Only four Aliyah Bet (illegal immigration) ships departed from Greece to the Land of Israel. One of them was the Haviva Reik, whose story is woven throughout this website, along with the personal stories of its passengers
These individuals, whose inner strength saved them from the horrors of the Nazi regime during World War II, were once again tested as they faced hardships in their attempt to reach the Promised Land. The British had sealed the gates of Palestine, and the immigrants’ powerful will was put to the test once more.
The goal of this website is to tell the unique personal stories of the ship’s passengers, each one individually—not merely the historical tale of the ship itself. While we aimed to make all relevant information about the immigrants accessible in the best and most user-friendly way, regrettably, we possess documentation for only part of the passengers.
The material presented here was collected with great effort and has been shared with the kind permission of the immigrants themselves, their families, and with the consent of the researchers. Special thanks go to Hana Aizik (née Cassorla), the site's director and lead researcher.
We would also like to thank the staff of Yad Vashem Archives, who granted permission to publish testimonies and documents from the museum’s holdings. Our gratitude also goes to the Haganah Museum, which approved the publication of additional material related to the ship.
Further documentation was received from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and the Arolsen Archives in Germany—many thanks to those institutions as well.
A heartfelt and special thank-you goes to the Center for the Heritage of Greek Jewry in Petah Tikva, named after Leon Recanati (1890–1945). This website could not have been created without their generous support.
Their support ended in November 2024, but our sincere gratitude and deep appreciation remain for the invaluable contribution of the Center for the Heritage of the Jews of Thessaloniki and Greece.
The Association for the Commemoration of Illegal Immigrants "Haviva Reich"
580817831 "Haviva Reich"
reichhaviva@gmail.com
Greetings,
We, a group of second and third generation immigrants from the Haviva Reich ship, have established a new association.
The Association for the Commemoration of Illegal Immigrants from the Haviva Reich ship, with the aim of honoring and perpetuating the memory and work of the 463 Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Israel on this ship.
The association works to commemorate, document and preserve the memory of the dear illegal immigrants – out of a deep commitment to passing on their stories to future generations. Our main goal is to make available the existing information about each of the illegal immigrants: documents, photos, testimonies and interviews, alongside their life stories – before, during and after the immigration.
During our activities, we collaborate with leading institutions – including Yad Vashem, the Hagana Museum and the AROLSEN ARCHIVES in Germany, as well as with and the families of the illegal immigrants themselves.
We are working to develop and expand the existing website, with the intention of serving as an active and accessible information center as part of our vision – and making the story of the illegal immigrants accessible to the general public. We are also open to collaborations with academic institutions and researchers in order to expand the activity and conduct in-depth research in the field.
We invite the public, researchers and families of the illegal immigrants to join us – to take part in the activity and be partners in making this rare memory accessible for their sake and for the sake of history so that it will not be forgotten.
We would be happy for support and donations for the ongoing maintenance of the website, which includes:
1. Annual payment for storing the material.
2. Upgrades and expansions on the website.
3. Salary for the maintenance and operation of the website.
You can contact us through the "Contact Us" page on the website for more details on ways to donate –
And thanks in advance to the generous donors.
| BANK NAME | ISRAEL DISCOUNT BANK LTD |
| BRANCH NUMBER | 506 |
| BRANCH NAME | MAARAV RISHON LEZION |
| BIC CODE | IDBLILITXXX |
| NUMBER IBAN (23 Digits) | IL710115060000251938583 |
| CURRENCY OF THE ACCOUNT | NEW ISRAELI SHEKEL |
| BEBEFICIARY'S NAME | ASSOCIATION FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF HOLOCAUST AURVIVORS WHO |
עמותת חביבה רייך
מס' עמותה: 580817831
אתר: havivareick.org.il | דוא"ל: info@havivareick.org.il
פרטי חשבון בנק לתרומות:
בנק דיסקונט – 11
סניף – 506 מערב ראשון לציון
מספר חשבון – 251938583
שם המוטב – עמותת חביבה רייך
| BANK NAME | ISRAEL DISCOUNT BANK LTD |
| BRANCH NUMBER | 506 |
| BRANCH NAME | MAARAV RISHON LEZION |
| BIC CODE | IDBLILITXXX |
| NUMBER IBAN (23 Digits) | IL710115060000251938583 |
| CURRENCY OF THE ACCOUNT | NEW ISRAELI SHEKEL |
| BEBEFICIARY'S NAME | ASSOCIATION FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF HOLOCAUST AURVIVORS WHO |
אם ברצונכם לתרום לעמותת חביבה רייק בדרך אחרת, אנא מלאו את הטופס ואנו נחזור אליכם בהקדם לביצוע התרומה.
