Orthodox Church in Beit Sahour

Thirteen clergy wives from different church denominations from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, and Beit Jalla met in the Orthodox Church in Beit Sahour on June 21st, 2013. This day was significant because it marked Refugee Day and also it was very close to the Pentecost feast according to the Eastern (Julian) calendar.
Mrs. Aida Hadad gave a very good Bible study encompassing the two significant events. She spoke about the importance of Pentecost as the birth day of the church.
Mrs. Hadad also highlighted the entire refugee issue; what it means to be a refugee; and how we can look after every refugee/stranger here in our country. Cedar Duaybis added to what Aida said, saying that Jesus himself was also a refugee. A very interesting discussion took place and the women contributed based on their own experiences living in the different Arab countries. One of them spoke about the Palestinian refugees in Jordan; another spoke about the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon; and one spoke about Palestinian refugees in Iraq.
Afterwards, the clergy wives had lunch and then visited one of the clergy wives who used to take part in all of Sabeel’s programs. However, now she is not able to participate due to her illness, and she doesn’t leave her house as a result of her health. Muna Khoury and her husband Fr. Yacoub from the Orthodox Church in Beit Sahour were both very active with Sabeel, but both got sick. However, thank God that Fr. Yacoub still can join the clergy in most of the events. This visit was highly appreciated by the priest’s family and especially by his wife who was very much missed at the Sabeel programs.

Rev. Naim Ateek wrote a letter to the editor to the Irish Times on April 30 (see letter below); but unfortunately, his letter was not chosen by the newspaper for publication. Ateek was responding to an outrageous letter to the editor (written by Simon Mcilwaine from Anglican Friends of Israel on April 19), which can be read at this link: http://www.irishtimes.com/debate/letters/christians-in-the-holy-land-1.1364836

Sir, – I was shocked to read Simon Mcilwaine’s letter to the editor (April 19th) criticizing the article, “Palestinian Christians dwindling in number due to political situation,” (April 16th). Mcilwaine’s letter is full of very disturbing inaccuracies about Christians in the Palestinian territories and Israel.

Mcilwaine says that Christians are emigrating out of the Palestinian territories because of systematic persecution of Christians by Muslims. This is an absurd generalization that does not reflect the facts. Yes, there are sometimes isolated frictions between Muslims and Christians in the Palestinian territories as there are within each of their communities themselves. However, both communities have lived peacefully together in this region since the 7th century. Christian and Muslim Palestinians live in the same neighborhoods, go to the same schools, and suffer equally under Israel’s 45-year occupation – including checkpoints, the Wall, and the loss of land and housing to Israeli settlements. They also both suffer from lack of freedom (including freedom of movement), unemployment and poor economic conditions, attacks from settlers, family unification problems, and collective humiliation.

Our Sabeel center’s surveys (2006, see www.sabeel.org) and other surveys such as ” Palestinian Christians: Facts, Figures and Trends,” (Diyar, 2008) found the first reason for Christian emigration out of the Palestinian territories was lack of freedom and security, followed by the deteriorating economic situation, political instability, and the pursuit of education abroad. The last reasons were family reunification and religious extremism.

Arab-Israeli Christians in Israel are not as integrated into Israeli society as Mcilwaine describes. Arab Israeli citizens are second class citizens in every way and racism inside Israel against Arabs is on the rise. According to the recently released U.S. State Department Report on Human Rights Practices for 2012, Arab-Israeli citizens face institutional and societal discrimination, including attacks on individual Arab citizens and discrimination in funding schools and allocating land and resources, (see http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport). In addition, while a few individual Arab-Israeli Christians and Muslims choose to serve in the Israeli Army, the vast majority do not serve. Even those who are drafted – like the Druze young men – do not enjoy the same benefits derived from serving in the Army as Jewish soldiers do. There also is no “genuine religious freedom” in Israel (as Mcilwaine argues) if thousands of Christians and Muslims in the Palestinian territories and East Jerusalem have limited access to their holy sites because of checkpoints, denials of permits by Israel, and sometimes blocked pathways to such sites during holy events. While the Christian population inside Israel is growing, their growth is attributed to the large influx of Russian Christian immigrants.

