New Israeli legislation:
On Monday, February 23, 2014, the Israeli Knesset enacted a new law that recognizes Muslim and Christian Arab communities as separate identities, giving them their own representation in an employment commission. The law passed by a margin of 31 to 6. Read More
Young Women’s Report 28-2-2014 – Film on Christian-Muslim Relations
Friday the 28th, 16 young women joined us to watch the movie “Where Do We Go Now?” directed by Nadine Labaki. The film revolves around a small village in Lebanon isolated from its surroundings, inhabited by Muslims and Christians.
After a television set is installed in one of the houses and news of the religious affiliation were easily reached from the surrounding villages, religious disputes break out between the men of the village. In an attempt to improve the situation, the women resort to some tricks to distract the men from the problems. The film was produced in 2011 and won many international awards.
All the women of the Sabeel program came together this evening to catch up with their friends and watch this film at Yabous Cultural Center in Jerusalem. We had a brief discussion afterwards about the film and connecting it with our daily lives. It was so powerful that we felt the need to talk about it further; women talked about their experiences and friendships with Muslims and how interactions with them is important in order to make change, because sometimes change comes from within and spreads to the people close to us.
Dinner was then served at the center’s small café, called Fayrouz, where we all joined in for a meal and continued our discussion.
The film gave the women a perspective of strength. It showed that women have power, and they can strongly influence their surroundings. They can be a positive inspiration in their homes and with their spouses and children.
Making change within ourselves and in our environment is a big step, and what is important is coming together and not letting what is happening with Christian-Muslim relations in neighboring Syria affect us.
Sabeel went to Terra Santa School on Thursday evening, the 27th of February 2014, looking forward to the first session with the students. We had a workshop of “meaning of community” ready for them, and two stations set up, one for a recycling program and another for basketball where we will be using the game for peace building. –both recycle and basketball are tools to better skills of communication and leadership.
Twenty students from this all-boys’ school eagerly joined us to know what change they will be making by working with us.
We sat in a circle, and came together to get acquainted. Then we had them sit in smaller circles to discuss their community, and come up with one word that describes their community.
The exercise was helpful and fruitful and made the young boys think critically. We were pleased with their responses: One of the groups said “security and belonging, “others said “cooperation,” While another group said “a way of living.” The goal of the session was to make the students think about the positive as well as the negative in their own community within Jerusalem.
They shared their ideas and thoughts with their classmates and some shared their ideas with us, we moved on to our next part of the session which was a PowerPoint presentation on recycling, the two young women responsible were prepared in order to show its importance to maintain our environment and how recycling also can be an educational tool.
Afterwards, the entire group was divided into smaller groups, and each group went to different stations. One group went with two of our Sabeel volunteers to do an activity on recycling, and the other group went out to the court to play basketball (a tool for bridge building) with our three volunteer coaches.
Each group had 30 minutes, and then they switched stations. The students enjoyed the afternoon and asked if we were going to have other activities for them. We eagerly answered yes!
We felt that we achieved something positive in the long run. They were very much engaged with the activities and with us personally.
Around 30 clergy and their wives headed south to the Negev to visit historical and biblical sites as part of Sabeel’s annual clergy trip. They came from different areas in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel; but unfortunately, many in the West Bank could not obtain permits for the trip.
The Sabeel staff met the clergy and their wives at the Jerusalem and Nazareth Sabeel offices. Then they all met at the Latrun Monastery on their way to Al-Naqab, where they enjoyed a light breakfast and had the opportunity to introduce themselves to each other.
Their next stop was at the village of Tel Sheva to see archeological sites, including an ancient water well from Abraham’s time. There, Abu Nabil, a representative from The Bedouin Committee for Unrecognized Villages, spoke to the group of the unrecognized villages where the Bedouins– all citizens of Israel – live without secure housing structures, electricity and other essential services.
Tens of thousands of people in these impoverished communities, hundreds of years old, are threatened by the Israeli government’s Prawer Plan, he explained. This plan would evict them from their ancestral land and relocate them for the benefit of Israeli Jewish citizens. The Prawer Plan was defeated in the Israeli Knesset in November 2013, and temporarily placed on hold.
The group then visited the Women of Lakiya where the founder of this organization, Nimeh Sanee’, told the clergy and their wives about their embroidery-selling project and their literacy program to teach Bedouin women to read. The women then provided the group lunch in typical Bedouin style.
The last stop was a visit to the village of Tel Arad where excavations are taking place, including two castles of King Solomon and an ancient housing unit. The Rev. Kamal Farah, who specializes in archeology relating to the Bible, the Church, and the Palestinian people, led a tour of the sites.
The day trip ended with the group traveling along the route of the Dead Sea to the Deir Hejleh Monastery where everyone rested before parting ways. The feeling among the group was that it was a blessed day. The clergy and their wives were grateful for the contacts they made with the Bedouin communities and left with hope and plans to bring people from their church congregations on the same trip to Al-Naqab.
The Youth Group of Ramallah, along with Sabeel, came together to have a young adult event on Valentine’s Day, 14/2/2014. It was not like any other event: there were questions (a “quiz”) given as part of a game, which everyone enjoyed playing. In addition, there was a short spiritual discussion that Fr. Elias Awad led before the game started. The profit from the event went to children with cancer.
