United Christian Communities, Inc.

First Muslim CEO of Jerusalem YMCA

2010-05-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

Forsan Hussein is one of the most influential of Israel's young Arabs, becoming known as the Israeli Obama. He has recently been appointed the first non-Christian CEO of Jerusalem International YMCA.

This YMCA is definitely not your father's YMCA. Housed in what has been described as the most beautiful YMCA in the world, it attracts the rich and famous and serves often as a place where international diplomats and activists from east and west Jerusalem meet for intimate get-togethers as well as for more lavish functions.

Hussein was born and grew up in the Israeli Muslim Arab village of Sha'ab, near Acre, north of Haifa. While he graduated high school with a near perfect score of 98on his exams, he couldn't afford university and went to work in an industrial park. But in 2006 he won a a scholarship to study at Brandeis University in the US.

Fitting in with and moving easily between life in America and life in Israel, including both the Tel Aviv nightlife scene and the small Arab village where he grew up, the soon-to-be-married Hussein is hoping to use all his life experience to turn the Jerusalem Y into something bigger than it already is. Quoted by Israel21c (its article can be found at http://www.israel21c.org/201005047924/people/the-qisraeli-obamaq-takes-on-the-y) , he says:

"I was born and raised as a Muslim. What sets me apart here is that my appointment is groundbreaking. I'm the first Muslim to head the Y since it was established," says Hussein, whose duty it will be to make sure that the Y, owned by the YMCA of the USA, will gain financial independence.

"[W]e are trying to make the Y an example of what Jerusalem should be - a dynamic interfaith peace center," says Hussein.

"In our renewed vision we want to position it, and develop and empower its ethical values and moral citizenship. There will be many different activities tackling this," Hussein continues.

"We will try to capitalize on the diverse center of the Jerusalem community, what Jerusalem is and what this entire region can be, the way Lord Allenby described it," he says, citing Allenby's words from his dedication speech at the Jerusalem Center in 1933, now emblazoned on the wall at the Y: Here is a place whose atmosphere is peace, where political and religious jealousies can be forgotten and international unity fostered and developed.

Hussein calls himself a Palestinian Israeli, but says that the words don't matter much. "I am Palestinian in terms of nationality, or peoplehood. But I am also an Israeli, as a citizen, someone who is loyal to Israel, it being my only country."

The Jordan River is going dry!

2010-05-05T07:12:00.001-07:00

Christian pilgrims flock to the Jordan River to immerse themselves in the water where Jesus was baptized, mostly in the few stretches of the river that are not polluted. But a team of Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian environmental scientists say that one of the efforts to clean the river large stretches of it may dry up by 2011, leaving behind a river of sewage.

It is ironic how things got to this point. It began when Israel and Jordan agreed to stop dumping waste into the river and to build treatment plants in each country to clean the waste water before they dump it into the river. Those plants are expected to be up and running 2011 and the treated sewage will be used for agriculture purposes, meaning it will not be pumped into the Jordan. But the problem is that if no wastewater enters the lower Jordan — the river's largest section — then no water will flow in it at all!

The Jordan River, of course, is where John baptized Jesus. And also, of course, Israel and Jordan each claim that the baptismal site is on their side of the river and built tourist sites that face each other across the river, which at that point is only a few yards wide.

The Bible describes the river as "overflowing." And the Associated Press reports that "in 1847, a U.S. Naval officer visiting the area reported on the 'deafening roar of the tumultuous waters'. But over the past five decades, Israel, Jordan and Syria have diverted about 98 percent of the Jordan River and its tributaries for drinking water and agricultural use. Only 700 million to about 1 billion cubic feet (20 million to 30 million cubic meters) flow through the river today, a tiny fraction of the 45 billion cubic feet (1.3 billion cubic meters) that used to surge through before the 1930s, when the first dam was built on the river in what is now Israel. What was once the narrowest stretch of the river has now become its widest. In some spots, the Jordan is only a trickle. Otters and other creatures that used to live on its banks are long gone. Today, the lower section of the Jordan is choked with sewage from towns on the Israeli, West Bank and Jordanian sides."

Most Christian pilgrims who visit Israel to immerse themselves in the Jordan River do so in the clean waters at Yardenit, a modern-day baptismal tourist site in Israel near the Sea of Galilee. A few go to the polluted traditional baptism site of Jesus and dip in the brown waters there.

And sadly it is no surprise that political disagreements among Jordan, Israel and Syria regarding sharing the waters of the Jordan and other water sources has exacerbated, if not created, the water shortage. Each complains that the other's projects divert shared water sources for their own needs. These diversions have also been the major reason why the Dead Sea has lost one-third of its volume since the 1960s.

The Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian team of environmental scientists determined that 400 million cubic meters of water each year would be needed to rehabilitate the river, gradually rising to 600 m.cu.m. In addition, the river would have to flood once a year to rehabilitate the shores. (The river has not flooded since the winter of 1991-92.)

So where would that much water come from?

The scientists suggested Israel contribute 220 m.cu.m., Syria 100 m.cu.m. and Jordan 90 m.cu.m.. Each country has dammed the river or its tributaries and diverted it for use. Seventy-five percent of the water would have to be fresh water and the rest highly treated sewage water to preserve the saline balance.

Looking at both the supply and demand side, the team of scientists, again one Israeli, one Palestinian and one Jordanian, suggested measures for Israel to take, like fixing leaky pipes, covering reservoirs to prevent evaporation, raising awareness, changing plants in gardens and using grey water (wastewater generated from domestic activities such as laundry, dishwashing and bathing). For Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, wastewater reclamation was the key to conserving fresh water. Jordan should also reduce water conveyance loss, reform gardening and raise awareness.

