I came to Israel in September 2009 to learn in Yeshivat Shvilei Hatorah. I was very excited to be attending Shvilei Hatorah because I knew that not only would I have the opportunity to learn Torah and see the country but I would also have the ability to volunteer in the community with a chessed project of my choice. I chose to volunteer as a Big Brother for ATZUM because I truly sympathized with the suffering of victims of terror and I felt a strong responsibility to help ease the hardship in any way possible. Also, having never had any younger siblings of my own, I wanted the chance to be a positive influence for someone in need of one. Keep Reading
How the Combination of Dreams, Motivation and Hard Work led to Success for one Survivor of Terror
Terror took her father and placed many challenges in her path, but her father was part of her motivation and her success will be a blessing to his memory.
Meet N, 33 years and an inspiration. At the age of 21, her father was murdered in a terror attack while at work outside Israel. At the time of his death, N was completing her army service. “I had a great childhood, but due to financial difficulties my father was forced to travel for work. When he was killed I was at loose ends and didn’t know what to do.”
N, a capable student, decided to go to university. As a Survivor of Terror she was entitled to a tuition grant from the National Insurance Institute. Because she was already 21 when her father was killed, she was not entitled to a living stipend. Therefore, while working odd jobs whenever possible, depending on bank loans to get from semester to semester, she studied psychology full-time.
Upon graduation, she took a job at a children’s home as a counselor, where four years later she continues to work part-time. With the help of several second jobs, working nights and summers, she saved enough tuition for her first year of a graduate school program in educational psychology.
N lives with family in Jerusalem; goes to school in Beer-Sheva; and works in Tel Aviv. Much of her studying is done on the bus. She is now in her last year of class work and has started researching her thesis. In September, she will begin a four-year internship. With your generous help ATZUM was privileged to assist N with her tuition this year.
I was deeply moved by N’s story and asked to meet her. I told her she has amazing courage and strength. I asked how she was able to do all this. Her answer was beautiful in its simplicity: “You have dreams, you have goals, and you sacrifice.”
ATZUM Organizes Gathering of Righteous Among the Nations

On Dec. 28th, ATZUM organized a luncheon for Righteous Among the Nations living in Northern Israel. The gathering was in lieu of the annual meeting of Righteous Among the Nations living in Israel, organized by the Tel Aviv municipality and Bank Leumi which many rescuers from the North had been unable to attend due to the distance and their failing health.
The luncheon was held at the Nagish cafe run by physically, emotionally and mentally disabled people. It is part of a social volunteer project organized by Righteous Among the Nations, Esther Boissevain-Grinberg.
The participants came from Haifa, Nazareth Illit, Tivon and Karmiel and
enjoyed a three course meal and the chance to visit with one another. Esther shared with the group the background of the cafe and the steps towards its establishment. ATZUM’s Russian speaking field worker, Raya, translated Esther’s address, as well as the opening and closing remarks, into Russian for the rescuers that do not understand Hebrew.
It was a wonderful gathering – bringing together honorable, remarkable people in a very special setting.
The Human Spirit: Lunch with the Righteous
Jerusalem Post
January 7, 2010
By Barbara Sofer
On the patio of Nagish Café, a blind man is drinking coffee with a friend who has arrived in an electric wheelchair. Inside, I’m having lunch with the Righteous Among the Nations, a group of women who all risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. We’re in Ramat Yishai, a small town in the Jezreel Valley, emerald green this winter from abundant rain.
Righteous Among the Nations..
Over the past weeks, the probability that we will need to release so many of our malevolent enemies to free Gilad Schalit has weighed heavy on us. In addition, I’ve just finished reading Operation Last Chance, Ephraim Zuroff’s biographical account of his work as a Nazi hunter. Despite the worthy cause, too often mass murderers of our people have succeeded in living out their lives without having to face justice.
In contrast to those evil persons, I am privileged to be surrounded by these living examples of righteousness and valor. A voluntary organization called ATZUM has initiated the gathering. Officially recognized Righteous Among the Nations are entitled to citizenship in Israel. Over the decades since World War II, 100 rescuers have taken advantage of this right and have moved here. Many have passed away, but currently the country is home to a surviving 29 rescuers and nine widow/ers of surviving rescuers. They were youngsters when their parents stood against the tide of anti-Semitism, risking their children to save strangers. [Read more...]
