Oczeret, Leo

Leo Oczeret was born in Tarnopol, Galicia. As many of his countrymen he came to Jerusalem. There he came to faith in Messiah.  The exact details of how he came to faith are not as yet known, but it is known that he afterwards studied at the college of the LJS in London.  His fiancée also became a believer.

After being stationed in Paris for about two years Leo was sent to Jerusalem and was ordained there to full time service. In 1884 he was sent to reopen the mission at Safed. At first he found his way very difficult there, coming up as it were against a wall of religiosity and suspicion. But gradually, by patience and love, he won the hearts of many, so much so that when he became ill many from the Jewish community came to visit and console him. One old man even assured him that during a whole fortnight he recited fifty Psalms for his recovery. This is little short of amazing given that the community in Safed was very orthodox and would normally shy from contact with Christians of any stripe and colour.

Leo Oczeret's health did not improve, and at last he was sent to a hospital in Vienna, in the hopes that here a cure could be worked. From there he wrote to his fellow believers in LJS, “Let the Lord’s will be done! Pray for us all. I do not give up every hope yet to work for my Lord and Master, and to serve faithfully the Committee, to whom I am wont to look as to a father.”

Leo died in Vienna, still young, in 1886. He had finished his course, and went to receive the crown of glory.

Sources:

Bernstein, A. Jewish Witnesses for Christ
De le Roi, J.F.A. Die evangelisehe Christenheit und die Juden unter dem Gesichtspunkte der Mission geschichtlich betrachtet.
Dritter Band, Berlin, H. Reuther's Verlagsbuchhandlung. (H. Reuther & 0. Reichard.) 1892. 



 

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