Last night we spent the night with the family of the Atta Jabber who reside outside the city of Hebron. Their family has farmed the land for approx. 300 years, but as with many of the others we have visited with, is being threatened by Jewish settlements being built all around them. One of the common themes is that those who reside closest to the settlements seem to suffer most of the abuse. Atta shared many horrendous stories as well as some video tape and pictures of incidents that happened in the past. Two of his homes demolished by the Israeli government and a beating by Israeli soldiers that left him so severely injured that after serving 12 days in prison, a doctor ordered that he be taken to a hospital because he was near death. Atta is a man in his mid 40's with three young children who looks to be in his 60's or even 70's. The many years of abuse, threats, and violence have taken their toll on him and his family. Once again, it was Atta and his family's gracious hospitality, their desire to share their stories to get the word out what it is really like to live in the West Bank, their strong determination to hold on to their land, and to try and resist non-violently which stood out. None of them deny or approve of the violent means that some of the Palestinian terrorist organizations have taken in the past, but that does not seem to be where most of the Palestinians are at.
While trying as hard as possible to remain objective, it is hard to imagine what would justify such abuse, harassment, destruction and violence. For the Palestinians they seem to be up against so much: the Israeli government, the settlers, and a huge army that is supposed to be neutral but is clearly on the side of the Israeli settlers. Tomorrow we get a chance to sit down with an Israeli settler and hear their side of the story.
So much hatred that has built up between the two sides, especially over the past 50 years, yet many, middle age and up, recall a day when the Palestinians and Israeli Jews co-existed peacefully in the region. Seems so far from that today.
Tomorrow we return to Jerusalem for our last night on the delegation. For me it is off to the Sea of Galilee before returning home late Tuesday night, early Wednesday morning. Perhaps the greatest thing I have learned on this trip is just how much we in America have to be thankful for. The ability to live in peace just about all the time. Something not to be taken lightly. And perhaps peace is like all the other gifts God has given us, "for those who have been given much, much is expected."
Sharing the Peace of Christ in our community and around the world,
Dick
Saturday, July 31, 11:35 a.m. Hebron time
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
The Lord is My Shepherd
On Thursday we traveled to the village of A'Tuwani, a small village of approx. 200 Palestinians in a rural area south of Hebron and in the northern part of the Desert of Negev. A'Tuwani has been the scene of many settler attacks over the past several years and there is a CPT unit assigned there on a full-time basis. For the first time in my life I saw real shepherds at their jobs as they guided their sheep to and from the villages to graze a couple times a day, very early in the morning and again in the late afternoon. A'Tuwani is a very agricultural community which makes its living on the land - the crops that they plant and their flocks.
A' Tuwani is now bordered by an Jewish Israeli settlement and the shepherds are often attacked as they enter their fields (more like mountains and rock). Often the CPT unit is asked to escort the shepherds to help lessen the chance of attack. Their other major assignment is to escort the children to and from school so they don't get attacked by the settler youth and adults. It was evident by the interaction of the CPT workers and the village people that there is great appreciation for one another.
Once again, as with all the other Palestinians we have met with, certain things stood out: great hospitality, their courage, their determination to stay the course, and their hope.
The men in the delegation stayed overnight at the home of Jumah, one of the leaders of the village. His home is at the outer edge of the village, and the closest to the Jewish settlement. Jumah's family have come under attack many times in the past. His, then five-year-old, son was injured a couple sometime back when a bullet grazed the front of his forehead. Within the past month a group of settlers forced their way into their home , broke some windows, and verbally & physically harassed the women and children. Jumah and his brothers now take turns sleeping on the roof of the house as a lookout for any future attacks. We slept Thursday night on the roof - beautiful skies, cool breeze, and fortunately no incidents. We also slept on the roof because there was no room in the house which is the home of 35 family members.