Arab-Israeli Christians do not live in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The exception to this is in occupied East Jerusalem, where illegal Israeli settlements are built inside Palestinian neighborhoods, tearing these neighborhoods apart. Palestinians have their land confiscated or have no building permits (due to Israel’s discriminatory land allocation practices), all which forces them to rent from Jewish tenets in one settlement. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) recently petitioned against an unapproved document that is being used to limit Palestinian rights to build in East Jerusalem and justify demolitions of East Jerusalem homes. As ACRI aptly stated, “Palestinian residents face extreme limitations on building and planning, and suffer from acute shortage of housing, crowded living conditions, and an across-the-board lack of public spaces and institutions.” (see http://www.acri.org.il/en/2013/04/21/jerusalem-2000-petition/).

Mcilwaine goes on to say that it was the Palestinian terrorists who took over the Church of Nativity and desecrated it. This statement lacks serious context. The church was a refuge for the Palestinians during Israeli’s invasion into Area “A” of the West Bank in 2002, including Bethlehem. The Palestinian fighters, surrounded by Israeli forces, were defending their town and sought safety inside the church. The church authorities granted them permission. The desecration took place because of the length of Israel’s military siege – over 40 days – with no food or adequate facilities inside the church.

A most disturbing question Mcilwaine asks is, “What is the magic ingredient that makes Palestinian Muslims immune to the depressing drive to torment Christians which so characterizes the rest of the Muslim world?” This generalization concerns me because it expresses ignorance and prejudice, and contradicts Jesus’s teachings of love of neighbor. Such inaccuracies create unnecessary damage and community divisions that are not conducive to peace, which is so badly needed in this region. – Yours, etc,

Rev. Canon Naim Ateek
Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center
Jerusalem, Israel
April 30, 2013

Al-Liqa’ Center and Sabeel Center
“Challenges and Future of Shared Living in Palestine”
Wednesday, 15 May 2013, at the Latin Parish in Birzeit Meeting Room

At the invitation of Al-Liqa’ Center and Sabeel Center and with the cooperation of the Parish Priest of Birzeit, Rev. Dr. Louis Hazboun, a meeting was held comprising Muslim and Christian clergy and other well-known participants from Bethlehem, Ramallah, Birzeit, ‘Aboud, and Jifna on Wednesday 15 May 2013. The group met to discuss the challenges and the future of shared living in Palestine. Rev. Dr. Hazboun began the meeting with a detailed introduction to the museums in the Latin Parish hall, which were established and developed by the Latin Parish Priest himself. The museums display artifacts that illuminate the culture of the people who inhabited the Holy Land. Following the introduction of the museums, Rev. Dr. Hazboun welcomed the group and spoke of common factors underlying shared living, as well as its many challenges. He underlined methods of maintaining national unity.

Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek of Sabeel focused on Nakba Rememberance Day, May 15th, and spoke of his and his family’s experiences of being uprooted from Beisan in the Jordan Valley in 1948. He pointed out the attempts by Zionist soldiers to plant the seeds of discord between uprooted Christian and Muslim Palestinians. He stressed the need for the clergy to know each other and the need for frankness and dialogue.

Dr. Geries S. Khoury of Al-Liqa’ focused on challenges which face the nation and citizens as a result of the growth of fanatic political Islamist movements which attempt to exclude the “other”, Muslim or Christian. We should reject any attempts to marginalize Christians as we reject the marginalization of others who are different from us. Fanaticism is a sign of ignorance, weakness and the lack of faith. We need to face these fanatic currents with strong faith, courage, frankness and rational thinking in order to show them their crooked way and its misuse of religion and the words of God.

Dr. Khoury added that the faithful cannot exclude the others because our Lord ordered us to love one another and to live in dignity. He stressed the importance of religious discourse, education at home, in school, in mosques, in church, and in clubs. For education is the foundation of knowing the other. This knowledge teaches us not to hurt the other, despite any differences between us.

Following these presentations, a detailed discussion took place. All participants stressed the need for these gatherings to continue.

At the conclusion of this gathering, Al-Liqa’ and Sabeel invited everyone for dinner. During the meal, they continued to dialogue and get to know each other. The next gathering is scheduled for July 2013 in Bethlehem, during the month of Ramadan.

