Remembering Holocaust Survivors During Passover
The Holocaust was possibly the most horrific event in recent history—killing six million plus Jewish people. Yet, there are 180,000 survivors still alive in Israel today. Sadly, over 38 percent of this older generation do not have their basic needs met and struggle physically, emotionally and spiritually.
At Curt Landry Ministries we want to honor these brave men and women in their latter years, by providing them with personal care needs, hot meals, haircuts and self-care items.
We want to bring hope, restoration and renewal to the Jewish people who have been through so much in their lifetimes.
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 we can pass on the story to future generations.
>>>Join the cause in caring for God’s people today! <<<
“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
Passover during the Holocaust and Passover now
During the Holocaust, the Passover meal was something the Jewish people were not able to celebrate in the same way they had throughout their nation’s history. There was little to no access to traditional foods used during the Seder meal—no wine to drink, no matzah bread, no bitter and sweet herbs to taste.
Today, the Jewish people can celebrate according to custom. Yet, with the survivors struggling to meet basic needs, many of them are not able to have the traditional foods for this religious feast.
Imagine sitting down to the Passover meal during the Holocaust to celebrate your ancestors release from slavery only to be reminded of your current state of fear. Now, some 75 years later, you sit down in your old age to remember God’s provision and you again don’t have the means to provide this special memorial meal.
Those deep emotional scars left by the painful memories of the Holocaust are brought up again. These are their last years to celebrate and it is our heart to provide what they need so they know they are not forgotten.
“I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ‘Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life?’ But what does the divine response say to him? ‘I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”—Romans 11:1-5
It is our call, as the Body of Christ, to show love and compassion for those in need. Yeshua speaks directly to His righteous sheep, whom He has separated from the goats, about how we are to treat and care for one another.
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”—Matthew 25:37-40
The Lord is clear about how He desires His people to treat others. This brings Him glory and blesses us!
The Word of God also foretells how the Church, as part of God’s divine plan, will partner with Him in Israel’s restoration.
“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’”—Romans 11:25-27
Restoration of the nations
At Passover 5778, there is a calling of restoration among the nations. There is a separation of sheep and goats. We are His sheep; do we hear our Shephard’s voice?
The Lord’s Word is clear that we are to care for the thirsty, hungry and imprisoned. During this Passover, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in how He would have you to care for those Yeshua speaks of in Matthew 25.
Join us in this very important project this Passover. Be blessed in serving the Holocaust survivors.