Like the Christmas tree, the olive tree is a savior tree—but one that doesn’t just light up for a season. It lights the way for generations.
Author: Cyrus Copeland
Cyrus Copeland is known for his storytelling, dedication to social justice, and a tendency to confuse his pen for a sword. Cyrus came of age during the Iranian revolution when his American father, Max, was imprisoned and accused of being a CIA agent. In a historic turn of events, his mother Shahin became the first female lawyer in the Islamic Republic to defend her husband before the revolutionary tribunals. Years later, Cyrus embarked on a quest to uncover the truth about his father’s charges. Had he been a spy? The resulting book, Off the Radar, won the prestigious Chautauqua Prize. His journey took a dramatic turn in the West Bank, where Cyrus was struck by the transformative potential of trees. Returning stateside, he launched Treedom For Palestine — a nonprofit dedicated to fostering peace in the Holy Land through agricultural activism. By planting sustainable “Freedom Farms” across the West Bank, the organization empowers Palestinian farmers to harness the power of trees for economic justice, food security, gender equality, land rights, and environmental restoration.