Sabeel Clergy Program

The significance of Easter in the church calendar is difficult to underestimate; it celebrates the very heart of our faith and the exultation of resurrection conquering death. However, as Eastern and Western Christians celebrate holidays using different church calendars, both Lent and Easter can feel like a divided time as the Christian family separates into groups to perform their respective traditions. Desiring to build ecumenical unity among the churches, Sabeel organizes a post-Easter gathering each year, bringing clergy together from all over the region to reflect on the season, celebrate the resurrection, and invest in community life together.
This year’s gathering was held on May 10 at the Latin Church in Ein Areek, a village just outside Ramallah, and attended by 24 clergy and their wives from Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Ramallah, Birzeit, Aboud, and Jerusalem.
The program this year involved a prayer and opening words from Naim Ateek, followed by a time of sharing by Ein Areek’s Orthodox priest Fr. Nicholas Shahen about the community in Ein Areek, the strong relationships between Muslims and Christians in the village, and the strong ecumenical spirit among the clergy and congregations.
After spending time at the Latin Church, the group visited an archaeological dig at the Greek Orthodox Church and admired a recently uncovered ancient olive press. In the afternoon, the clergy relaxed and fellowshipped at Al-Fallaha restaurant (famous for its Palestinian dish, Musakhan). The clergy and their wives reconnected after many busy months and exchanged Easter greetings of “Al Maseeh Qaam!” and “Haqqan Qaam!” (Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!)
The group ended the day with the fun Palestinian tradition of breaking eggs, which represents new life and symbolizes the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

This year we need to view Sabeel through the prism of 25 years of dedicated hard work conducted to promote peace and justice through a theology that is liberating to all. Sabeel is led by persons who have dedicated their lives

Al-Liqa’ Center and Sabeel Center
Organized a Conference on
“Peaceful Resistance in Palestine”
20 April 2013
Golden Park Hotel – Beit Sahour

The political and racial injustices perpetrated by the Israeli Occupation of Palestine harm and oppress all Palestinians with no distinction between Muslim and Christian. The threats posed to our communities belong to all of us, as we share both land and daily lives together. Sabeel and Al-Liqa’ seek to build upon and strengthen already existing relationships of trust and mutual respect between individuals and faith communities. The Sabeel Center and Al-Liqa’ Center recently co-organized a one-day conference to address peaceful, nonviolent resistance in the context of Palestine, looking at theologies and Biblical and Quranic texts that support a shared value of nonviolence.

Speakers from both Sabeel and Al-Liqa’ introduced the day’s topic, stressing that our shared belief in peaceful resistance signifies strength; it is not a result of weakness or fear of the Israeli occupiers. We share a strong belief in the justice of the Palestinian cause, and we put forth a word of truth to both Israeli and international societies, without distorting our message with violence. Our sole demand is to live in dignity and liberty in a Palestinian state and on Palestinian soil with Arab East Jerusalem as its capital; this includes, of course, the desire to live in peace with the Israelis.

The conference consisted of a total of seven lectures, and each presentation was followed by an enriching question and answer session. Both lunch and dinner were provided for participants.
The first lecture was provided by His Beatitude Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah, who spoke on the Palestinian Christian view of peaceful resistance. Patriarch Sabbah addressed the multi-faceted nature of peaceful resistance, which involves issues such as peace, violence, war, terrorism, and the various religious points of view on war and peace. Patriarch Sabbah mentioned that humanity has thus far failed in getting rid of weapons, armies, and mutual fear. His Beatitude said that the mission of religion is to direct people in the way of truth and righteousness, not to kill in the name of God. He mentioned that Holy Scripture and revelation call us to peace and love. In essence, resistance should be against evil and sin. Finally, the Patriarch suggested several books that speak about Palestinian resistance from a Christian point of view.**

The second lecture was given by Sheikh Zuheir Al-Daba’i on “The Palestinian Islamic View of Peaceful Resistance”. He pointed out that armed resistance, which generations of our people espoused, led to negative results. Instead, non-violent resistance, which many generations also practiced, led to our steadfastness. This is the strongest reply to the Zionist Israeli occupation.

Mr. Ziad ‘Izzat followed with a lecture on “Courage in Non-Violence.” Mr. ‘Izzat examined “courage” through both the cultural and philosophical legacy of the word, looking at both ancient and modern ideas that involved both violence and non-violence. He offered a comparison between violence and non-violence, and emphasized that courage cannot be equated with violence, unless violence is used to bring about good.

