Israel
at 67
Even though at times it feels like we are
all alone in the world, there are many
non-Jews who love and support Israel and
the Jews. We caught up with a few of them
to find out why… I By Chandrea Serebro
Alida Schoultz addressing the
new Olim at the Western Wall
at a welcome ceremony in
December 2010.
Alida Schoultz
Ebenezer Operation Exodus
As the SA national director for the Ebenezer
Operation Exodus, an international Christian organisation operating in over 50 countries helping Jewish people to make aliyah,
Alida Schoultz and her team do what they do
because “we really love the Jewish people.
They are the apple of G-d’s eye and therefore,
being a Christian, I love those whom G-d
loves.” Working in a close relationship with
the Jewish Agency, the organisation often
sponsors aliyah projects in SA, and it has
14 JEWISH LIFE n ISSUE 83
been involved in the return of more than
150 000 Jewish people to Israel, the Promised Land, since it was formed in 1991.
Over and above loving the Jewish people, members are staunch believers in the
bible – heeding to the “warnings we learn
from the bible and prophetic scriptures ”,
explains Schoultz, “as it says in Genesis:
‘Gentiles will be involved in helping to fulfil G-d’s promise that He will return them
to the Land He has promised to Abraham
as an everlasting possession.’ We also
know that He will bless those who bless Is-
ABOVE: Olim at the Western Wall
ceremony after receiving their new
Israeli ID cards.
rael and curse those who curse Israel, and
that nations who do not stand with Israel
will be utterly destroyed.”
This is the main reason why in South
Africa, Schoultz uses her time speaking to
Christian groups to teach them about Israel and explain why it is important to
stand with and support Israel. The task is
big, especially in such a large country,
where it is a challenge to travel to different areas to try and cover the whole country. “Although many Christians are open
to learn more about this work, I also often find groups who are not interested. At
the same time, though, there are thousands of Christians in this country who
really love the Jewish people, who stand
by Israel and pray for Israel and the Jews.”
In 2008, Ebenezer Operation Exodus
sponsored aliyah flights as part of the Jewish Agency’s project – the ‘Red Carpet Aliyah
flights’ – whereby they took large groups of
olim on a single flight to Israel. “It was my
privilege to travel with a few of these flights.
Although I have travelled many times with
Jewish groups from the Ukraine, when I
worked there for a few years, I never
thought that I would have the privilege of
joining a large group of olim from SA, on
their way to their Promised Land.”
Schoultz describes the privilege it was
to see olim leaving for Israel after she had
helped them in so many ways – from obtaining all the necessary documents, providing them with food parcels and other
necessities, paying for their transport to
the airport, and finally, the reward in seeing their happy faces and receiving their
thanks over and over for the organisation’s help. “That is the greatest joy one
could have – to see happy people whose
dream has been fulfilled.”
photographS: SUPPLIED
for Israel
Photo taken by Al ida Schoultz
Champions