Announcing ATZUM’s Abe and Gert Nutkis Scholarship Fund
We wish to bring to your attention ATZUM’s Abe and Gert Nutkis Scholarship Fund for study in Israel. Applications are currently being considered for students planning to study in Israel during the academic year 2010-2011. Students who receive a scholarship will be required to volunteer during their year in Israel as part of an ATZUM project or with an ATZUM approved project. Further guidelines can be found:
Anton Polischuk ז”ל
We are deeply saddened to inform you that Anton Polischuk, grandson of Righteous Among the Nations Viktor Polischuk’s, passed away July 7th at Hadassah Ein-Kerem in Yerushalayim. Over the past few weeks Anton’s condition deteriorated drastically despite Hadassah staff’s untiring, wonderfully directed and remarkably devoted efforts to restore Anton’s remission to enable a bone marrow transplant. The aggressive return of his cancer was uncontainable and Sunday Anton knew his death was approaching.
After fighting so hard for many years and especially the last five months he was able to find the final strength and courage to say goodbye to his fiancé and mother at his bedside. They are returning home to Ukraine with his body and ATZUM has arranged that final journey for Anton.
We wish to express our gratitude to those who generously contributed to this struggle to try to save Anton’s life. His unanticipated five month hospitalization and surgeries, intensive care treatments and chemotherapies were made possible by your caring. By so doing you honored the last wish of his heroic Righteous Rescuer grandfather; afforded his family the assurance they did all possible for their only child; brought support to his fiancé; and allowed Hadassah to gain crucial experience with a course of treatment that may well help save the life of a bone marrow transplant patient in the future.
Update on the Condition of Anton Polischuk
ATZUM is deeply grateful for the generous contributions we have received to date to assist our efforts in trying to save the life of Anton Polischuk, grandson of Righteous Among the Nations, Viktor Polischuk. ATZUM has raised $69,760 of the $97,000 required for Anton’s medical costs.
Anton is in treatment at Hadassah Hospital, Ein-Kerem in Jerusalem. After an extensive search worldwide, a suitable bone marrow match and willing donor were located. Unfortunately, in the interim Anton’s leukemia unexpectedly returned. Hadassah’s hematology and bone marrow transplant departments are making valiant efforts to restore his remission and then proceed with the bone marrow transplant. Together with you we pray for Anton’s speedy recovery.
4 Days Left to Buy Tickets for NY Fundraising Concert
On May 21st, the Conservative Synagogue of Fifth Ave. will host a benefit concert for ATZUM. The concert features the virtuoso klezmer and jazz musician, Andy Statman.
There is one week left to purchase tickets. This is an opportunity to hear the renowned klezmer and eclectic musician, Andy Statman, in a very intimate setting and support ATZUM’s Roberta Project for Survivors of Terror which assists victims of terror in Israel. If you can’t attend personally, please consider buying a ticket to be left at the door for students or others who couldn’t afford to attend.
To purchase tickets send an email to: statmanconcert@gmail.com
Ticket prices are:
Program Sponsor $720 4 tickets and designation in program
Double Chai $360 2 tickets and designation in program
Chai $180 $180 1 ticket and designation in program
Donor $ 72
Synagogue Member $ 54
For more information, please see: ATZUM Benefit Concert.
Israel Memorial Day Program with Dallas Yavneh Academy Students
On the eve of the most difficult day on the Israel calendar, Israel memorial day, ATZUM shared a meaningful morning with Dallas’ Yavneh Academy student delegation to the March of the Living. Rabbi Levi Lauer spoke about our commitment as Jews to fulfill the mitzva of memory in honoring those who sacrificed everything that we might live with sovereign dignity. An extended and thoughtful discussion ensued.
Two Israeli terror victims K, 17 and A 27, joined the session and shared their experiences of the terror attack they survived. They spoke with great candor to the students about their struggle for recovery and the group asked about their commitment to Israel, their frustrations and their hopes for the future.
In addition we were privileged to have high school and one year program students volunteering with ATZUM, speak to the group about their weekly work with families effected by terror. Before leaving, each of the Dallas students made beautiful occasion cards to be send to families on the yahrtzeit of a murdered family member or before holidays when loved ones are painfully missed.
We thank the participants from the Dallas Yavneh Academy for making this session a priority of their visit and for caring so deeply.
People-Trafficking Gang Uncovered
ATZUM’s Task Force on Human Trafficking has worked for years in cooperation with the Israel police in an effort to arrest and prosecute slavers and traffickers and to close the brothels and discreet apartments where trafficked women are enslaved. As a result of our efforts, the largest ever people-trafficking ring in Israel was recently uncovered. Twelve members of the gang were arrested by police in Tel Aviv on March 8th following a two-year undercover operation.
The suspected traffickers are accused of smuggling hundreds of women from the former Soviet Union into Israel to work in the sex industry.
Visit the TFHT website to read the full report, People-trafficking gang uncovered.




