November 16, 2008 / 18 Cheshvan 5769
 
While breaking bread together over a recent Shabbat eve dinner, soldiers on the Jewish Agency Keshet program, which helps reunite Lone Soldiers from the FSU with their parents, personally thanked the representatives from the Washington Federation for the wonderful opportunity that enabled them to be with their parents in Israel, while simultaneously allowing their parents a first-hand view of the State of Israel.

Lydia Miskovskaya, a mother of one of the soldiers who participated in the dinner is in the process of making aliyah to Israel thanks to such an opportunity.

The soldiers who were invited for the meal chatted individually and as a group with Washington Federation representatives, recounting their personal stories. Particularly poignant was the story of a soldier who had not seen his mother for five years. All the stories aroused intense emotion amongst participants at the event.

The moving encounter between donors and soldiers   served only to  strengthen the already  vibrant bond that exists between Keshet and the Washington Federation.