In Loving Tribute to Olga Meshoe Washington
14 September 1981 – 6 January 2025
By Rolene Marks
How does one put into words the devastation that so many of us around the world are feeling about the passing of the remarkable Olga Meshoe Washington? I never thought I would ever be writing those words. It is unimaginable. The brightest light has left us. I have started this tribute several times but it is so hard to fathom writing about the radiant and brilliant Olga in the past tense? Maybe if I do not write in the past tense it will not be true.
As news of Olga’s passing reverberated around the world, tributes poured in. Organisations, individuals, politicians, media – people who had known Olga personally and others who connected with her through her work, everyone felt the shockwaves of grief. I do not think there was a corner of the globe that was not impacted by Olga. The magnitude of love and sorrow is testament to the impact that she had during her life.
Olga was simply magnificent. In every way. I used to call her Queen Olga – because she carried herself with regal bearing, treating each person as if they were the most important in the room.
Olga was a daughter of Africa, passionate about her beloved South Africa – but for many of us in Israel and for Jewish communities around the world, she was one of ours as well. Daughter of Africa – and daughter of Zion.
If ever there was anyone who embodied an Eshet Chayil, a woman of valour, it was Olga Meshoe Washington. Olga was a woman of unparalleled integrity and moral clarity.
It was not just that she was an extremely gifted orator or brilliant in her chosen career as a lawyer, Olga was a formidable advocate for Israel and the Jewish people. Olga shone as a speaker and debater – and her opponents were swiftly put in their place with facts and conviction. Her love and dedication to Israel and the Jewish people was unwavering – as was her Christian faith.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8J9i7oIN-k
Olga was involved with so many organisations at the highest levels. She founded and directed the pro-Israel Christian lobby group DEISI (Defend, Embrace, Invest, Support Israel), was named one of 25 young visionaries by The Jerusalem Post, served as chief operating officer of Club Z, a US Zionist youth movement, spoke at a UN Human Rights Council event and was part of the family of so many other organisations. Everyone felt the unique magic that Olga sprinkled with her faith, devotion, support and love.
It is not just Olga’s work that shone. Her love for her family and friends were paramount. Olga married Joshua and became a mother to the two most gorgeous little boys. Our hearts are aching for the Meshoe and Washington families at this unfathomable loss.
In these dark months of war, my phone would ring at night and it would be Olga, checking in to see if my husband and I were okay, to offer a prayer but most important to listen and advise. It was always an honour to share ideas and sometimes a giggle over something pop culture with Olga.
Olga always had opinions and perspective, most often grounded in her faith and her values. I was also privileged to share a panel with her once or twice and host her for World WIZO during the pandemic and she just mesmerized everyone with her intelligence and her vibrant personality.
Olga will be laid to rest in Israel, the country she loved so much and fought so valiantly not just to defend but also embraced and invested her commitment and her love.
In his tribute post to his beloved wife, Olga’s husband Joshua referred to the heavens applauding for the life she led. The heavens are applauding – and so are we, Olga. Yours was a life lived impeccably and you are absolutely irreplaceable. Your legacy will live on in all of us.
Our hearts embrace the Meshoe and Washington families. May Olga rest in power – and may her memory be eternally blessed.
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The funeral will be January 22nd 2024, at the Tel Regev Cemetery near Haifa.
Shuttles will be available from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa.
To register for one of the shuttles to the cemetery, please use this link: https://forms.gle/rfUbVq6NgbSjK1Nn7
The ceremony will also be live streamed for everyone abroad.
Hope you will be able to join us in giving a unique and befitting farewell to such an amazing woman, that gave so much of herself to and for this country and our cause.
To help defray the costs of the funeral for the family and donate from the US please click here: https://genesis123foundation.revv.co/olga
To donate from anywhere else in the world please click here:
https://www.runforzion.com/rememberingolga
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