The Privilege to Serve Holocaust Survivors
- Moti Cohen
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Tiferet Yeshua Congregation
Tel Aviv
On April 24th Israel marked Holocaust Memorial Day, and here at Tiferet Yeshua we had the amazing opportunity to host over seventy Holocaust survivors at a special event held in their honor. On this day in particular, they receive many invitations to participate in ceremonies and gatherings all across the country. It therefore means so much to us that these survivors chose to be with us at Tiferet Yeshua.
Through the Holocaust survivors holiday events we host several times a year, we have established special friendships with many of these survivors. We always clarify beforehand that they will be hosted by a Messianic Jewish community. Everyone who comes has told us that they love our gatherings because they feel welcomed with such warmth and love. We prepare traditional European dishes from their childhoods, and treat them to special live music. However, we know that what is truly touching their hearts is the love of God and the message of hope that we impart to them.
Our guests are Russian-speaking Holocaust survivors; and each time we host an event, one of our team members who is fluent in Russian will share an encouraging message. This year on Holocaust Remembrance Day, Katy, our office manager, spoke of God’s desire to give them a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29) – that through the great suffering and sacrifice of Messiah (Isaiah 53) God made a new covenant in which He offers us a deep personal relationship with Him (Jeremiah 31).
What a privilege it is to hold these special events! According to statistics in Israel, within the next five years, half of all Holocaust survivors alive today will no longer be with us. The living survivors are those who went through the Holocaust as children or whose parents survived the camps. As a congregation, we are so grateful that we are able to bless this extraordinary population. Thanks to our supporters, we can host these important events with generosity and warmth and continue to strengthen the special friendships and connections that have grown between us.
Seven days after Holocaust Memorial Day came Israeli Memorial Day when we honor all the soldiers who have fallen in Israel’s wars and victims of terror. This is an especially sad and emotional day. In this small country each of us has lost a loved one, or is close to someone who has. Israel has been at war since the October 7th massacre, and nearly 1,000 soldiers have given their lives in a year and a half of combat.
Immediately following our day of mourning, we celebrated the 77th year of Israel’s independence. With the shocking rise of antisemitism around the world, we see more clearly the vital importance of Israel's survival. At the same time we know that this country exists only by the grace of God, and He promised Israel’s re-establishment in its ancient borders by His prophets.
There is one huge difference between today and 1948 when Israel declared its independence: today, believers all around the world are standing in the gap for the Jewish nation.
We are so grateful and blessed by all of you! Thank you for supporting Israel and interceding in faith that God will fulfill all His promises for His ancient people.
