On MLK-Day, IBSI returns to Israel
The Washington and Meshoe families will bury Olga's body in the Holy Land
Today, my family and I head to Israel and join the Meshoe family where we will bury our recently departed Olga in Tel Regev Cemetery in Rekhasim. Olga passed away just two weeks ago which is difficult to measure as time has seemingly stood still. Yet, we are very grateful to God for his grace in this time and for our many friends and loved ones who have shared in our grief.
I want to take this opportunity to officially thank all of our Israeli friends and colleagues as well as the government officials responsible for making Olga’s burial at Tel Regev possible. Olga will be honored in a way that no other non-Jewish Israeli will be honored, and our families are overwhelmed by the kindness she is being shown.
Years ago, upon learning of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in Jerusalem, and the trees planted for Coretta Scott King in the Galilee, an Israeli colleague told me, “Dumisani, the Jewish people never forget a friend.” I never imagined that my family would also one day experience being honored in the Holy Land. Though our hearts are broken that it has come so soon for Olga, we are strengthened by Israel’s love and support. To all of our Israeli and Jewish friends around the world, thank you.
The heart breaks. May all who knew and loved your precious Olga be comforted.
Dumisani,
It breaks my heart that your son's beloved wife and your grandchildren's beloved mother, your daughter-in-law, and the daughter of the Meshoe family, have way too young lost so dear a person as Olga. We sat together one day on a stage teaching Texas lawyers and others about antisemitism and anti-Isreal conduct, and it was before the horrors of October 7th in Israel, before the antisemitic anti-Israel uprisings on college and university campuses, but that day, you became a brother and as a brother, I morn for your loss.