We also had the opportunity to meet with a couple of young women from "Operation Dove," a Christian organization from Italy, which focuses on peace and reconciliation, somewhat similar to CPT, perhaps with a more intentional effort to bring the two sides in the conflict together. But even they reported their frustration in that the Palestinians seem much more willing, at least at the grass roots level, to engage in dialogue. Other than a relatively small number of Israeli human rights activists, very few of the Israeli Jews want to even dialogue. Why the need to dialogue when you have the Israeli army to protect you?
Throughout that day and evening I couldn't help but think of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd . . . You prepare a table in the presence of my enemies." A'Tuwani and the surrounding countryside, such a beautiful area which seems like it should be so peaceful, then you realize how tenious that peace really is. I left the village with great admiration for the people that live there and the CPT workers who serve there on a full-time basis.
A' Tuwani is now bordered by an Jewish Israeli settlement and the shepherds are often attacked as they enter their fields (more like mountains and rock). Often the CPT unit is asked to escort the shepherds to help lessen the chance of attack. Their other major assignment is to escort the children to and from school so they don't get attacked by the settler youth and adults. It was evident by the interaction of the CPT workers and the village people that there is great appreciation for one another.
Once again, as with all the other Palestinians we have met with, certain things stood out: great hospitality, their courage, their determination to stay the course, and their hope.
The men in the delegation stayed overnight at the home of Jumah, one of the leaders of the village. His home is at the outer edge of the village, and the closest to the Jewish settlement. Jumah's family have come under attack many times in the past. His, then five-year-old, son was injured a couple sometime back when a bullet grazed the front of his forehead. Within the past month a group of settlers forced their way into their home , broke some windows, and verbally & physically harassed the women and children. Jumah and his brothers now take turns sleeping on the roof of the house as a lookout for any future attacks. We slept Thursday night on the roof - beautiful skies, cool breeze, and fortunately no incidents. We also slept on the roof because there was no room in the house which is the home of 35 family members.
We also had the opportunity to meet with a couple of young women from "Operation Dove," a Christian organization from Italy, which focuses on peace and reconciliation, somewhat similar to CPT, perhaps with a more intentional effort to bring the two sides in the conflict together. But even they reported their frustration in that the Palestinians seem much more willing, at least at the grass roots level, to engage in dialogue. Other than a relatively small number of Israeli human rights activists, very few of the Israeli Jews want to even dialogue. Why the need to dialogue when you have the Israeli army to protect you?
Throughout that day and evening I couldn't help but think of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd . . . You prepare a table in the presence of my enemies." A'Tuwani and the surrounding countryside, such a beautiful area which seems like it should be so peaceful, then you realize how tenious that peace really is. I left the village with great admiration for the people that live there and the CPT workers who serve there on a full-time basis.
Busy Couple Days
It has been a busy couple days. We have been to At Tuwani, a small village to the south of Hebron at the north end of the Negev Desert. Stayed overnight there last night, returned to Hebron today, stood as observers for a couple incidents that occurred, one between settlers and a Palestinian family just outside of Hebron and one actually between Israeli soldiers and two Palestinian police officers here in Hebron. We are currently getting ready to leave to stay the evening with a Palestinian family. Hope to provide a longer blog tomorrow.
In Christ,
Dick
Friday, 7/30, 5:15 p.m. Hebron time
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Whose side is God on?
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1
My goal prior to arriving here in Israel/Palestine was to try and remain objective. It is difficult with all the we are seeing and hearing. As I read the gospels it seems apparent that Jesus would favor the oppressed. The Palestinians definitely seem to be the oppressed people. They can't go where they want, they are harassed by the Israeli settlers and soldiers at just about every turn, and many seem to be suffering from extreme poverty. The unemployment rate in the Hebron area is about 45% and many say that is a low estimate. It is evident as we walk around the city when the merchants literally beg us to buy their products. Many of the Palestinian shops have been closed by force since the occupation and many are closed because they just can't make any money.
At the same time the Jewish settlers who live in the city, with the armed military surrounding their neighborhood (1500 soldiers to watch over 400 settlers), which appear to be more like condominiums in the U.S., have their own roads and are allowed to come and go freely.
