Antisemitism is a relatively new word. Prior to the 20th century, the hatred of Jews was often called Jew Hatred (which does the job well in assigning a term to a concept) and anti-Judaism.
For centuries, even millennia, throughout the European ages and through the biblical ages before, the drumbeat to snuff out the line of Abraham was evident. Entire societies engaged in it, political leaders, leaders of industry and commerce, and even hateful commoners.
The practice of abortion or infanticide is not unique to our post-Roe v Wade era of so-called healthcare practices that aim to stop a beating heart. Killing children in the womb or fresh from it was part of pagan, or satanic-rooted practices for generations, even before Abraham and Isaac ascended Mount Moriah—where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his own son, killing offspring was a practice that God overtly disapproved of.
Israel is a nation with a culture, religion, and value system that reveres life so openly that “L’Chaim” (“To Life) is a cultural motto. First on scene worldwide to aid in a disaster, natural or human-caused, is often an Israeli team. Trauma specialists minister to the spirit and medical and engineering specialists attend to bodies and infrastructure. No nation, per capita, seems to have provided more life and life-affirming products, services, concepts, and activities than that of the Israelis.
Yet, millions of unborn Israelis never get a chance to participate in the life-affirming world they could have been born into. Abortion is widely accepted in Israel. Our dear friends at Be’ad Chaim are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in Israel, ministering to women in Israel who mourn the loss of a baby or who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy and believe the lie that termination is the only answer.
The Jerusalem Connection has been close partners with Be’ad Chaim, the pro-life ministry in, through our Operation Life project. Jim and Pat Hutchens, our founders, were longtime friends of Be’ad Chaim’s founder, Sandy Shoshani. We stayed close to her and the organization.
Sandy has expressed to us that the Holy Spirit spoke to her heart regarding this outreach:
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?” (Prov. 24:11-12).
At the time of Be’ad Chaim’s founding in 1988, one-quarter of pregnancies in Israel were terminated by abortion. Be’ad Chaim’s goal is to protect both the mother and the child. As a non-profit, they provide hope, education, counseling, and other practical and material services to empower women all over Israel to choose life. Counseling and services for help are also provided for women who suffer from Post Abortion Stress Syndrome and other reproductive losses including miscarriages.
In their effort to honor all unborn children, they have created tree groves in Israel called The Gardens of Life. The Gardens of Life are meant to be a place of healing and restoration for those who grieve the loss of a child through abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth. The loss of the child is not swept away but mourned with dignity and closure through the symbolic act. Cypress trees or fruit trees are planted to honor and remember precious children who were never held on earth.
Those who plant a tree receive a personal certificate in both English and Hebrew as a memento of the occasion. When you make a $30 donation to the work of Be’ad Chaim, a garden hostess will prayerfully plant a tree in honor of your little one. All those who plant a tree receive a certificate and a photograph of the tree planting. I have a sibling I have never met. He or she was lost in a miscarriage in an era where these things were not discussed. I am participating with a tree in memory of my sibling with the prayer that in some way this will help a mother and child in Israel, today. No better way to combat an evil to destroy than by providing resources for life. The funds of this tribute will aid a woman and child in Israel and thus provide an avenue for life to continue.
To arrange for a tree planting and a certificate for any loss that touched your life, you can donate through our Operation Life page: https://thejerusalemconnection.us/the-gardens-of-life/. Instructions on how to mail in your donation and request are also on the website. You can also provide a general donation.
Shavua Tov.
Have a great week.