Plant to Remember. Plant for Hope. Plant for Justice.
Have you ever visited a Holocaust museum or read stories about this tragedy and been left speechless? Have you found yourself unable to process the heinous crimes that were unjustly inflicted upon the Jewish people? Have you felt a burning desire for justice that you know will never be achieved on this side of Heaven?
Truth be told, this event in our history has and should change the way a follower of Christ invests in the Nation of Israel, but it’s hard to know where to begin.
Your heart aches as you imagine what being torn from your family must feel like. Or watching your loved one gassed and left limp and lifeless. You want to be a voice for a Holocaust victim or survivor, but how?
If you are one of the many who desire to see restoration for the Jewish land of Israel, and the people who inhabit it, then you are in good company. God Himself expressed that same desire.
Plant in Israel for a Holocaust Victim or Survivor“It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left…”—Isaiah 11:11
Isaiah is speaking of a time when the Messiah will return and God will call His firstborn back to Israel. But before that happens, the Bible tells us that Israel must be restored.
“‘On that day I will raise up
the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,
and repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old;
that they may possess the remnant of Edom,
and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’
says the Lord who does this thing.
‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord,
‘when the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
and the treader of grapes him who sows seed;
the mountains shall drip with sweet wine,
and all the hills shall flow with it.
I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;
they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;
they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.’”
—Amos 9:11-14
Plant in Israel for a Holocaust Victim or SurvivorWhat if There Was a Way to Honor Holocaust Victims and Survivors?
At My Olive Tree, we understand the feelings of anger and sadness that creep in when faced with the horrific facts about what those affected by the Holocaust endured. Yet, we have also been privileged enough to be a part of the redemption forming in the very valley that the Jewish people longed to see restored.
Through acts of generosity, people just like you have been able to restore hope to a people whose hope was all but lost. Those heroes have taken the opportunity to partake in God’s Kingdom work in honor of a Holocaust victim or survivor and His firstborn.
“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.”—Exodus 4:22
Meet Steve from Tulsa, OK. Steve works at a local community care center where Sherman Ray, a Holocaust survivor, lives. Sherman was greatly shaken up and unable to sleep after hearing about shootings and acts of anti-Semitism on the news. After talking with Sherman, Steve and his family wanted to do something. They decided to sponsor an olive tree in Sherman’s name.
Below is a picture of Steve and Sherman holding the framed certificate they received with the tree sponsorship. Steve says, “[Sherman] proudly placed [the certificate] on his wall right after the picture was taken.” Sherman’s spirit is soothed knowing there are people who care and act in peaceful ways even when the world seems dark. Sherman recently celebrated his 98th birthday and still works 30+ hours a week in his tailor shop.
Though it does not erase the past, planting a tree in honor of a Holocaust victim or survivor does ensure that their life will never be forgotten. Instead, their memory will live on in the form of an olive tree or grapevine that will not only give fruit for generations to come but also help restore the land for the Messiah’s return.
Plant in Israel for a Holocaust Victim or SurvivorHere’s How to Be a Voice for a Holocaust Victim or Survivor
There is a way to honor victims and survivors of the Holocaust while also playing a role in the restoration of Israel. And getting involved is simple.
My Olive Tree has developed an easy, 3-step process that allows you to be a voice for a Holocaust victim or survivor by planting in Israel.
- Choose the type of olive tree or grapevine to plant in honor of a Holocaust victim or survivor. Simply click on which plant listed below you want to sow.
- Olive Tree Sapling
- 10 to 15-Year-Old Olive Tree in the King’s Valley
- 30-Year-Old Olive Tree in the King’s Valley
- Grapevine in the Negev Desert
*In the “tributee” field, put the name of the victim or survivor you’re honoring. If you don’t have a specific person in mind, simply put “Holocaust Victim” in the field.
It really is that simple to be a voice, plant for hope, and sow for justice.
What Does It Mean to Sponsor an Olive Tree or Grapevine?
It means you are sponsoring a tree or grapevine in the Holy Land soil so that your cause, your voice, and your beliefs are physically tied to Israel. As a result, Israel is blessed and reaps a harvest year after year through the tree or grapevine you choose to sponsor.
“Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”—Proverbs 31:8-10
God has anointed all of His children and called them to act. Make His purpose your purpose and be a voice for a Holocaust victim or survivor—sow into God’s Promised Land.
Plant in Israel for a Holocaust Victim or SurvivorBe a Voice for the Voiceless
Jewish culture has a long-standing tradition of planting vineyards and olive trees for each child and grandchild. Having an olive tree planted in the Holy Land in their name is the highest honor for any Holocaust survivor or victim, and in the case of the latter, it leaves the legacy that they were robbed of.
As time marches on, it also slowly creeps away from remembering the tragic events of the Holocaust. Years have the ability to muffle the cries of agony from a race that was all but extinguished.
But you can be a voice for a Holocaust victim or survivor. A voice that will be heard above the cries. A voice that will help tilt the scales of justice by showing honor and respect to those who lost their lives or survived the most tragic experience in recent history.
Take this opportunity to partner with My Olive Tree and stand with Israel against all tyranny. Stand united in agreement with God about His Kingdom work that is being fulfilled in His Promised Land.
Has God stirred your heart to be a voice for the voiceless? If so, then don't allow another moment to pass in silence. By sponsoring a tree in memory of a Holocaust victim or survivor, you are restoring their identity as a mother, sister, father, brother, husband, wife, or friend in their land.
“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”— Esther 4:14
Don’t let a silent moment hush your shout for justice! Contribute to the restoration of God's Holy Land and be a voice of hope and faith for the Holocaust victims and survivors.
Plant in Israel for a Holocaust Victim or Survivor