"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you prosper..."‍

This past month, we celebrated Passover, and more recently, the nation commemorated the state of Israel's 75th Independence Day, an exciting and meaningful milestone for Jews and the world! We had the great joy of supporting two exceptional organizations during the holiday season, benefiting lone soldiers in Israel and a children's village serving orphans and at-risk youth.

PASSOVER FOOD FOR CHILDREN'S VILLAGE

We blessed the Ohr Simcha Children's Village with a large food donation to help provide for their Passover Seder meals, assisting several families and children. They shared with us:

"The vegetables you donated were distributed among the families of orphans at our campus, and they brought joy and nourishment to those in need. Your generosity has helped us provide nutritious meals and promote a sense of community during this special holiday season. We are truly thankful for your thoughtfulness and commitment to making a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate."

Some of the families assisted by this donation are:

• The *Michaeli family, who recently lost their primary breadwinner due to an unfortunate accident, struggled to make ends meet. The fresh vegetables provided by The Joseph Project allowed them to prepare a wholesome Passover meal, which brought comfort and a sense of normalcy during this difficult time.

• The *Aronov family, consisting of a single mother and her three young children, were overjoyed to receive the donated vegetables. The mother, who works multiple jobs to provide for her family, expressed her gratitude for the fresh produce, which helped her create a healthy and delicious Passover meal for her children, bringing smiles to their faces.

• The *Kolesnik family, who recently moved to Israel after fleeing the war in Ukraine, were touched by the generosity of The Joseph Project. The fresh vegetables provided them with a sense of security and stability during the Passover holiday as they continue to rebuild their lives and create a safe environment for their children.

(* Names have been changed in order to respect and protect the privacy of these individuals.)

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink..."

PASSOVER SEDER FOR LONE SOLDIERS

Lone soldiers hold a special place in our hearts, and we have tremendous respect for the sacrifice they make serving without the support system of family. Many are young adults who have moved to Israel on their own to serve in the IDF, and some are Israelis who, for various reasons, have no family support system to come home to. For many years, it has been our practice at Joseph Project to honor and bless lone soldiers when we can, including during the major holidays, when a lack of family is more acutely felt.This Pesach, we teamed up with a partner organization to host a festive Seder meal for 60 soldiers (although some combat soldiers were called away during the dinner due to the ongoing security tensions). A joyful evening was had by all, filled with many beloved Passover traditions and songs, delicious food, good company, and lots of fun goodies for the soldiers that we donated for the occasion to bless them in a meaningful and practical way and remind them that they are remembered and appreciated (including mobile chargers, hygiene supplies, clothing, shoes, bedding, tactical eyewear, and more.)

Pictured: (L) the festive spread for the Passover Seder, (R) some of the gifts we provided for the lone soldiers.One of the young women in attendance shared with us that, having come from a very traumatic and abusive family background, this was the first Pesach Seder she could truly enjoy and feel comfortable in! What a privilege to help facilitate this redemptive experience for this lone soldier, and thank you for your support which helps make these opportunities to bless others possible!

SPECIAL UPDATE:  SUMMIT IN UKRAINE & ASSISTING CHILDREN'S HOMES IN KYIV

During the holiday season, our Logistics Manager, Michael, had a special opportunity to represent Joseph Project on a humanitarian mission to Ukraine. As you know, Ukraine has been a focus of our assistance efforts, particularly in supporting refugees fleeing the conflict and those immigrating to Israel. Michael attended an international conference addressing the immediate and future needs of Ukrainian civilians affected by the war.

Pictured: (L) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking at the International Summit of Cities and Regions.

(R) Michael, our Logistics Manager, representing Joseph Project at the Summit.

During his time in Ukraine, Michael also had the privilege of connecting with two extraordinary individuals, Natalya and Sasha, who run group homes for orphans and children living on the streets in Kyiv.

Natalya's journey into orphan care is truly remarkable. After experiencing a near-death encounter on the operating table, she emerged with a renewed sense of purpose. Natalya and Sasha, driven by their deep commitment to making a difference, started reaching out to homeless youth and children with drug-addicted parents in Kyiv.

During his time in Ukraine, Michael also had the privilege of connecting with two extraordinary individuals, Natalya and Sasha, who run group homes for orphans and children living on the streets in Kyiv.

Natalya's journey into orphan care is truly remarkable. After experiencing a near-death encounter on the operating table, she emerged with a renewed sense of purpose. Natalya and Sasha, driven by their deep commitment to making a difference, started reaching out to homeless youth and children with drug-addicted parents in Kyiv.

Although the children would receive kindness, care, and hot meals during their outreach, the children would afterward return "home," and it soon became painfully apparent that for many of these children, that meant going back to unsafe and abusive homes with drug-addicted parents or shacks under the bridge for homeless children where they were often subjected to wretched living conditions and often forced to work as thieves for criminal gangs. Sadly, the orphanages in Ukraine are known for their terrible conditions - years of governmental corruption have left them with little resources to actually care for the children, and disturbing cases of child trafficking through the orphanages have come to light in recent years. The war in Ukraine has only exacerbated the orphan crisis, creating a troubling rise in orphans and even fewer resources and governmental oversight to care for these vulnerable children properly.

Motivated by compassion, Natalya and Sasha made the courageous decision to create a safe haven for these children themselves. They secured two separate apartments, one for girls overseen by Natalya and another for boys managed by a dedicated individual from their congregation. Currently, they care for around 20 children, ranging in age, ensuring they receive the warmth, love, and security they deserve.

Due to their challenging backgrounds, many of these children initially lacked basic literacy, education, and social skills. However, with the help of a compassionate school principal, all the children were enrolled together in a local school, where they are flourishing within a supportive community. During his visit, Michael was deeply moved by the resilient and gracious spirits of the children. Despite the hardships they have endured, they spoke fondly of their biological parents, recognizing the gift of life they received from them. Some children even maintain contact with their drug-addicted parents, providing them with food and maintaining a connection.

During his trip to Ukraine, Michael purchased much-needed kitchen appliances, cookware, hygienic and cleaning supplies, and a substantial amount of food for both children's homes on behalf of Joseph Project. These homes are self-funded by Sasha and Natalya, so any assistance we can provide significantly eases their financial burden. We realize this is but a drop in the ocean that is the orphan crisis in Ukraine, but when faced with the opportunity to help these 20 children, even in a small way, the answer was clear as day. The Jewish proverb says, "Whoever saves a life saves the world."