Dancing On: From Ukraine to Poland to Israel

After hiding in basements for a week, Valeria “Lera” Makieva fled Dnipro, Ukraine, with her young son; they eventually made their way to The Jewish Agency’s center in Warsaw, leaving her husband behind. A longtime dancer and dance teacher, when Lera got to the center, she volunteered to run a dance class for the kids to boost their spirits and keep them entertained.

Reflecting on her experience leaving Ukraine, Lera spoke of the shock of the war, the explosions she heard in the background while she was packing, and of the warm welcome she received at our center. She and her son recently made Aliyah and are living in Be’er Sheva.