Ms. Ta’yeed Al-Daba’i presented the fourth lecture, which gave a comparative analysis of the First Intifada (in Arabic, “The Uprising of the Stone”, which was considered largely nonviolent) and the Second Intifada (in Arabic, “The Al-Aqsa Uprising”, which was considerably more violent). In comparing the two, Ms. Ta’yeed stressed the positive results of nonviolence during the Uprising of the Stone, while pointing out the negative results of the more violent Al-Aqsa Uprising.

Ms. Al-Daba’i’s lecture was followed by a panel comprised of three speakers: Ms Raja’ Abu Rahmeh from Bil’in, Ms. Manal Al-Tamimi from Al-Nabi Saleh, and Fr. Dr. Ibrahim Shomali from Beit Jala. Each panellist spoke about weekly non-violent activities in his or her area, which are being carried out in response to the separation wall and other Israeli colonial activities and policies.

Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh gave the sixth lecture on models of peaceful resistance in Palestine and how to transform these models into a nationalist movement. Interestingly, he added that public opinion polls clearly indicate that the majority of Palestinians support all kinds of resistance – not merely armed or merely peaceful resistance. This should be taken into account as non-violent activists strategize about resistance.

The study day concluded with a final lecture by Dr. Sami Al-Kilani on the strategy of peaceful resistance in Palestine. He spoke of factors hampering or reinforcing non-violence in Palestinian society. For example, violence against women reinforces violent thought in society. Dr. Al-Kilani emphasized that popular beliefs are the fertile ground in which violence prospers; we must take them into account as we cultivate peaceful thought and plan strategic nonviolent resistance.
The proceedings of the conference are available in both Arabic and English.

**For further reading on these topics, check out the following resources:
Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek, Justice and Only Justice and A Palestinian Cry for Reconciliation, Sabeel Center.
Dr. Geries S. Khoury, The Intifada of Heaven and the Intifada of Earth, Al-Liqa’ Center.
Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, I am a Palestinian Christian, The Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church.
“Kairos Palestine – A Moment of Truth,” www.kairospalestine.ps.
We want to express our heartfelt thanks to all who took part in the planning and successful execution of this conference: to our eloquent lecturers and panel members listed above, to our hosts and moderators (Dr. Geries S. Khoury of Al-Liqa’, Attorney Jonathan Kuttab of Sabeel, Mr. Mousa Darwish of Al-Liqa’, Mrs. Haneen Abu Sa’da, Mrs. Hanadi Soudah Younan, Dr. Adnan Musallam of Al-Liqa’, Dr. Jeanne Kattan, and Ms. Hind Khoury); to the conference organizers, to our participants from the Bethlehem Governorate; and to all our honoured guests from Bethlehem, Nablus, Hebron, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and the Galilee.

The “Via Dolorosa” or “Way of the Cross” is a 14-station route that winds through the Old City of Jerusalem. Marked by metal plaques with Roman numerals indicating each station number, these stations form a short pilgrimage along the road Jesus would have walked as he made his way to Golgotha and eventually to his death and burial. All year long, one can see groups moving from station to station, reflecting on the suffering and gruesome torture inflicted upon Jesus.

While the Old City’s Via Dolorosa starts at the Garden of Gethsemane and ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, there are forms of Palestinian suffering that move beyond the confines of the Old City and permeate every aspect of life. As a community of Palestinian Christians engaging in liberation theology, Sabeel invites others to participate in a similar pilgrimage of lament called the “Contemporary Way of the Cross”, which acknowledges present-day suffering and violent realities within Palestinian experience.

On March 19th, an ecumenical group of 35 locals and internationals gathered to walk the Old City’s Via Dolorosa, mindful of Christ’s suffering, but also intentionally lamenting various “stations” of Palestinian suffering like the Nakba, refugee camps, political prisoners, and checkpoints. For Christians, identifying with Christ in his suffering means also learning to more fully embrace the liberation which came afterwards – a liberation to which he leads all humanity. As the group walked along the old stone streets together, they carried a wooden cross, asking Jesus to strengthen their faith and their courage as they face the many challenges of life in this context. Along the way, the group sang hymns from a variety of church traditions and participated in a special liturgy published by Sabeel. The pilgrimage ended with the Lord’s prayer at the St. Helena Grotto in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the historic cross of Jesus was supposed to have been discovered.

