the late Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein on Monday.
This is the first flight to land since Eckstein's sudden death of a heart attack in early February.Eckstein was the founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), an organization that raised huge sums of money for Israel and Jews in the Diaspora.
"We at the IFCJ are doing everything possible to give everyone the best possible solution for them to start a new and safe life in Israel," Yael Eckstein, the rabbi's daughter and the new President of IFCJ, said. "Which was, and still is, the home of everyone who belongs to the Jewish people."
This flight was in memory of Eckstein and the work he and his organization has done for immigrants coming from places like the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia and India.
"I thank the foundation for all the assistance, I knew about Rabbi Eckstein's activities and its importance even before I turned to the organization. Unfortunately I cannot thank him personally," said Taisia Borova, a 25-year-old, who immigrated to Israel on the flight."This is really helpful to Jews during their immigration process to Israel. When help comes from the heart, success is guaranteed."
This is Borova's second time in Israel. After she came last year, she could not stop thinking about Israel and was able to immigrate because of IFCJ's financial help.
"Rabbi Eckstein did an admirable job and helped hundreds of people every month to immigrate, bringing thousands of Jews to Israel," another immigrant, Andrei Tiriev, said.
Immigrants on the flight were from Kiev, Odessa, Kharkov and Kropyvnytskyi. Many of them plan to settle in Haifa, Ashdod, Netnaya, Rishon Lezion and Rehovot.
IFCJ has helped some 750,000 immigrants move to Israel.