Today we had a nice walking tour of the city. The location in Hebron which brings to light the entire conflict is the Tomb of the Patriarchs - thought to be built over the tombs of Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Jacob. It is regarded as a sacred place by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Part of the great wall around it dates back to 20 B.C. Through the centuries it has been a church, a mosque, a temple. It has been the sight of much blood shed over the years, the most recent in 1994 when a Jewish doctor entered the mosque and opened fire killing 29 Muslim worshipers. The city has been under strain and conflict ever sense. Today the building is divided up between the mosque and a Jewish synagogue. Today we visited the mosque, going through several checkpoints overseen by many several armed soldiers.
Later in the day we visited the Qurtuba School, a Palestinian school for children grades 1 through 6. The school is located right across the street from one of the Jewish settlements. Through the recent years the children have been harassed by the settlers as they walk to and from school. Twice the school has been set on fire, their garden torn up many times, all within sight of the Israeli soldier checkpoints. One of CPT's primary responsibilities here in Hebron has been escorting the children to and from school each day. The principal, Reem AL Shareef, was happy to report that with the help of CPT and other internationals watching over the children, there has not been a child injured going to or from school since 2006. As a result the enrollment of the school has gone from 70 students to 155 students.
Despite all the horrendous stories we have heard the past several days, the Palestinian people that we have talked with, especially the women, including the principal of the school today, seem to be a very strong, courageous, and resilient people. For the most part they also seem hopeful. The people that we have talked with in Hebron all say that there seems to be a lot less tension than in quite some time. The current group of soldiers that has been assigned here (they are assigned for four month periods) seem to be a much less aggressive group. We found that to be true today as we engaged in conversation with several of them. Yet the people of Hebron have learned within the past day or two that Israel has approved plans to build another settlement here in the city of Hebron.
Whose side is God on? Good question. Jesus said, "blessed are the poor, those who mourn, the oppressed, the merciful, the peacemakers, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."
Well, time for dinner. Home made spaghetti tonight!
In Christ,
Dick
Wed. 7/28, 7:00 p.m. Hebron time
My goal prior to arriving here in Israel/Palestine was to try and remain objective. It is difficult with all the we are seeing and hearing. As I read the gospels it seems apparent that Jesus would favor the oppressed. The Palestinians definitely seem to be the oppressed people. They can't go where they want, they are harassed by the Israeli settlers and soldiers at just about every turn, and many seem to be suffering from extreme poverty. The unemployment rate in the Hebron area is about 45% and many say that is a low estimate. It is evident as we walk around the city when the merchants literally beg us to buy their products. Many of the Palestinian shops have been closed by force since the occupation and many are closed because they just can't make any money.
At the same time the Jewish settlers who live in the city, with the armed military surrounding their neighborhood (1500 soldiers to watch over 400 settlers), which appear to be more like condominiums in the U.S., have their own roads and are allowed to come and go freely.
Today we had a nice walking tour of the city. The location in Hebron which brings to light the entire conflict is the Tomb of the Patriarchs - thought to be built over the tombs of Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Jacob. It is regarded as a sacred place by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Part of the great wall around it dates back to 20 B.C. Through the centuries it has been a church, a mosque, a temple. It has been the sight of much blood shed over the years, the most recent in 1994 when a Jewish doctor entered the mosque and opened fire killing 29 Muslim worshipers. The city has been under strain and conflict ever sense. Today the building is divided up between the mosque and a Jewish synagogue. Today we visited the mosque, going through several checkpoints overseen by many several armed soldiers.
Later in the day we visited the Qurtuba School, a Palestinian school for children grades 1 through 6. The school is located right across the street from one of the Jewish settlements. Through the recent years the children have been harassed by the settlers as they walk to and from school. Twice the school has been set on fire, their garden torn up many times, all within sight of the Israeli soldier checkpoints. One of CPT's primary responsibilities here in Hebron has been escorting the children to and from school each day. The principal, Reem AL Shareef, was happy to report that with the help of CPT and other internationals watching over the children, there has not been a child injured going to or from school since 2006. As a result the enrollment of the school has gone from 70 students to 155 students.
