On July 22^nd, 2016 Sabeel held the third training meeting for Bible Study Facilitators at the Latin Church in Zababdeh. Two young men and 4 young women attended the meeting from Ramallah, Bethlehem, Zababdeh and Jerusalem. Each Facilitator was asked to prepare two of Jesus’ parables from the Bible. We were amazed at the way they presented the texts, despite the fact that they were a little bit afraid when we asked them to prepare their own bible reflections. They all did a great job. We ended the meeting with a lovely lunch arranged by one of the facilitators. The clergy in the village of Zababdeh joined us for lunch and they expressed their appreciation for the work that Sabeel is doing with those young people.

Sabeel organized a field visit to the city of Nazareth on Friday, July 15, 2016. The visit included a tour to Mary of Nazareth International Center. During the tour our group watched a high-tech film on Mary’s childhood up to the annunciation, ending with the mystery of the Ressurection.

After lunch we visited Nasijona organization that seeks to preserve local heritage, support women and revive Palestinian art, and care for culture and social relationships. Sthe women of Sabeel Nazareth came and met our group at Nasijona and we had wonderful time and very warm hospitality.

On July 8^th 2016, there was one of the monthly women’s meetings. They have been doing a book study on I Come from There…and Remember, about Palestinian villages which were displaced during the Nakba. One of the women prepared information and discussion questions about the village of Al-Ghabseyeh. There was a discussion about the differences in the area then and now.

On June 30^th, 2016, there was a youth Bible study. The youth met with Sister Losel, the youth and women’s Bible study facilitator, to read, discuss, and ask questions. The passage for this meeting was the story of Jesus healing in Capernaum in Luke 5:17-36. There were eight participants.

Sabeel Nazareth organized a two day retreat in Jerusalem on Palestinian Liberation Theology. Founding members of Sabeel, Rev. Naim Ateek and Ms. Cedar Duaybis led the two day retreat.

Eilaboon is an Arab Palestinian village inside Israel. The village is located on the far west-side of the Sea of Galilee. It is  inhabited by Christians and Muslims, with a population of 5000 people.

The village was occupiedby the Israeli forces on October 30th 1948. A massacre took placeafter the village surrendered.

The inhabitants of the village were forced to abandon the village on foot heading North. After 50 days, the people returned gradually, as part of an agreement between Archbishop Hakim and the leader of the “Arab Sector” in the Israeli Foreign Ministry. The village remained under Martial Law until 1966.

Sabeel organized an educational tour to the village of Eilaboon.

Inspired by the successful book launch of “Haifa” Sabeel Nazareth organized an educational tour to the city of Haifa. The Participants walked in the city and listened to stories and testimonies from the people who have remained, and escaped the forced eviction of the Jewish militias.

The women’s book study group had their monthly meeting on June 10^th. They are currently doing a series of meetings where they talk about a village that was displaced in 1948, during the Nakba, using Sabeel’s book I Come from There…and Remember. This month, the focus was on the village of Al-Birwa.