Staring into the face of Boris, I could see years of pain and perseverance revealing his survival of four concentration camps. This was my first time sitting for over an hour with an interpreter hearing the story of one man’s survival. He was ninety years old. Tears kept coming spontaneously as I looked beneath the dynamic story and began to focus on God’s love for Boris and on this man’s heart that still carried so much pain and anger. In one of the concentration camps, the German soldiers were suspicious of men in his barracks trying to escape. It was the dead of winter with two feet of snow on the ground. The soldiers forced Boris and a dozen others to strip down naked and run in the snow around the barracks for several hours in the freezing cold. If any of them slipped and fell, they were shot instantly. Boris described how they mocked him and would throw snow at his face each time he ran past them. At the end of our time together, he went to stand up from the sunken-in couch. I reached out to help him up. He stiffened up and with astonishing strength and determination pushed himself up and stood as upright as his ninety-year-old frame could muster. My heart broke with a love for Boris and the other 100 holocaust survivors in Ashdod that I had the privilege to share my testimony with.
From that point on, Caleb Company began focusing the majority of “Israel Aid” to blessing the 300 holocaust survivors in Ashdod, Israel. Over the past five years, we have been able to provide them with food, blankets, heaters and other practical supplies. When we asked if there was anything else we could do, they responded that what would bless them the most is to help them to publish their stories in Hebrew and English so that what they went through would never be forgotten. Most Holocaust survivors hold tightly the message of “never forget.” This past October we visited them again. The leaders of their community know us well and ran up to us to kiss our cheeks. We have been blessed to be a blessing. This year, Caleb Company gave over $7,000 to translate and publish the stories of 500 Holocaust survivors into both Hebrew and English. Our God so loves and cherishes these men and women who have survived horrors unspeakable. As the majority are ninety years and older, there remains a limited number of years left to continue to bless and share the love of Jesus with them. We are so privileged and honored to be His hands and feet in manifesting that love to them. Thank you for your investment into Caleb Company as we pour it out to them.