Despite all the horrendous stories we have heard the past several days, the Palestinian people that we have talked with, especially the women, including the principal of the school today, seem to be a very strong, courageous, and resilient people. For the most part they also seem hopeful. The people that we have talked with in Hebron all say that there seems to be a lot less tension than in quite some time. The current group of soldiers that has been assigned here (they are assigned for four month periods) seem to be a much less aggressive group. We found that to be true today as we engaged in conversation with several of them. Yet the people of Hebron have learned within the past day or two that Israel has approved plans to build another settlement here in the city of Hebron.
Whose side is God on? Good question. Jesus said, "blessed are the poor, those who mourn, the oppressed, the merciful, the peacemakers, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."
Well, time for dinner. Home made spaghetti tonight!
In Christ,
Dick
Wed. 7/28, 7:00 p.m. Hebron time
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
A Very Sad Day
This morning we began the day by visiting two more human rights groups working in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. After lunch we traveled to the city of Hebron where we will be staying and working out of the CPT Hebron office/apartment for the next several days. It is quite obvious that Hebron is an occupied city, where there is both Palestinian land, homes, and businesses intermixed with Israeli/Jewish settlements. There are heavily armed Israeli soldiers and Palestinian police officers all over and you pass through many checkpoints as you walk around the Old City. This afternoon many of us went out on patrol with the CPT members who are assigned to the Hebron office. We were checked several times by the Israeli soldiers and interacted with many of the Palestinians who seem to be greatly appreciative of CPT's presence. The soldiers quite less.
After patrol we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with CPT's neighbor, Zleekha Mustaseb, who runs a kindergarten for the Palestinian children in the area. She provided us with "Maqluba," a traditional blessing meal of chicken, vegetable, and rice.
Today we received some very sad news. The Bedouin village which we visited on Saturday, where we were served tea and food in many of the homes, was completely destroyed by the Israeli government early this morning. They executed the order with 1,300 police officers, helicopters, water canons, and bulldozers, demolishing all their homes, and displacing approx. 300 Bedouins, many of them young children who we interacted with on Saturday. We have been reading of the account on many of the international news services, including CNN, which you can check out by going to CNN.com and searching for "Bedouins Evicted from Village in Southern Israel." A sobering reminder that we find ourselves in a country where land is being taken by force in many different areas from many different peoples.
I close at the end of a long day with others waiting to get on the computer and looking forward to a good night's rest and the day ahead tomorrow.
With the Peace of Christ
Tuesday, 7/21, 11:00 p.m. Hebron time
After patrol we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with CPT's neighbor, Zleekha Mustaseb, who runs a kindergarten for the Palestinian children in the area. She provided us with "Maqluba," a traditional blessing meal of chicken, vegetable, and rice.
Today we received some very sad news. The Bedouin village which we visited on Saturday, where we were served tea and food in many of the homes, was completely destroyed by the Israeli government early this morning. They executed the order with 1,300 police officers, helicopters, water canons, and bulldozers, demolishing all their homes, and displacing approx. 300 Bedouins, many of them young children who we interacted with on Saturday. We have been reading of the account on many of the international news services, including CNN, which you can check out by going to CNN.com and searching for "Bedouins Evicted from Village in Southern Israel." A sobering reminder that we find ourselves in a country where land is being taken by force in many different areas from many different peoples.
I close at the end of a long day with others waiting to get on the computer and looking forward to a good night's rest and the day ahead tomorrow.
With the Peace of Christ
Tuesday, 7/21, 11:00 p.m. Hebron time
Monday, July 26, 2010
O Little Town of Bethlehem
We arrived in Bethlehem last yesterday evening. We were welcomed by Issa Zoughbi and his wife Diana. Issa is a Palestinain Baptist pastor and operates a Christian Hostel entitled "The House of Bread." They served us a wonderful dinner last night and breakfast this morning. This morning we visited with BADIL - Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights and Wi'am - Palestinian Reconciliation Center. At Wi'am they served a wonderful lunch and after learning that the couple on the delegation - John & Peggy Holm - were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary today, baked a special anniversary cake for dessert.
