Ilse and Henry Strauss, a South African and a Namibian in Jerusalem. (Photo: Pieter Cloete/Maroela Media)
Through Covid-19, war and constant terrorist threats, Ilse and Henry Strauss, a South African and a Namibian in Jerusalem, did not stand back. On the contrary, their work as volunteers only deepened.
According to Ilse, director of international development at Bridges for Peace, her mission is simple but demanding: to build relationships between Christians and Jews.
“We are here to build a bridge – not just with words, but with deeds,” she says.
Henry, who organizes tours under the name “Israel in Afrikaans”, believes their path to Israel was not accidental. “The Father sent us here,” he says.
At the heart of their work is service – tangible, daily help to people in need. Managed by Bridges for Peace, Ilse helps with one of the only Christian food banks in Israel and provides food to more than 25,000 needy people every month.
Bridges for Peace also ensures that children get a hot meal at school every day. Due to increasing distress and trauma among Jewish civilians, the couple’s volunteer work became even more urgent after the events of October 7, 2023.
Ilse and Henry with Lily in a bomb shelter. (Photo: Provided)
According to Ilse, words mean nothing to Israelis, “your actions speak volumes. Israel now sees that Christians are really here to support them.”
In addition to humanitarian aid, the couple also focuses strongly on faith formation and understanding. Through Bridges for Peace, Ilse is involved in a project Israel Unfiltered where experts ask tough questions about the war, Hamas and the conflict in Gaza. She also leads a Bible reading program where participants physically travel through Israel and relive biblical events in historical places.
Henry’s tours “Israel in Afrikaans” take groups to iconic places such as the Sea of Galilee and the desert in which the Israelites roamed.
“We barbecue together in the desert, we sleep by the sea – it affects people on a very deep level,” he says.
Despite their international role, their Afrikaner identity remains central. Henry says that Israeli friends have even started to plant Pinotage vines – a nod to their African origins.
For him, even these agricultural activities are part of a larger vocation.
“We don’t just believe that prophecies must come true – we work together to make them happen. We join hands, Jew and Christian, and make the prophecies come true.”
Life under sirens and shelters
These two’s work takes place against a harsh reality. Bomb shelters and sirens are part of daily life.
“You first get a warning on your phone. Then, about ten minutes later, the siren goes off and you run to the shelter,” says Ilse.
Even their young daughter, Lily, already learns to recognize different sirens in kindergarten.
“It’s a hard life,” admits Henry.
Henry with Lily in a bomb shelter. (Photo: Provided)
According to Ilse, around 92% of missiles are intercepted, but the tension remains constant. In the midst of this tension, it is precisely their presence that makes the biggest difference.
Ilse refers to a recent experience where she was trapped in a bomb shelter with other Israelis and made it clear under the difficult circumstances that she was ‘going to stay here. I’m not going anywhere. I am a Christian and we stand with you’.”
She candidly tells how the people in the shelter became moved one after the other.
“For the first time, someone really stood with them.” Ilse says that the relationship between Christians and Jews is slowly recovering after centuries of estrangement – especially after the events of October 2023.
“Jews and Christians now live like Naomi and Ruth: ‘Where you go, I will go.’ Jews are no longer alone.”
She believes this period is historically and spiritually significant. “We are now starting to really live together for the first time.”
Despite the war, the couple remains determined.
“Israel thinks they are alone… But God has always wanted Christians and Jews to live closer to each other – like brothers.”
In a country where sirens break the silence and uncertainty reigns daily, this – through faith and action – builds something stronger than conflict: trust.