One month after arriving in Israel, Valeri and Tamara found something far greater than a new home.
A retired naval captain from Belarus, Valeri had always considered himself an atheist. He was a man shaped by discipline, responsibility, and years spent in the military. Faith belonged to other people. God was never part of his story. Yet there he sat in a small home group in Israel, overcome by an emotion he could not explain and touched by a love he had never known before.
Only one month earlier, Valeri and his wife Tamara had arrived in Israel as Jewish new immigrants from Belarus. Like so many olim, they were adjusting to an entirely new chapter of life—a new country, a new language, new surroundings, and all the challenges that come with starting over. They came seeking a new beginning, but neither of them imagined that God Himself was preparing the greatest new beginning of all.
Not long after arriving, they met another Jewish couple from Belarus, Elena and Alex, who had become part of our Beit Hallel family. As their friendship grew, Alex and Elena invited them to join one of our home group gatherings. What seemed like a simple invitation between friends would become a life-changing encounter with God.
That evening, Valeri and Tamara listened as people shared their testimonies and spoke about what Yeshua had done in their lives. They heard stories of forgiveness, restoration, answered prayers, and transformed hearts. They listened to the Word of God and witnessed the genuine faith and joy of those gathered around them. As the evening unfolded, something began stirring deep within both of their hearts.
For Valeri, the moment was especially profound.
The lifelong atheist who had spent years relying only on himself suddenly found himself face to face with the reality of God’s love. The walls that had stood around his heart for decades began to crumble. Overwhelmed by the presence of God, he began to cry—not from sadness, but from encountering a love that was real, personal, and impossible to ignore.
Together, Valeri and Tamara made the decision to give their lives to Yeshua. With sincere hearts they repented, received Him as Lord and Savior, and began a brand-new journey of faith.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
Soon afterward, they joined us for a congregational service and experienced the warmth of the wider Beit Hallel family. They also traveled to Jerusalem for the very first time, walking through the city they had only known from history books and news reports. What had begun as a physical journey from Belarus to Israel was becoming a spiritual journey into an entirely new life with God.
Watching their story unfold reminded us once again that God is continually drawing hungry hearts to Himself. He sees the questions people carry, the disappointments they hide, and the spiritual hunger that often remains beneath the surface. When hearts are open, He faithfully reveals Himself.
Stories like this remind us that Aliyah is often about much more than a physical journey.
Every month, men and women arrive in Israel carrying hopes, fears, questions, and unseen burdens. Through simple friendships, home groups, personal discipleship, and genuine relationships, we continue witnessing God transform lives in remarkable ways. What began with one invitation from friends became the beginning of eternal transformation.
Thank you for standing with us as we continue reaching new immigrants and sharing the hope of Yeshua throughout Israel. Because of your prayers, encouragement, and faithful support, more doors remain open, more friendships are formed, and more lives are being changed by the love of God. And somewhere today, another person may be only one invitation away from meeting the Savior.
