It’s not only part of her heritage; it defines who Bracha Buford of Valrico is today.
It was 1948 and her parents were among the Jewish minority living in Morocco who’d heard rumors that the new Jewish state of Israel was about to be created.
But the Moroccan government wouldn’t allow them to leave and the British government wouldn’t permit them entry into Israel so immigrants began making their way underground.
“It was all by faith,” said Buford. “They had no idea what to expect, what they would encounter. They just knew they had to go there.”
Her parents fled from Morocco with Buford’s two oldest sisters and made their way to Crete where they were hidden on a cargo boat. Their only sustenance was a cup of water and two dates each day. Once they arrived in Israel, her father secured his family in a home that had been abandoned by Muslims and went off to fight for the underground.
Nearly 50 years later, said Buford, Israel is continuing its fight for survival and she feels its her mission to do what she can to not only educate America about her country’s needs but to do her part to help her homeland.
With that in mind, Buford and her husband, Michael, founded the nonprofit For Zion’s Sake Ministries last year. The name is based on Isaiah 62: “For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, Until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch.”
Working through a 20-year-old organization called Christian Friends of Israel, members calling themselves the Israel Mercy Builders have made several trips to Israel carrying food vouchers, handmade quilts and supplies and have performed various aid projects including rebuilding the homes of residents devastated by Hezbollah bombings.
“We just want to let the people know we care about them and support them. God’s foreign policy is to support Israel and it should be our foreign policy, too,” said Buford “We don’t always have a set itinerary. We just let the Lord lead us. When you allow God to lead you, it’s awesome; it’s an adventure.”
Buford’s team, which just returned from a trip in November, has helped refurbish a dilapidated child-care center, fixed up the home of an Ethiopian widow with eight children including 4-month-old twins, and brought gifts for and helped care for 185 youngsters at children’s home. Their next trip is planned for June 2-16.
“It’s incredible to see the tears in the people’s eyes when they realize we came all that way just to stand with them,” she said. “They hug us and thank us.”
In addition, Buford and longtime friend Sandy Farmer co-teach classes about Israel and the Old Testament at Bell Shoals Baptist Church.
The two women met in 1999 when Buford served as a liaison on a tour group to Israel that Farmer went on. Although Buford was born and raised in Israel, she came to America at the age of 19 when she married.
“I’m trained to teach the Bible,” said Farmer, “but there’s no comparison to actually walking through Jerusalem, actually seeing the places you read about. The trip really opened my eyes.”
It had a similar effect on Buford.
“I grew up in a Jewish home,” she said, “but I didn’t know that Jesus was Jewish. I had no reason to visit the places like Gethsemane where Christians came. But once I recognized Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, these places became very important to me and I realized why so many people visited them.”
Nevertheless, Buford said she was disturbed by the enormous numbers of people who make pilgrimages to Israel every year without really understanding the country and its people today.
“They don’t touch the people, really get to know them and understand what they’re facing,” she said. “That’s where my heart is. How can so many Christians go to Israel without helping the people who live there? My hope is to bridge the gap that produces the frustrations between Christians and Jews and help Christians better understand the Jewish roots of their faith.”
By understanding those roots, added Buford, people will have a better grasp of the turmoil that’s currently taking place in the Mideast.
“Everything is lining up just as the prophets in the Bible wrote,” she said. “If you understand what’s happening, you won’t fear it.”
Around 20 to 25 members of For Zion’s Sake also attend pro-Israel rallies in the Tampa Bay area on a regular basis and meet each Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. on the steps of Bell Shoals Baptist to pray for Israel.
“We can’t keep silent,” said Buford. “You need to speak up for the Jewish people. You need to break down the walls of separatism and bless and comfort Israel in practical ways.”
“I feel privileged to be a part of this,” said Farmer. “Being in the middle of God’s purpose is the best place to be. It’s way bigger and way better than anything you can imagine.”
Farmer and Buford will resume their classes on Discovering the Jewish Roots of Your Faith Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. starting Jan. 10 at Bell Shoals Baptist.
Information: 413-4776 or .