April 2018 was a very special month as many of our friends and supporters came to Jerusalem in recognition of the contribution of the Holocaust survivors to the State of Israel. The theme of this year’s Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day was ‘70 Years of Remembering and Building: Holocaust Survivors and the State of Israel’, recognizing the contribution of Holocaust survivors in establishing the State of Israel.

As many gathered at Yad Vashem to commemorate the Holocaust, we had among our guests Dr. Juergen Buehler, Executive Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ); First Nations of Canada led by Rev. Raymond McLean; Pastor Mark and Terrie Jenkins representing the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) and many others as well as local Christian leaders.

During the same week, our Christian Leadership Seminar took place with leaders representing 10 nationalities in attendance. Moving meetings with Holocaust survivors, special tours as well as lectures by leading experts made this an unforgettable experience. The highlight was the group's participation in the official State Ceremony for Yom HaShoah. During the course of that event-packed day, we recognized our supporters Mark and Terrie Jenkins. Shaya Ben Yehuda, Managing Director of the International Relations Division at Yad Vashem, Sari Granitza, Deputy Director of the International Relations Division, and Dr. Susanna Kokkonen, Director of the Christian Friends of Yad Vashem offered thanks and gave them a symbolic key to Yad Vashem.

Following the events in Israel, Dr. Susanna Kokkonen travelled across Finland for a speaking tour through the invitation of a local ICEJ branch. The tour focused on the contribution of the survivors to the re-building of the State of Israel. For the first time, many church-goers realized that Yad Vashem and its mission is very much connected to the re-birth and re-building of the State.

If you would like to be part of educating and supporting Yad Vashem's mission, please, email us: Christian.friends@yadvashem.org.il