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Yad Vashem Friends of Yad Vashem Worldwide

Christians Friends of Yad Vashem

Christian Friends of Yad Vashem (CFYV) was established in October 2006 in cooperation with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) to raise awareness about the Holocaust, Shoah, and its universal lessons in Christian communities world-wide.

The Holocaust is a defining event in human history, which generated a credibility crisis of major proportions in our most basic assumptions about the nature of mankind, of society, of the modern state, and of our responsibility as individuals to take a stand against unjust suffering of innocent people everywhere. These universal questions, and many others, touch upon the very foundations of civilization and even now, over sixty years since the end of World War II, we have not yet come to terms with the implications of this event. The Holocaust has therefore become a compelling challenge for concerned individuals all over the world.

The biblical word Shoah (which has been used to mean “destruction” since the Middle Ages) became the standard Hebrew term for the murder of European Jewry as early as the early 1940s. The word Holocaust, which came into use in the 1950s as the corresponding term, originally meant a sacrifice burnt entirely on the altar. The selection of these two words with religious origins reflects recognition of the unprecedented nature and magnitude of the events. Many understand Holocaust as a general term and we consider it important to use the Hebrew word Shoah with regard to the murder of and persecution of European Jewry.

In accordance with Yad Vashem’s general mission, CFYV would like to accomplish the following:

  • Act as a facilitator in bringing the universal lessons of the Shoah to the Christian world;
  • Build bridges between Jews and Christians to fight anti-Semitism;
  • Educate about the legacy of the Righteous among the Nations. The Righteous were Gentiles, who acted to rescue Jews during WWII and have been recognized by Yad Vashem as such:
    On a practical level CFYV:
    • Brings and invites Christian educators /clergy to Yad Vashem’s international seminars on how to teach the Shoah;
    • Arranges tailor-made programs including workshops on topics of interest to visiting groups;
    • Makes Yad Vashem’s many resources available to the Christian communities;
    • The Director visits churches and communities world-wide with presentations and films.

How can you participate in our activities?

Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations

Our most exciting and newest project involves the Righteous among the Nations. Trees have been planted in their honor in the campus of Yad Vashem; each tree is attached to a specific Righteous, as a way of reminding us of their personal inspirational stories. We offer Christians around the world the opportunity to become guardians of a particular tree. For 100$ / year you can take upon yourself the guardianship of a tree and thus help us ensure that not only the tree itself but the larger legacy of the Righteous will be maintained. Information on the Righteous and the tree will be sent to you once you become a guardian.

The legacy of the Righteous among the Nations is worth commemorating for it shows that even under tyranny and oppression men and women have the inborn right and capacity to act upon moral precepts. Especially the youth today need to hear these stories.

“I know when I will stand before the Lord on the Day of Judgment, I will not be asked the same question Cain was asked. Where were you when your brother’s blood cried out from the ground?”
Hungarian Imre Bathory, who was recognized as a Righteous.

In addition to the tree project, you can join us in becoming a Christian Friend of Yad Vashem. Your membership is important because the memberships enable us to continue our vital educational activities. In January 2009, for the first time, CFYV brought three educators to an international seminar in Yad Vashem. Your donations make this and other activities possible.

You too are invited to join our growing international Circle of Friends!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Christian.Friends@yadvashem.org.il
Christian Friends of Yad Vashem
International Relations Division
P.O.B. 3477
91034 Jerusalem
Israel
Tel: +972 2 644 3804
Fax: +972 2 644 3429