This afternoon we had a little time for sightseeing and several of us visited the Church of the Nativity, which is actually many different churches in one, believed to be the place of Christ's birth. As with many of the other sights here in the Holy Land, whether it is the exact place or not, to think I am standing somewhere close to Jesus' birthplace, gives one the sense of awe. And yet there is much sadness in Bethlehem as well as it is the most police presence we have experienced yet, vendors harassing you trying to capatilize on the significance of the location and the many tourists, and the presence of the large wall that is being built around the city to seperate the Jewish Israelites from the Palestinians and the presence of a Palestinian Refugee Camp, Aida Camp, within sight distance.
We spent the late afternoon and this evening at the refugee camp. Our guide was a young woman named Kholoud whose grandparents came to the refugee camp more than 60 years ago after being forced from their home in 1948. Kholoud's mother and Kholoud were both born in the refugee camp. Since 2004 the camp is now being surrounded by "the wall," with its armed guard towers and security cameras. And yet "hope" seems to be what many of the Palestinian's that we met today seem to still have. That one day they will be able to live together in peace with the Israelites. The other continued common thread has been their hospitality - providing us with a wonderful dinner.
Tomorrow we will be meeting with a couple more human rights groups working here in Bethlehem and then on to our third, longest and final part of the journey in the West Bank.
Sharing the Love of Christ, in our community and around the world,
Dick
Tuesday, 7/26, 10:15 p.m.
This afternoon we had a little time for sightseeing and several of us visited the Church of the Nativity, which is actually many different churches in one, believed to be the place of Christ's birth. As with many of the other sights here in the Holy Land, whether it is the exact place or not, to think I am standing somewhere close to Jesus' birthplace, gives one the sense of awe. And yet there is much sadness in Bethlehem as well as it is the most police presence we have experienced yet, vendors harassing you trying to capatilize on the significance of the location and the many tourists, and the presence of the large wall that is being built around the city to seperate the Jewish Israelites from the Palestinians and the presence of a Palestinian Refugee Camp, Aida Camp, within sight distance.
We spent the late afternoon and this evening at the refugee camp. Our guide was a young woman named Kholoud whose grandparents came to the refugee camp more than 60 years ago after being forced from their home in 1948. Kholoud's mother and Kholoud were both born in the refugee camp. Since 2004 the camp is now being surrounded by "the wall," with its armed guard towers and security cameras. And yet "hope" seems to be what many of the Palestinian's that we met today seem to still have. That one day they will be able to live together in peace with the Israelites. The other continued common thread has been their hospitality - providing us with a wonderful dinner.
Tomorrow we will be meeting with a couple more human rights groups working here in Bethlehem and then on to our third, longest and final part of the journey in the West Bank.
Sharing the Love of Christ, in our community and around the world,
Dick
Tuesday, 7/26, 10:15 p.m.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
From the Desert to Jerusalem
Yesterday we traveled to the south, from the city of Jerusalem, through the beautiful mountains, lots of green vegetation, to the desert of Negev. Even saw some camels grazing in the the fields along the way. We visited the land of the Bedouins', a native people who have lived there for hundreds to thousands of years. The Bedouins' have been refused recognition by the state of Israel. For the past 50 years the Israeli government has been trying to force them from their land. We visited three unrecognized villages. What was common to all three was their gracious hospitality - inviting us into their homes, sitting us on the floor making sure we had enough cushions, serving water, then tea, and something to eat (fresh food, fresh baked bread). It didn't matter whose house you visited or how many homes in a specific village. They wanted to share their stories.
Another commonality of the villages was the utter poverty the people have been forced to live in because of Israel's failure to recognize them - denying them access to running water, electricity, basic services, and demolishing many of their homes.
