We understand the importance of faith and family, and that is a core value that we apply to every aspect of our business. We started the Holy Land Market as a family business in 2001, and have grown as a company and family since then. As a family of strong faith, our primary goal when starting out was to support the locals in the Holy Land, and that’s still our main focus today.

We’re proud to offer the largest collection of authentic items from the Holy Land to customers like you. Our items are handmade by only the most experienced artisans in various cities. They understand the importance of crafting every item with care and love.

Our core values are focused on family and our faith, and those principles shape every aspect of our business. In fact, Holy Land Market was started as a family business more than twenty years ago, and it remains a family business to this day. When you purchase from us, you can rest assured that you’re supporting a company that understands the importance of being a Christian witness. We started Holy Land Market with one important goal in mind-- to be the Christian standard in the Holy Land-- a goal we still strive for.

The cross signifies many things for believers. It is a symbol of the Lord’s love for his creations, as He chose to sacrifice Himself on it. It is also a symbol of resurgence and regeneration, as He rose from the dead and signaled His victory over death. It’s why the cross is often referred to as the “victorious cross” and the “wood of life”.

By holding the cross in your hands and carrying it with you wherever you go, you can keep yourself grounded during moments of great joy and find the strength you need to get through difficult times.

• When you achieve something great and feel on top of the world, the cross can remind you that it was through His grace that you managed to achieve what you did, for you are merely the device through which He operates (Philippians 2:12-13).
• When you are wronged by someone and feel the urge to punish them, the cross can remind you that forgiveness is a virtue and that if you forgive others for their transgressions, you will be forgiven by the Heavenly Father for your own transgressions (Matthew 6:14-15).
• When you do something wrong and feel ashamed about it, the cross can remind you that even though you have sinned, you can still redeem yourself by believing in Him and His divine grace (Romans 3:23-24).
• When you are in pain, the cross can remind you of His sacrifices and His crucifixion, which was an act of His own will. It can help you understand the importance of willful humility and the willingness to bear the burden of suffering and pain. Through your own pain, you can feel connected to Him and feel His presence. As Psalm 147:3 says, He can heal your broken heart and heal your wounds.

The Bible is replete with references to the olive tree. Some of the most notable references include:

• In Deuteronomy 8:8, the land of Israel is described as the “land of olive oil and honey”.
• In Yotam’s parable, the olive tree is described as the king of trees.
• In Jeremiah 11:16, the olive tree is described as a beautiful tree with goodly fruit.
• In Revelation 11:4, Joshua and Zerubbabel are described as the “two olive trees and the two candelabra that stand before the Lord of the Earth”.
• In Psalm 52:8, David compares himself to an olive tree which is flourishing in the house of God and states that he trusts in God’s unfailing love forever.

Olive trees are known for their extremely long life spans. The amazing part is that even trees that are hundreds of years old are capable of producing new shoots. Many scholars compare the regeneration of olive trees to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Bethlehem has a rich tradition of olive wood carving, which dates back to the Biblical times. The city is home to a number of Christian artisans who specialize in carving religious and culturally significant items out of olive wood. For thousands of years, the skills and techniques associated with the craft have been passed from one generation to another and the tradition continues unbroken to date.

WHY OLIVE WOOD IS SPECIAL

More importantly, many Biblical scholars are of the opinion that Jesus, being a carpenter by occupation, must have worked with olive wood, which was and still is abundantly available in Bethlehem. So, for a Christian, olive wood artifacts – especially those made from the olive trees in Bethlehem – are extremely special.

Perhaps the most important reason why olive wood from Bethlehem remains sacred for Christians is that Jesus Christ prayed under an olive tree before He sacrificed Himself on the cross for our sins. The fact that He chose to spend the last hours of His life as a mortal under an olive tree makes it all the more significant for Christians.