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our may, 2001 trip to Israel August, 2001 Dear Friend: In May, we traveled to Israel to help some of the Beta Yisrael (Ethiopian Jews) who had made Aliyah. We're very thankful to God that about 20 people received significant financial aid to help them get over their most pressing hardships. I'll share a few of their stories: –– Helping a Widow in Israel "When I approached Asegedech, who is raising her 4 children alone, a sadness surrounded her." Of course, this is understandable since her husband, Yerga, died less than 10 months ago from a cancer that slowed killed him over the last five years. While relieved that her husband's suffering had ended, Asegedech has been almost overwhelmed by the challenge of being both a mother and father to her two boys (age 4 and 7) and 2 girls (age 10 and 12). The Winer Foundation had the great privilege of helping this family with $1000.00 to almost totally wipe clean their entire bank debt caused by Yerga's illness. "I saw her sadness melt into joy and deep satisfaction after she received our gift." To Asegedech, the gift was much more than money. What seemed to touch her most was the realization that others, who never met her, cared enough to help her. She also greatly appreciated the spiritual help we provided her. Here's her thanks to all of you who helped through donations and prayer, "My God sent you like an angel to redeem my family from our debt. I thank you and the God of Yisrael. May He bless you. Please don't forget us." –– Helping a Young Mother Raise Her Two Children Alone in Israel Felku is another woman raising her children alone in Israel. She is the mother of 2 daughters, ages 5 and 7. Unlike Asegedech, Felku has a husband, but since 1999, he's been trapped in Gondar, in northern Ethiopia. Since 1991's Operation Solomon this sort of problem is not uncommon. After Israel accepted almost 15,000 Jews into Israel under Operation Solomon, the government's official position has been that there were no more Jews left in Ethiopia. The trickle of immigration that has occurred since then has been restricted to those who received direct sponsorship from a parent, grandparent, or first-order relative in Israel. Since Felku's husband has no direct relations in Israel, her 1999 sponsorship to Israel only covered her and her two children. She reluctantly left her husband in Ethiopia only because she believed the government would send for him after she became an Israeli citizen. However, once settled in Israel, she found that no one would help her. Beside the emotional grief of separation from her husband, Felku has had great difficulty adapting to Israeli culture and learning Hebrew. Economically, she and her family live significantly below the poverty line. They're still in the same run-down trailer they were after arriving in Israel in 1999. Each month she falls deeper into debt, as her monthly government stipend isn't enough to pay her expenses. We helped her with $500.00 to buy clothing and food for her family. –– Winer Foundation Sponsors the Gedamu Family in the USA As many of you know Kokeb Gedamu, his wife, Menalu, and 3 children have been in Canada since 1999 sponsored by the Winer Foundation. Kokeb continued his studies there and worked with us in Ethiopia and Israel. Both Kokeb (degree in Biblical studies) and Menalu (diploma in hair styling) graduated from school with high honors. In September, the family moves to Philadelphia to expand and continue their work among Beta Yisrael and Ethiopian community. Kokeb will travel to Israel, Ethiopia, and throughout the US and Canada to bless, encourage, and help the needy. The children be studying at a Messianic Jewish school and improving their tri-lingual language skills (Amharic, Hebrew, and English). Menalu's plan is to work, continue her education, and eventually to train up other Beta Yisrael women in similar trades in Israel. –– We Need Your Help The Winer Foundation continues to help needy Beta Yisrael in Ethiopia and Israel. We will not forget them. Our medical partnership with the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia is also providing blessing to doctors so that they can help the myriads we cannot reach. We're excited about the Gedamu family and know that their help will result in an expansion of our work to bless others.
We thank you our partners for your prayer and financial gifts. Without you we cannot fulfill the work God has called us to do. Every gift for Beta Yisrael is appreciated.
May the Lord bless you abundantly from Zion,
Robert Winer, M.D. P.P.S. I'd like to you to get to know me
better by giving you a gift. Drop me a note in the return envelope
and I'll send you my book, "Ten Commandments for Success:
Unlocking Principles of Prosperous Personal, Business, and Family
Living from the Life of Moses." if you need any further information, contact us:
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