In the second village we visited we stood next to a home which had been demolished by the government just a little over a week ago, two days before the owner's wedding. The home he had just built for the start of his new family. It was destroyed because he did not have a permit to build, but the residents of the unrecognized villages cannot obtain permits to build.
At the Al Arakib village, the third village we visited, the leader, Sariah Abu Medigem, pleaded with us to share their story with the rest of the world because they had just received an evacuation order, to be executed sometime between July 15 - Aug. 15. They asked us to stay with them for the rest of our trip to witness the possible destruction of their entire village by the state. Many in the group were torn between doing such or continuing on with the schedule already set for us. Recognizing that this is just one example of many of the abuses that are taking place throughout Israel, whether it be in the Bedouins' land, East Jerusalem, or the West Bank where we will be traveling to on Tuesday, the group decided to move on with the journey previously set for us. The words of our guide yesterday, Amos Gvirtz, an Israeli Jew who has taken up the human rights cause for both Palestinian's and the Bedouins', that which he repeated
over and over again, "the aim of the Zionist movement from the beginning was to take the land for the Jews only. One people took another people's land. That is the essence of the conflict, whether it be with the Bedouins' or the Palestinians."
This morning there were church bells in the air and most of us went off to worship at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer here in the Old City. A wonderful church service where we met many other Christian workers from throughout the world who have come to Israel/Palestine, including several workers from Mennonite Central Committee. I couldn't help but think of those that will be worshiping back home in a few hours. My thoughts, prayers, and spirit are there as well. I also couldn't help but think of the words of the prophet Jeremiah, "you claim peace when there is no peace at all."
Just finished my fresh baked chocolate croisant and coca-cola. "Oh, it tasted so good!" A little time to relax this afternoon before heading off to Bethlehem for the next couple of days, the second stage of our journey.
Another commonality of the villages was the utter poverty the people have been forced to live in because of Israel's failure to recognize them - denying them access to running water, electricity, basic services, and demolishing many of their homes.
In the second village we visited we stood next to a home which had been demolished by the government just a little over a week ago, two days before the owner's wedding. The home he had just built for the start of his new family. It was destroyed because he did not have a permit to build, but the residents of the unrecognized villages cannot obtain permits to build.
At the Al Arakib village, the third village we visited, the leader, Sariah Abu Medigem, pleaded with us to share their story with the rest of the world because they had just received an evacuation order, to be executed sometime between July 15 - Aug. 15. They asked us to stay with them for the rest of our trip to witness the possible destruction of their entire village by the state. Many in the group were torn between doing such or continuing on with the schedule already set for us. Recognizing that this is just one example of many of the abuses that are taking place throughout Israel, whether it be in the Bedouins' land, East Jerusalem, or the West Bank where we will be traveling to on Tuesday, the group decided to move on with the journey previously set for us. The words of our guide yesterday, Amos Gvirtz, an Israeli Jew who has taken up the human rights cause for both Palestinian's and the Bedouins', that which he repeated
over and over again, "the aim of the Zionist movement from the beginning was to take the land for the Jews only. One people took another people's land. That is the essence of the conflict, whether it be with the Bedouins' or the Palestinians."
This morning there were church bells in the air and most of us went off to worship at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer here in the Old City. A wonderful church service where we met many other Christian workers from throughout the world who have come to Israel/Palestine, including several workers from Mennonite Central Committee. I couldn't help but think of those that will be worshiping back home in a few hours. My thoughts, prayers, and spirit are there as well. I also couldn't help but think of the words of the prophet Jeremiah, "you claim peace when there is no peace at all."
Just finished my fresh baked chocolate croisant and coca-cola. "Oh, it tasted so good!" A little time to relax this afternoon before heading off to Bethlehem for the next couple of days, the second stage of our journey.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Another Good Day
Another long and busy day! This morning we heard from a human rights group, "The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions," prior to touring parts of East Jerusalem to see first hand the Palestinian house demolitions which have been replaced by Israeli settlements.
