Christians Friends of Yad Vashem
Recent Events at the Christian Desk
During their recent tour in Israel Pastors John and Diana Hagee visited Yad Vashem with 700 pilgrims including CUFI (Christian United for Israel) members of the tour. Whilst most of the group toured the Historical Museum, Pastors John and Diana Hagee had their tailor-made program including a special presentation at the Museum of Holocaust Art. At the end, the tour groups met for a joint ceremony at the Monument to the Jewish Soldiers and Partisans. Pastor Hagee addressed the group in addition to a speech by Shaya Ben-Yehuda, Managing Director of the International relations Division at Yad Vashem and pastors, who had joined the tour. Rabbi Ariel Scheinberg gave a recital of " El Male Rachamim". Here pictured from left to right Shaya Ben-Yehuda, Managing Director of the International Relations Division at Yad Vashem , Pastors Diana and John Hagee, Rabbi Ariel Scheinberg and Dr. Susanna Kokkonen, Director, Christian Friends of Yad Vashem.
Dr. Susanna Kokkonen Director of the Christian Friends of Yad Vashem toured the USA in February 2012. Various events were hosted in churches and communities in Alabama and Kentucky. Here pictured at the Oasis Christian Center from left to right Pastor Don and Mrs. Kraft, Dr. Susanna Kokkonen, Pastors Andrea and Patrick Penn.
Wannsee Conference Memorial Solidarity Event in Israel by ICEJ and in cooperation with other Christian organizations
A very high-level German inter-denominational delegation came to Israel on January 19-20, 2012 for the explicit purpose of remembering and educating about the Wannsee conference and its historic significance. To honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust at this date, ICEJ (International Christian Embassy Jerusalem) organized several events of commemoration. High ranking leaders of German and Austrian churches and Christian organizations came to take part in these events including meeting with Holocaust survivors and laying wreaths at Yad Vashem.
Visit at Yad Vashem, January 20, 2012
The leaders started their day at Yad Vashem with a guided tour of the Holocaust History Museum tailor-made to focus on the Wannsee conference and its implications. The tour included Eichmann exhibition, which has been available to the public since 2011 because of the special anniversary of Eichmann's capture. Following the tour everyone gathered at the Warsaw Ghetto Square for a special wreath laying ceremony. VIPs and local Christian leaders and representatives of Holocaust survivors' organizations joined for this part of the program in the presence of Yad Vashem's directors Director General Natan Eitan and Shaya Ben-Yehuda, Managing Director, International Relations Division.
The wreath laying was followed by a solemn ceremony at the Hall of Remembrance where a wreath was laid for the whole group and the eternal flame rekindled in the presence of Yad Vashem's directors and a cantor. The wreath was laid by Karl Klanner, National Director ICEJ Austria and Gottfried Buehler, National Director ICEJ Germany. Dr. Juergen Buehler, Executive Director of the ICEJ read a psalm.
Following these ceremonies, a reception was held at the International School for Holocaust Studies where a donation was given to the work of Yad Vashem.
Here pictured Dr. Susanna Kokkonen, Director, Christian Friends of Yad Vashem, Mr. Gottfried Buehler Director of the ICEJ Germany, Dr. Juergen Buehler and Shaya Ben-Yehuda, Managing Director of the International Relations Division at Yad Vashem receiving the donation.
Musical program was provided by the Chamber Orchestra of the Christian Music and Art Academy in Stuttgart for this festive part of the special day.
