A group of 150 Singaporean tourists to Israel hosted about 30 Holocaust survivors from Jerusalem earlier this month, co-organising a tribute event that saw the survivors relating their harrowing stories of survival.

The event, which took place on December 2, was part of a string of meetings held around the country that month, which was meant to connect tourists with Holocaust survivors, said Helping Hands Coalition Israel (HHC), which co-organised the event.

HHC, which helps and supports Holocaust survivors in the country, hoped these meetings would “enable (tourists) to personally contribute to improving the quality of life of Holocaust survivors living with us”.

Mr Melvyn Mak, the group’s pastor and spiritual guide, said: “When God called me to be involved in the restoration of the Kingdom that includes Israel … I asked myself how I could bring teams from Asia not just to visit the places but also interact with the people.”

Singaporean tourists hugged the Holocaust survivors after hearing their harrowing stories.

Getting involved with the Holocaust survivors was one way, said Mak, who leads at least 10 trips to Israel a year under travel-based social enterprise Actxplorer.

“The Holocaust was the event that pricked the conscience of the world. It culminated in the rebirth of the nation of Israel. God also said in Isaiah 40 to comfort My people — the Holocaust survivors are the most in need of comfort, and the window of opportunity is narrowing day by day. They are 80 to 100 years old!”

Of the approximately 51,000 registered Holocaust survivors living in Israel, more than a thousand currently live in Jerusalem, according to HHC. A quarter of them live below the poverty line. 

At the event, which was held at Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem, the Singaporean tourists and Holocaust survivors ate lunch, sang and danced together. The survivors also took to the stage to share their stories of survival as children.

At the event, which was held at Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem, the Singaporean tourists and Holocaust survivors ate lunch, sang and danced together.

Survivors Jacob Lieberman and Abraham Litowski brought the audience to tears with their accounts, explaining how they fled, hid and suffered hunger and cold, according to an article by HHC.

Michael Lim, who was part of the Singaporean group, told Salt&Light: “When you visit Israel, you see, feel, experience the land where it all began and understand the reality of the Gospel story and realise that He is still not finished with Israel, that the nation remains integral and fundamental to God’s unfolding plan.”