No Limit to Loving Israel’s Holocaust Survivors

In the heart of northern Israel, nestled along the country’s border, lies a sanctuary that is far more than a simple care facility. The Beit Eliezer nursing home stands as a powerful legacy of one family’s desire to serve the people of Israel—specifically those who endured history's darkest hour.

“She's very happy in here, and the treatment is very special,” says Pnina, whose mother is a resident at the home. “And for the Holocaust survivor, it's just a very unique place”.

That uniqueness stems from a deeply personal philosophy of care. The facility is largely operated by German believers who travel to Israel to volunteer, often for a year or more, driven by a mission to serve. Micha, a member of the staff, explains that the goal is to create a true home rather than a clinical institution.

“Most of this place is run by volunteers from Germany,” Micha says. “The residents live here, so we treat it like it's their home. That's why we try to address each person's needs individually”.

This individual attention often manifests through music. Luisa, a nurse and volunteer, uses songs to reach residents who have otherwise retreated into silence. “They remember the song lyrics so well,” Luisa notes. “I sat on the piano and played some Hebrew songs. One of the womrn who lives here, she started singing so loud. And another woman she had like a really happy face. And I asked her, do you also want to sing? And she, yes”.

However, the joy found within the walls of Beit Eliezer is underpinned by a history of profound sacrifice. For three generations, the Bayer family has maintained this mission through wars and personal tragedies. The most significant loss was Gidon Bayer’s son, who was killed while serving in the Israeli Army.

For Gidon, his son’s sacrifice and the family’s ongoing work are inextricably linked by a single theme: unconditional love.

“When he was killed, people were exposed to a Christian soldier who fought for them. Why? It doesn't add up,” Gidon reflects. “He didn't have to, but he still went. Doing something out of love. If God loves me and God loves his people... how committed am I to loving his people? And where is the limit? I think for my son there was no limit”.

Today, CBN Israel is honored to support the program, standing with the Bayer family as they continue to provide comfort to others even while navigating their own grief.

“CBN support the organization and they help us carry out all the activities we do here,” Gidon says. “We're very grateful to them and we want to thank them so much for all the help. We hope we can continue moving forward together”.