The Holocaust was possibly the most horrific event in recent history. Six million plus Jewish people were murdered—gassed, tortured and humiliated in ways we cannot even begin to imagine.
At My Olive Tree we have a heart for the Jewish people. We exist to bring hope, restoration and renewal to the nation of Israel—the Promised Land. All to give glory to God through the entire process.
The Bible references numerous events God calls for us to remember. He tells us how and why we are to remember these appointments. We remember so we do not forget. We remember to bring honor to those lost. We remember so that we can pass on the story to future generations.
>>>Honor Their Memory This Passover! <<<
Have you considered what Passover was like during the Holocaust?
During the Holocaust, the Passover meal was something the Jewish people were not able to celebrate in the same way they had in years past. There was little to no access to traditional foods used during the Seder meal, wine to drink, or bitter and sweet herbs to taste.
Imagine sitting down to a meal intended to remind you of the Lord’s salvation and freedom He provided to you and your ancestors, yet your plate is empty of the physical reminders of your heritage and deliverance. There was no Haggadah to hold and recite blessings, praises, and guide questions for the children.
In addition to the lack of these traditional customary ingredients, the Jewish people also couldn’t deny the absence of those who they had celebrated with in the past. Those who had been killed. This caused great heartache during a time of celebration.
Though stripped of these traditions at the time, the Jewish people still longed to connect with their God and pass down their story to the next generation. This appointed time was a time to remember God’s deliverance, yet so many, and some of those in the Church, stood silent. Essentially enslaving them again.
“So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you. So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.”—Exodus 12:14-20 (emphasis added)
Will you honor Holocaust victims during this important season of Passover by planting a tree in the Holy Land?
Trees hold powerful symbolism in Jewish culture. In Jewish tradition, it is customary to plant a tree every time a child is born. There are numerous reasons to plant trees in Israel. In particular, to honor a life and to give hope to the hopeless.
You have an opportunity to take an active role in restoring the Promised Land. The place where God led His people and will gather them back again.
God’s promise of restoration.
“The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose…”—Isaiah 35:1
God’s promise of returning His people to their land.
“‘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. I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them,’ says the Lord your God.”—Amos 9:14-15
The Word of God continously directs His people to pass on a legacy to future generations, tell them the stories of His redemption, remember those less fortunate, and to honor their elders.
“Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.”—Hebrews 13:3 (NLT)
Legacy is only successful if the promises are passed on to the next generation. The legacy of telling our children of God’s work, the legacy of showing love and compassion to God’s people, and the legacy of actively planting your faith in God’s land are all selfless reasons to sponsor an olive tree.
The victims of the Holocaust cannot tell the Exodus story to their children and grandchildren during the Passover meal, but we can remember and pass on the legacy of their people. Will you stand with us to honor the victims and support the survivors?
>>>Leave a Lasting Legacy! <<<
Join us in this very important project this Passover. Honor their memory and be blessed in serving the survivors.