Imagine living in a country where you and your family are persecuted for your faith in God. A country where it isn’t safe for your children to go to school. A country that betrays you, and offers no protection, as riots break out—the targets being your home, your business, and your family.
That may be hard to imagine for those of us who live in a country filled with the freedoms and security that the United States offers, and perhaps even more difficult to imagine how it would feel if we lost everything tomorrow—having to start completely over.
Unfortunately, this has been the reality for many Jewish people worldwide. The Jewish diaspora, which began centuries before Christ was born, has carried on to this day, as Jewish people still struggle to find their way to their rightful home of Israel.
Aliyah law—known as the Law of Return—passed shortly after Israel gained independence, which guarantees all Jewish people the right to return to their homeland. But as far as making the transition easier for them and making them feel welcome, laws can only do so much.
Immigration has always been a challenge for Israel—a nation that is roughly the size of New Jersey, and mostly desert.
Logistically, it has always been difficult to accommodate the constant influx of refugees and asylum seekers… but Israel has always done everything in its power to accommodate the newcomers in order to fulfill its promise to provide a sanctuary for Jewish people anywhere, everywhere, and always.
Let Them Be Welcomed and Loved! Never Again Will Israel Feel Alone!
”Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” —Romans 15:7
Sometimes, just knowing there are people who love you and care about you makes all the difference in the world. And while Christ has taught us how to love all of God's children unconditionally, the Jewish people hold a special place in our hearts—because they hold a special place in God’s.
They need to feel our love more than anyone, because they have endured unfathomable hatred everywhere they have gone. Let’s bring them back to their home, where they can finally feel safe—where they can finally belong.
Fulfilling Our Obligation to Proclaim God’s Restorative Power
“It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.” —Romans 15:27
One of the most overwhelming challenges immigrants face is finding a stable source of income. Factors like lack of formal education and language barriers often leave immigrants with no choice but to pursue the least rewarding jobs.
Will we join together and give God’s chosen people a brighter future?
The Bible indicates that it is our duty as Believers to be the ambassadors—the hands and feet—of Christ. We must provide not only spiritual guidance and pathways to God, but also provision in the physical life.
It is our obligation to show hope for the hopeless and welcome them to their new home by helping them start on a new path toward restoration, growth, and prosperity.
What is the best way to provide for the long-term? By teaching a man to fish—provide ongoing opportunities.
How do you provide opportunities? Sowing physical and spiritual seeds that produce a harvest for centuries.
Did you know that olive trees live for hundreds of years? Olive trees grow slowly, are incredibly resistant to diseases, and do well in arid climates. For this reason, olive trees flourish in Israel—a symbol of the deep connection between the olive tree’s physical characteristics and spiritual meaning.
Physically, olive trees bear fruit for oil and can quickly become the foundation of a profitable, sustainable farm.
Spiritually, the olive tree represents peace, wisdom, and prosperity in Jewish culture.
We aren’t giving Israeli newcomers farms, but better yet; the opportunity to cultivate their own.
Planting olive trees in Israel is a boost for progress… one that can be the difference between overcoming a hurdle and staying stuck. Sometimes, you just need someone to provide a resource to help you get on your feet—so that you can walk and continue on your journey. That’s what an olive tree can be to an Israeli immigrant.
An opportunity that may seem small to us, means the world to somebody who is starting over.
A New Abundance of Opportunity
It used to be that immigrants and refugees would risk the journey across the desert in search of opportunity and a better life, but now it's becoming merely a matter of making it into the desert.
This is because soon, the Negev will no longer be a desert, but a blooming garden.
Sometimes, the best opportunities lie in the most unlikely places. God does this to grow us, just as He does the land.
How will we make the best of what He’s given us? Will we be good stewards of His land and resources? Are we paying attention to the calls in the scripture that inform us of our mission?
“The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by… Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.” —Ezekiel 36:34-36
The Bible says that the desolate land of Israel will be tilled… but how? And by whom? The soil is barren. Some people come and have nothing to offer it but their labor.
Let’s join together to unlock the earth’s potential and transform the land. Planting and harvesting olive trees gives the people of Israel pride in their work, and hope for their future.
Check out the significant history of the land and the Kidron Valley in our FREE guide!