Sabeel Community Building Program
Lenten Reflections & Women’s Day Educational Afternoon
March 12, 2013

Every year, Sabeel organizes a Lenten program providing an opportunity for the community to reflect on this holy season – how it challenges us and prepares us for Easter. This year, the Lenten program was held in conjunction with Sabeel’s celebration of Women’s Day (March 8). The full-day program involved a morning of spiritual and theological reflection, while the afternoon incorporated an educational program about socio-political challenges and health issues affecting women. The event was co-hosted by the Jerusalem and Nazareth offices, with a total of 103 participants in attendance.

After congregating at the Sabeel offices in the morning, the participants traveled over to the West Bank city of Jericho. The first stop of the day was the Good Shepherd Latin Church where the participants met Fr. Mario Hadchity, the Latin Parish Priest in Jericho. He led the group in reflecting on the city of Jericho in its Biblical context and especially on the story of Zaccheus. Using humor and his deep knowledge of the Bible, Fr. Hadchity drew important connections for the listeners between Zaccheus’s effort to glimpse Jesus, the life of faith, and the journey through Lent. He emphasized that the significance of Lent is not merely found in religious practices of fasting. It is not just what enters the body that is important, but also what proceeds from it in the form of service to others and love of neighbor. After the talk, the participants spread out on the spring grass of the convent yard to discuss personal thoughts and comments in small groups.

After a midday lunch at a local restaurant, the group transitioned to a time of learning about contributions and challenges of women, in honor of Women’s Day. Vera Pano (Masters of Public Health and Health Education Supervisor of UNRWA) spoke with the participants about the challenges that the women face in Jericho, highlighting the effects of the occupation on the economic situation. Ms. Pano also spoke of the difficult situation for families during the Second Intifada. During that time, many men were refused permits to work outside of Jericho, so the women became the main providers for their families through selling things they could make from home such as food items or artisan projects. Ms. Pano also addressed women’s health issues, explaining how local organizations like the YWCA are working hard to educate women on local health issues through a variety of programs and workshops. The women from Jerusalem and Nazareth showed great interest, and the whole group was later able to support the local economy by purchasing some of the women’s products from the YWCA.

Friday March 8th, 2013
Irtas monastery – Bethlehem

17 clergy from Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Beit Jala and Jerusalem attended the clergy meeting on March 8th, 2013 at Iras Monastery – Bethlehem.

The meeting started with a prayer led by the Orthodox priest from Jerusalem and accompanied by an Eastern Hymns by the participants.
Rev. Naim expressed his appreciations to the clergy for their commitment to the clergy program during his absent on Sabbatical last year. Clergy expressed as well their appreciations for the work that Sabeel is doing in regard to the ecumenical work.

As a preparation for the Sabeel 9th International Conference, which will be focusing on the Bible and the Palestinians, we asked Fr. Issa Hijazeen, a young Catholic priest from the Latin Patriarchate who is studying the Bible at the Franciscan Seminary to present the Old Testament in today’s reading and interpretation.

Fr. Issa spoke about several things concerning the Challenges that we all face in Old Testament including the Promise Land, or the Land of the promise, he presented a great interpretations to many scriptures and passages in the Bible, explaining some of the Jews Ideologies.
A very good discussion took place regarding the challenges that we are facing in living in one area with different mentalities and cultures and in learning how to accept the others.

After Fr. Issa‘s presentation, we took a break and enjoyed the Nuns in the Ertas Monastery ‘s cookies and warmly hospitality, and then when back to a very good discussions and interpretation for 1 hour.
After the meeting again we enjoyed the wonderful meal that was served to us and done by the nuns in the convent.
The meeting finished at 2pm.

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in the Light of Christian Faith and International Law
January 25, 2013

This brochure, written by the Reverend Dr. Henri Veldhuis (Culemborg, the Netherlands), doesn’t pretend to express the theological and political views of Friends of Sabeel Netherlands and Kairos Palestine Netherlands in all respects; for that our supporters are too diverse. The author is primarily responsible for the choice of words, the tone and the line of reasoning. But on the most essential points the author does clearly express the perspective from which Friends of Sabeel Netherlands and Kairos Palestine Netherlands dedicate themselves to more justice and peace in the Middle East. We hope this brochure will contribute in many churches and in other Christian circles, for instance in political parties, to a renewed theological and political discussion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Click here for the Document
or check www.henriveldhuis.nl