The day we all met Willy, was the day that will forever stick out of all the time spent in Israel. One of our contacts linked us to L’Chaim to Life, an organization that visits and aids needy Holocaust survivors.  We took a drive that lead us out of Tiberias and up into the stunning hills that overlook the Galilee. Within those hills we came into Israeli suburbia where we met Willy and Daniel, a zealous Jew, at a community center. Daniel got right into it with a well said, persuasive political and religious lecture then eventually told us about L’Chaim to Life. Through L’Chaim to Life they found Willy.

Through tears of what seemed like fresh wounds, a voice amplifier needed because of lung cancer that caused his voice to sound like a robot and Daniel as his translator- Willy recounted to all of us his horrific memories of the Holocaust. At the age of 13, Willy was one of the last Hungarian Jews to be put into a concentration camp. Willy was eventually sent over to Auschwitz under the close and direct watch of the infamous Holocaust villain, Dr. Josef Mengele. In choosing who to kill, Nazis made it a priority to split up families. Consequently, Willy watched his mother, father and all five siblings die within his time at the concentration camps. As Willy stood alone, he was verbally and physically abused by Dr. Mengele who constantly promised he would personally see to it that Willy would never survive. Willy went so far to tell us about death beds that would mechanically stab a Jew to death and then be set ablaze to burn the remains. He also described Dr. Mengele personal knack of pulling babies apart with his bare hands. And lastly, that when he hit points of severe dehydration he had no other choice but to drink his own urine. Willy made Daniel repeat these three facts a few times that we would fully hear and understand the grotesque images that are forever marred upon his soul.

As you can imagine, there were few dry eyes and many stunned looks within our group. We said our tearful goodbyes and Daniel lead us past the hills and into the mountains- Golan Heights. We stopped at another place I never really thought I’d visit again- a WWII bunker. There Daniel explained the fight going on over the Golan Heights between Israel and Assyria, and to lose the Golan Heights would be the equivalent to losing the eyes of Israel as it overlooks the Jordan Valley and Galilean regions. After a windy and personally remarkable visit to the familiar bunker hidden within the rim of a mountain and biblical debates with the zealous  (Romans 10:2) Jew Daniel, we were off.

Willy

Seriously, old people love Madi.

Outside the bunker

Daniel speaking to the group

Later, there were more baptisms to be done. Back in Tiberias, on the wonderful Galilee we did just that. I watched four more of my classmates stand up for their faith. Not just in front of a crowd of rejoicing Christians but a beach filled with Jewish alike. A place where real persecution exists.  It was incredible. Thought I’d share a picture of Heather Lawson, someone who I know will be leading thousands to the throne room. I’ll get you all her CD one day.

My thoughts, prayers and love is for you all. Rejoice.

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