If you were to hop in your car and go for a drive west out of Jerusalem toward Ma’ale Adumim, your eyes would rest upon the soft, rolling hills of the Judean desert. The breathtaking landscape of Ma’ale Adumim would come into view just miles outside of Jerusalem.
If you kept driving further into the city of Ma’ale Adumim, you would reach its center. At the core of the city is a roundabout full of lush green flora, beautiful shrubs, and a stand-alone copper olive tree. This peaceful garden sits in a strategic location for a specific purpose.
Keep reading to find out the miracle behind the copper olive tree!
The West Bank Settlement of Ma’ale Adumim
Ma’ale Adumim is a suburban area outside of Jerusalem. It is hard to believe that this fast-growing area is still considered a settlement. A long line of homes and apartment buildings are in the process of being erected to support the increasing population.
The settlement, about 1,500 feet above sea level, links together the Jordan Valley and the Judean Desert to Jerusalem. It was established in 1975 by 23 families and looks over Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, and the wide expanse of the Judean wilderness.
This Israeli city, decorated with Jerusalem stone, has a strong foundation in the hearts of Israelis. It has become more than just a city of 41,000. It is symbolic of the political stand in the West Bank area guarding Jerusalem from the east.
It prevents Palestinian settlements from surrounding it, yet at the same time, that stand-alone copper tree in the middle of the city’s garden roundabout says, “Our hands are for peace.”
The History of Ma’ale Adumim
In Joshua 15:6-18, Ma’ale Adumim is described as the border between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
Are you wondering what Ma’ale Adumim means? It is a reference to the reddish hue of the rocky route from the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem.
Read the Passage from Joshua About Ma’ale Adumim Below:
“The border went up to Beth Hoglah and passed north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. Then the border went up toward Debir from the Valley of Achor, and it turned northward toward Gilgal, which is before the Ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. The border continued toward the waters of En Shemesh and ended at En Rogel. And the border went up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to the southern slope of the Jebusite city (which is Jerusalem). The border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the Valley of Rephaim northward.”—Joshua 15:6-8
Around the time of the Yom Kippur War, settlements were created in Judea and Samaria. Ma’ale Adumim was one of those settlements. The 23 pioneering families worked hard to establish the city and the Israeli government eventually recognized it as a settlement, and it now operates as a municipality.
Those 23 pioneering families launched the movement on the night of Hanukkah in 1975—becoming a local council in 1979—and now thousands of others call Ma’ale Adumim home.
Interesting Facts About How Ma’ale Adumim’s Story and Population Has Grown[i]
- In 1991, the government officially declared Ma'ale Adumim a city.
It is the first Jewish city in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. - In 1995, the population of Ma'ale Adumim reached 20,000.
- In 1997, the population of Ma'ale Adumim reached 25,000.
- In 1999, the Ma'ale Adumim Mall, “Canion Adumim,” opened.
- In 2000, construction began on the new neighborhood “Nofei Sela.”
- In 2002, residents began moving into the new neighborhood “Nofei Sela.”
- In 2005, the population of Ma'ale Adumim reached 32,000.
- In 2010, the population of Ma'ale Adumim reached 37,000.
- In 2018, the city of Ma’ale Adumim unveiled the copper olive tree in the middle of the town as a thank-you memorial to My Olive Tree for their support.
The Story of the Copper Olive Tree at the Center of Ma’ale Adumim
Have you ever seen a painting or a sculpture that, from a distance, appeared to be almost alive?
Take a look at this olive tree…
Would you believe its leaves, numbering more than 30,000, are perfectly cut and carved from iron, steel, and copper?
The Miraculous Part…
Each leaf, yes, all 30,000 of them, were hand cut by a group of blind students from a school in Ma’ale Adumim.
One of our representatives in Israel has been in contact with this school and is interested in discovering the students’ hidden talents. But hidden no more, their gift is being shared in one of the most significant borders in the world.
Taking the hardness of the steel, iron, and copper to a place of bending and softening to create an intricate olive leaf is more than just a craft. It is a physical reminder for us to pray for softened hearts and to stand with the nation of Israel—to see it as God envisioned. A land full of abundant inheritance and flowing with milk and honey (see Ezekiel 20:6, 37:21-23; Exodus 3:8).
This olive tree represents our mission to fulfill God’s commission—to provide hope, restore the Holy Land, and pray for peace.
The Dedication…
This tree was presented and dedicated to My Olive Tree as a thank-you for the ongoing support that our sponsors have provided. The city is grateful that we, as the My Olive Tree community, have not backed away, but instead pushed pioneering efforts forward to provide jobs that will rebirth the land.
And we are grateful for your dedication as supporters who see the significance of the Holy Land, especially during this critical time in history. We thank you for standing firm in the faith and seeking peace beneath the branch of the olive tree.
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