Mickael and Agnes M from Paris

We have been considering making Aliyah for 21 years. We have received the love of Israel since our childhood from our parents.  We have made several plans that we did not realize. 4 of our children went up after the baccalaureate with the masa programs, did their studies. It was very difficult to be separated from our children. This year was particularly difficult because our son, Hayal, found himself serving since the beginning of the war. In addition to the worry, being far away was particularly difficult even if we were very proud of him. We took very expensive tickets for his first leave. But we were very sad not to be able to welcome him and take care of him on the other rare and short leaves. Also, since October 7, our desire to make aliyah has become more pressing. The rise of anti-Semitism has also reinforced our decision that it was time to go.  It was particularly moving to make our aliyah with two of our children – Benny and Audelia - to join our family and especially to take our Hayal in our arms, who miraculously escaped sniper fire from Hamas in Gaza.

Once in Israel we hope to integrate, master Hebrew and feel happy.  The hardest thing is to leave our equilibrium, our home, our friends and our community.

We did not suffer discrimination in France, but we felt more and more that Jews, and especially our children, have and will have less and less of a place in France. 

Ezra helped us financially by paying for the ulpan, the tax stamps for the passports, the taxi to the airport. We also received human warmth and the feeling of being helped and not being alone in the face of this big step.

We would like to thank Ezra's sponsors for their precious support, their warmth and encourage them to continue because many Jews around us would like to make Aliyah but they lack the courage, and a helping hand would help them.