Aliyah - The process of Jewish emigration to Israel ("making Aliyah to Israel…"). Its Hebrew meaning translated is "going up" (as in Jerusalem).
Ashkenazi Jew - A Jew of European origin. Ashkenazi Jews often fled to areas such as Central Asia during pogroms and Second World War uprisings.
Bukharan Jew - A group of Jews that are found largely in Central Asia and are of Persian origin. The name is derived from a very old Jewish community that still exists today, Bukhara in Uzbekistan. EEF has worked amongst this very community which lives alongside Muslim mosques and neighbours.
Chesed - A Jewish charity that also works extensively across the fSU. The charity concentrates on establishing a centre for a local Jewish community and is usually supported with JOINT aid. Chesed ( meaning "Grace" in Hebrew) do a great work in looking after the needs of elderly Jews in particular.
CFI - Otherwise known as "Christian Friends of Israel." They largely assist Russian Jewish immigrants once they reach Israel, but they have representation across the world.
Committee of Repatriants - A non-Christian organisation that spreads word to the Jewish communities about Aliyah help, especially regarding EEF sailing information in Ukraine.
EEFI - Ebenezer Emergency Fund International, founded by Gustav Scheller in 1991
Eretz Israel - The Land of Israel
Ezra - A Christian "Aliyah" organisation working in the fSU assisting largely in areas of finance for Jewish passports and documents, but also in fishing and some transport.
Fisherman - Derived from Jeremiah 16:16, which speaks of men/women going out into the nations where God has scattered His Jewish people, and who will bring them back to Israel. The hunters mentioned thereafter are believed to refer to persecutors. The term Fisherman is used by most Christian "Aliyah" organisations.
fSU - former Soviet Union (the republics that were made independent from the Soviet Union in 1991-92)
Holocaust survivors - There are Jewish groups known as the Holocaust Survivors Organisation. These are Jews who have survived Ghettos, Concentration and death camps, and other brutalities that were common during the Second World War. Holocaust survivors from mainly the Ukraine and Moldova have a one off special privilege to take an EEFI sailing to or from Haifa free of charge so that they may have a glimpse of the Promised Land. EEFI volunteers are given rare opportunities to interview them.
Hunters - These are mentioned in Jeremiah 16 and it is interpreted as meaning those who will eventually come and begin to "force" Jews out of their hiding place and cause them to flee to Israel. Many Jews are reluctant to leave for Israel despite God’s warnings and so it is believed by some that the Lord will use anti-Jewish feeling to force them into a place of God’s refuge and subsequently bring them into the Lord’s purposes. Ezekiel 39 says that God will not leave any behind. This is likely to be a time of great exodus.
JA - Together, the Jewish Agency was instrumental in establishing the State of Israel and in building the country's human and physical infrastructure. The Jewish Agency helped found 900 rural communities, kibbutzim, moshavim and built through the Israel Education Fund 1400 capital projects including community centers, nursery schools, culture and sports facilities, and institutions of higher learning. The Jewish Agency brought close to 2.9 million Jews to live in Israel and helped them integrate, paying special attention to the poor and vulnerable. They reached out to Jews whenever and wherever they were in danger or distress.
The Government and the Jewish Agency signed a Covenant which specifically delineates the details of the Agency's status vis-a vis the government and which established a committee to coordinate operations between the two.
The Jewish Agency response to the needs of these Olim is expressed in six programmatic areas: Rescue and aliyah operations, reaching out and assisting Jews in their aliyah, experiencing Israel for potential olim, helping olim with special needs, introducing Hebrew language, Israeli culture and Jewish heritage to support absorption and enhance Jewish identity, and empowering olim.
JOINT - A well funded American Jewish charity that extensively funds humanitarian aid, including medical, to Jews throughout the fSU. They work closely with Chesed.
MIR - A Christian organization that provides transport for Olim to their point of departure
Olim — Hebrew word for Jewish people emigrating to Israel.
Repatriates - Jews that are preparing to make Aliyah or have made Aliyah.
Sochnut — Synonymous with the JA. A branch of the JA that has its offices located throughout the Former Soviet Union. Sochnut provides generally all the flights for Jews making Aliyah out of the fSU. Ebenezer works alongside Sochnut assisting Olim by transporting both them and their luggage to the airport for their departure on a Sochnut financed flight.
Streams in the Desert - A relatively new but greatly needed organization operating in Israel. They provide homes for elderly fSU Jews that would otherwise not be able to make Aliyah. Very often these Jews are without families and have no one to look after them in Israel. Based in Southampton in the UK Streams in the Desert is directed by Helen Mears who travels regularly to the fSU. EEFI is working with Streams in the Desert, encouraging old people to make Aliyah whilst on fishing trips.
WOL - Word of Life Church. From the Charismatic Swedish church branch founded by Ulf Eckman. WOL has established itself almost everywhere in the fSU and many of its fSU church members are subsequently working with EEFI. WOL puts great emphasis on the importance of Israel and Aliyah in the body of Christ.