We planned this event on Valentine’s Day as a special occasion, to show love to the people out there who are in need.
More than 100 people showed up to Quiz Night to enjoy each other’s company, pray together, and participate in a good cause. We came together for a greater purpose, and we met the goal of raising money for the Augusta Victoria Hospital, never losing hope for children with cancer that they will win their battle.
Thursday the 13th of February Sabeel staff went to the Terra Santa School in the Christian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. There, we cooperated with the school administration and Principal Fr. Ramzi Sidawi.
The school had a positive response to Sabeel’s proposed project to spend time with the children from 8th to 11th grade, meeting with them twice a month, getting to know their neighborhood, and strengthening their sense of belonging to the community.
We are going to have workshops, including ones on the environment and how to use recycled items to our advantage. Also, we will be using the game of basketball with the children as a tool for crossing bridges and peace building.
Our first session with the students was introductory and brief, as we explained who we are and what we are planning to do. We spent 20 minutes in each class and got them excited about the program.
We are going to have our first meeting with them next week, and 40-50 students will join.
It’s a great start, and we will keep you updated on our sessions with the students.
Stay tuned!
On Friday Feb.7th, 2014 we had our first youth gathering of the year. Despite being away for quite some time, the turnout was better than expected – as many as 34 participants! They were eager to join in our programs.
Father Boulus from the Assyrian Orthodox Church discussed the role of the youth in church and within their communities, and the importance of team work and spirit.
Then, we introduced our programs for the 2014 year and mentioned the exciting educational trips that are ahead within Jerusalem and the conference we are planning to have this summer for the local young adults. They were excited to know about these new developments and they volunteered to help.
With a couple of icebreaker games, the young adults got to know each other better. Most of them are acquainted with each other; and they connected more through the games that required team work.
For dinner we had pizza and enjoyed our time with one another. We felt that this was the start of many great gatherings. We got positive feedback from the young adults and look forward to the next get together.
Community members gathered at five o’clock at the Dominican Church to begin a special prayer service for people suffering from cancer. The service, held on World Cancer Day in honor of those who are currently sick and those who have passed away from cancer, focused attention on God’s words of healing and God’s faithfulness in times of sickness.
Attendees received a candle and a lavender ribbon upon entering the church to remember those afflicted with all varieties of cancer. After a welcome from Rev. Naim Ateek, the service officially began with a hymn and prayer for health shared by former Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah. The congregation and clergy read Psalm 34 responsively, listened to James 5, and heard a section of Luke 6 chanted aloud by Bishop Attallah Hanna.
Father Hanna Cinti of the Latin Church at Ein Arik shared his personal testimony of having cancer, followed by a special hymn performed by Al-Raja Jerusalemites Band. Dr. Tawfiq Nasser, the director of the Augusta Victoria Hospital on the Mount of Olives, presented briefly on how the work of the hospital and its status as one of the only cancer treatment options for children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Members of the local clergy, including both English-speaking and French-speaking pastors, shared in a series of prayers as the congregation lit candles in vigil for those sick. The service ended with the Lord’s Prayer, another hymn, and a blessing from the clergy. Several attendees mentioned on leaving that they found the service very meaningful, having family members who passed away from cancer.
Community members gathered at five o’clock at the Dominican Church to begin a special prayer service for people suffering from cancer. The service, held on World Cancer Day for those who are currently sick and in remembrance of those who have passed away from cancer, focused attention on God’s words of healing and God’s faithfulness in times of sickness. Attendees received a candle and a lavender ribbon upon entering the church to remember those afflicted with all types of cancer.
After a welcome from Rev. Naim Ateek, the service officially began with a hymn and prayer for health, shared by Latin Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah. The congregation and clergy read Psalm 34 responsively, listened to James 5, and heard a section of Luke 6 chanted by Bishop Attallah Hanna.
Father Hanna Cinti of the Latin Church at Ein Arik shared his personal testimony of having cancer; this was then followed by a special hymn performed by Al-Raja Jerusalem Band. Dr. Tawfiq Nasir, Director of the Augusta Victoria Hospital on the Mount of Olives, briefly talked about the work of the hospital and described its status as one of the only cancer treatment options for children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Members of the local clergy, including both English-speaking and French-speaking pastors, shared in a series of prayers as the congregation lit candles in vigil for those who are sick. The service ended with the Lord’s Prayer, another hymn, and a blessing from the clergy. Several attendees mentioned upon leaving that they found the service very meaningful, having family members who passed away from cancer.
On the 31st of January 16 young women met again for a lovely evening with Sabeel co-founder, Mrs. Cedar Duaybis, who explained to them about Sabeel and Palestinian Liberation Theology. This subject was very important to the group and they were interested to know more. It really touched them and they insisted on having more meetings with Cedar especially about this topic.
Then, Sawsan Bitar of Sabeel told them about Sabeel’s plans and programs for the year and encouraged their future participation.
The group of young women gathered to taste all the good treats that they themselves made and brought with them to share.