At noontime we participated with "women in black," a group of Israeli women who have been demonstrating against the Israeli occupation every Friday afternoon from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. since 1987. I stood between an Israeli woman in her 70's named Tamar and a Lutheran from Scotland named Neils. While there are some Israeli's in Jerusalem who favor a peaceful solution to the conflict, it was clear from the response of many, that is not the opinion of the majority. A lot of pain and emotion from the many sides.
Late this afternoon we participated in an action in Sheikh Jarah, a Palestinian village in East Jerusalem near the Old City where Palestinian families have been recently evicted to make room for Jewish settlers. Hundreds were present, including not only Palestinians, but people from throughout the world, as well a small number of Israeli's. While there were a number of police officers standing by, a peaceful demonstration with a very loving spirit.
Overall a good day. Getting ready for dinner and a nice relaxing evening on the patio of the hostel in the Old City.
May the peace of Christ dwell in our hearts,
Pastor Dick
Friday, 7/23 7:15 p.m. Jerusalem time
At noontime we participated with "women in black," a group of Israeli women who have been demonstrating against the Israeli occupation every Friday afternoon from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. since 1987. I stood between an Israeli woman in her 70's named Tamar and a Lutheran from Scotland named Neils. While there are some Israeli's in Jerusalem who favor a peaceful solution to the conflict, it was clear from the response of many, that is not the opinion of the majority. A lot of pain and emotion from the many sides.
Late this afternoon we participated in an action in Sheikh Jarah, a Palestinian village in East Jerusalem near the Old City where Palestinian families have been recently evicted to make room for Jewish settlers. Hundreds were present, including not only Palestinians, but people from throughout the world, as well a small number of Israeli's. While there were a number of police officers standing by, a peaceful demonstration with a very loving spirit.
Overall a good day. Getting ready for dinner and a nice relaxing evening on the patio of the hostel in the Old City.
May the peace of Christ dwell in our hearts,
Pastor Dick
Friday, 7/23 7:15 p.m. Jerusalem time
Thursday, July 22, 2010
If you, even you, had only known what would bring you peace
I write this at the end of a very full day. We began this morning with devotions from Luke 19:41-42, "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'if you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes.'" We then went and gathered with a group of Palestinian Christians from a group known as "Sabeel" which is an Arabic word for "the way," recalling the Christians of first century Palestine who were called "the people of the way." We worshiped with them, celebrated communion, and then they provided a lovely meal, including chocolate cake for dessert :)
After a little bit of sightseeing once again in Old Jerusalem we were able to meet and personally hear the stories of two individuals from different sides of the conflict: a Palestinian woman whose brother was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier, as well as many in her family being imprisoned over the past many years, along with an Israeli man whose son was killed as a soldier in the Israeli army while on duty five days before his discharge. Both of them are part of a group
called "The Parents Circle - The Family Forumn," Israeli's and Palestinian's who have lost loved ones in the conflict who have come to the conclusion that the only way to acheive peace is through non-violent measures. Their stories were very moving and filled with tears which brought the day to full circle and a reminder of Jesus' words as he entered Jerusalem, "if you, even you, had only known what would bring you peace."
After a little bit of sightseeing once again in Old Jerusalem we were able to meet and personally hear the stories of two individuals from different sides of the conflict: a Palestinian woman whose brother was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier, as well as many in her family being imprisoned over the past many years, along with an Israeli man whose son was killed as a soldier in the Israeli army while on duty five days before his discharge. Both of them are part of a group
called "The Parents Circle - The Family Forumn," Israeli's and Palestinian's who have lost loved ones in the conflict who have come to the conclusion that the only way to acheive peace is through non-violent measures. Their stories were very moving and filled with tears which brought the day to full circle and a reminder of Jesus' words as he entered Jerusalem, "if you, even you, had only known what would bring you peace."
