When my husband and I had been married for three years, we decided that it was time to have a sibling for our only child, who had just turned two. Time had passed and still we were unable to conceive another child. We began seeking medical advice from fertility specialists and our long saga of treatments and medical appointments began, but our quest remained fruitless for many years. We went here and there, to this doctor and then another who came highly recommended, and yet, there was no good news on the horizon. We began to despair as the time passed and we undertook different types of treatments, varying from the simplest to the newest and most elaborate, such as in vitro fertilization.

Though I was able to conceive, pregnancies had been terminated during the first weeks on various occasions due to unexpected failures. Still, the time went by, and we continued to pray and try to have another child, since we knew in our hearts that one day our efforts and dreams would come to fruition.

Liz and her physician holding new-born Alyn.

Fifteen years passed, and we were about to give up hope when I heard about a group called “Hatikvah.” True to its name, the organization offered us hope, fulfillment and emotional support. They also found us an apartment in Israel to continue treatments once more, and, thanks to Rabbi Shlomo Tawil and his words of encouragement, we continued to move forward with a renewed energy.

We were finally able to experience a true miracle: I was finally able to conceive and bring into the world a lovely girl

We met Professor Shlomo Mashiaj in Israel, who explained that the task at hand was quite simple and that an operation was needed to solve the problem. Could it be true at last? Another doctor? Just a simple operation and voilà? Surely this time would be different, since now we had “Hatikva,” the hope. They performed an operation on me and after a few months, we had an IVF procedure.

Thanks to the Almighty, to the Hatikva group and to so many people who prayed for us, we were able to experience a true miracle: I was finally able to conceive and bring into the world a lovely girl after sixteen long years of perseverance and never losing faith in G-d.

I currently represent the group Hatikva, and we have been able to assist couples bring 410 babies into the world, blessed be the Almighty and the many people who have helped us through their generosity and donations. These children have grown, and some are even beginning their own families. We continue to expand and to achieve even more because to hope with faith is the true meaning of Hatikva.

Liz holding her baby girl Alyn, pictured with Professor Shlomo Mashiaj.

Arturo Hop holding his baby sister Alyn for the first time.

Sometimes my connection to Israel seems like a miracle to me. I have neither a Jewish background nor family ties to the country, and I did not grow up in a Christian family with a particular religious connection to Israel.

When I started my bachelor´s degree in history,
we had to take courses in a language connected
to our study. For some reason I chose Biblical Hebrew – that´s probably the first miracle in the story. It fascinated me to learn a completely new alphabet and a language no one else I knew had ever learned. And what can I say? I really enjoyed it. So, I continued learning and studying Biblical Hebrew during my whole degree, but I didn´t stop there. For my master´s degree, I started, to learn Ivrit as well, and then finally took the decision to study a year abroad in Israel.

I was so nervous when I left for Israel, yet I felt at home from day one and this is truly a miracle to me.

From September 2012 until August 2013, I studied political science at the University of Haifa. This was my very first visit to Israel – and the longest I have ever stayed in a different country. I was so nervous when I left for Israel, yet I felt at home from day one and this is truly a miracle to me. I would never have expected this. But once I arrived, I just felt that I was in the right place. I enjoyed my time there so much and the hardest thing was to leave again.
Since then, I have visited Israel regularly and I can´t wait to go again.

Photo Credit: Xenia Menzl