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
We Have Arrived
Arrived this afternoon in Tel Aviv with no problems. I was even able to get some sleep on the eleven hour plane ride. Met up with several of the other members of the delegation and traveled by taxi bus to the Old City of Jerusalem where we will be staying the next several days. Did some sightseeing this afternoon outside the Old City, through what is believed to be where the Garden of Gethsemane was located and walked up the Mount of Olives overlooking the city. As someone else pointed out, whether the exact locations are right or not, we are in close proximity to the events of Jesus' last day on earth. That in itself makes it very special. Getting ready for dinner. I will keep it short this evening as others are waiting to get on the computer. Hope to check in within the next day or two. In Christ, Pastor Dick
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Today is the Day
This is the day that the LORD has made. Today is the day that I begin my journey to Israel/Palestine. These past couple of days I have been drawn to the words of King David from Psalm 122:
I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." Our feet our standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.
There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure." May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels. For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you." For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.
I would be lying if I said that I did not have some anxiety prior to leaving on this trip. But there is much excitement as well. To be able to walk where Jesus walked. To think that within 24 hours I will be standing in the gates of O Jerusalem. It seems that the psalmist was quite prophetic because thousands of years later Jerusalem is built like a city closely compacted together and many different tribes have gathered together. Many of which claim the same God. Yet the psalmist cries out, "pray for peace," "may there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels," "for the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say 'peace be within you.'" I am not sure if and how much I will be able to update this blog on my trip, but as I leave today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, I pray for all those whom I love that I leave behind, and I pray for the peace within my own heart.
I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." Our feet our standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.
There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure." May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels. For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you." For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.
I would be lying if I said that I did not have some anxiety prior to leaving on this trip. But there is much excitement as well. To be able to walk where Jesus walked. To think that within 24 hours I will be standing in the gates of O Jerusalem. It seems that the psalmist was quite prophetic because thousands of years later Jerusalem is built like a city closely compacted together and many different tribes have gathered together. Many of which claim the same God. Yet the psalmist cries out, "pray for peace," "may there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels," "for the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say 'peace be within you.'" I am not sure if and how much I will be able to update this blog on my trip, but as I leave today I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, I pray for all those whom I love that I leave behind, and I pray for the peace within my own heart.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Getting Ready
It is hard to believe that I will be leaving for the Middle East in a little over a week as part of a Christian Peacemakers Team delegation (July 20 - Aug. 4). I am both excited and anxious at the same time. In preparation I have been reading about the Israeli/Palestine conflict, most notably former President Jimmy Carter's book, "We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land," "Blood Brothers" by Elias Chacour (a great book from a Palestinian Christian priest and peaceworker who has lived through the experience of the conflict from the late 1940's to the present) and currently, "Tea with Hezbollah" by Ted Decker and Carl Medearis who recently traveled throughout the Middle East visiting with some of the United States' most feared enemies, having tea with them trying to answer the questions "what would it take to have peace in the Middle East?" and "what do you think of Jesus and his claim 'love your enemies?'" Interestingly, almost all the people they interviewed, see Jesus, at the least, as a great prophet whose teaching should be taken seriously. Which makes me ask the question, "if that is the case, why is there so little peace and signs of loving our enemies throughout the world, especially in the Middle East?
It is my hope and prayer that I will be able to remain neutral as we travel to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the West Bank and hear from both sides of the conflict, Israeli & Palestinian peaceworkers, the Israeli soldiers and settlers, as well as Palestinians living within the occupied territories.
Next week I will be away at seminary in western New York preparing both mentally and spiritually for the journey which lies ahead. I covet your prayers for myself, the delegation, and for Mary and the girls while I am away. I will try to update the blog prior to leaving and as much as possible during the experience.
It is my hope and prayer that I will be able to remain neutral as we travel to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the West Bank and hear from both sides of the conflict, Israeli & Palestinian peaceworkers, the Israeli soldiers and settlers, as well as Palestinians living within the occupied territories.
Next week I will be away at seminary in western New York preparing both mentally and spiritually for the journey which lies ahead. I covet your prayers for myself, the delegation, and for Mary and the girls while I am away. I will try to update the blog prior to leaving and as much as possible during the experience.
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