Following these suggestions would also go a long way toward saving the Dead Sea.

Russia builds museum park complex in Holy Land

2010-04-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Jericho, April 8, Interfax – Russia starts building museum park complex in Jericho land lot which was earlier returned to the Russian government by authorities of the Palestinian National Authority.

"Russian museum in Jericho proves that Russia returns to the Holy Land after a long period of absence and contributes into cultural and spiritual life of people living there and numerous tourists from all over the world who come to visit these places," head of the Presidential Property Management Department of the Russian Federation Vladimir Kozhin said on Thursday at the festival ceremony of laying the foundation stone to future building of the complex with PNA participating.

Kozhin believes this project will give more dynamics to Jericho's further development as the future museum will display a fig-tree, which is a living witness to the life of Christ, and other historical, scientific and cultural values located in the territory of the complex, and thus attract greater interest of many pilgrims and tourists from all over the world.

In 1995, the PNA head Yasser Arafat adopted a degree to transfer a land lot as a property to Russia. In 2008, in connection with changes in Palestinian legislation, the lot was reregistered to the Russian government, but it fulfils all land requirements acting in Palestine.

It’s all about engagement, not disparagement. About love, not demonization.

2010-04-06T11:16:00.001-07:00

Excerpts from the Easter message of Bishop Munib Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

“We Palestinian Christians are called as apostles of hope despite our struggle, despite our hopelessness. Our congregations, schools and centers play an important role in providing hope and developing Palestinian society. Our parishioners’ daily struggle to maintain a Palestinian Christian witness in this land is an encouragement to our many partners and friends all over the world. Our efforts at building bridges between Palestinians and Israelis prepares us to live together peacefully after a political settlement is reached. Our dialogue with Muslims and Jews inspires other Christians to cross borders to build peace in this broken world. As St. Paul says of Jesus, ‘In his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us’ (Ephesians 2:14b).

“The resurrection calls us Palestinian Christians, given our current circumstances and our steadfast hope in the victory of life, a special call to impart hope where hopelessness exists in the world. We can encourage persecuted Christians in Asia and Africa; advocate for innocent civilians in war-torn countries like Afghanistan and Iraq; stand up for oppressed minorities like Dalits in India; share our resources with countries like Haiti destroyed by earth quakes. We can facilitate reconciliation between majority and minority populations of Bangladesh, Central America, Burma and Turkey. We can teach people who fear unfamiliar cultures, religions and political realties about celebrating diversity. We can welcome refugees, migrants and trafficked people from among the poor and disempowered around the world. We can share with others the hope that comes from dialogue.”

Discover What Life was like in the time of Jesus.

2010-03-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

Ever pondered what everyday life was like during the time of Jesus? Check out Life in Year 1 by Scott Korb at www.unitedchristiancommunities.org/books.htm Also, please consider helping us by becoming a fan of the United Christian Communities Facebook page.

Protect a Byzantine-era Christian cemetery in the Holy Land

2010-03-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

The City of Ashkelon has come under rocket attack from Hamas in Gaza. One consequence of this is that a decision has been made that it is only prudent to build a reinforced emergency room at Barzilai Medical Center there. But the preferred site is where a Byzantine-era Christian cemetery is located.

For that reason Israel’s Deputy Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman has taken the position that it cannot be built there and insists that an emergency room fortified against missiles and rockets from Gaza be built on a more-distant parking lot, which would take several more years to complete and cost an extra $25 to $30 million.
In response the chairman of the Israel Medical Association has sent a letter to Prime Minister (and formally Health Minister) Binyamin Netanyahu to overrule the Deputy Health Minister.

Do you have a view? If so, send an email to Prime Minister Netanyahu at PM_ENG2@pmo.gov.il and/or to the Minister of Health, Ya’akov Ne’eman at pniot@moh.health.gov.il

The Holy Land is important to all Christians. The Christians in the Holy Land are fleeing at an alarming rate. Take an interest. Now. Visit us at www.UnitedChristianCommunities.org . Become a fan of our Facebook page. Follow us on Twitter (@christianflight). Get informed.

Jerusalem and the Music of Three Faiths: a review

2010-01-14T08:08:00.000-08:00

Jerusalem: La Ville des deux Paix is a new album of Christian, Jewish and Muslim music from the eras in which they each first appeared in Jerusalem. The title means Jerusalem: City of Two Peaces. The following is a beautiful review of the album (which we have not yet been able to find in the US) and also a beautiful statement of the power of Jerusalem to unite, if we only have the will to do so. The review appeared on the English language web site of Global Arab Network.

Jerusalem: the city of earthly and heavenly peace

By Lewis Gropp

Jerusalem is a central point of reference for the three great monotheist faiths. King David made the city the political and religious capital of Israel, creating a centre for Judaism within and beyond the region. Jerusalem is a holy city for Christians as the place of Jesus of Nazareth's teaching, crucifixion and resurrection. It was here too that the first community of early Christians proclaimed their religion. And for Muslims, the city is traditionally the third most holy in Islam after Mecca and Medina. Before they prayed facing the Kaaba in Mecca, the most sacred site for Muslims, they directed their prayers towards Jerusalem.

In the course of its 4,000-year history, the city has been destroyed, looted and pillaged some 40 times. Today's Jerusalem, which was supposed to be a common bond with shared history and sacredness for the three religions, unfortunately presents a picture of discord and serves as a point of contention to people with contradictory claims to religious influence.

This city, nonetheless, bears the seed of peace in its name. The Hebrew word "Jerusalem" can be interpreted to mean city of two peaces, referring to both the earthly and heavenly peace heralded by the Old Testament prophets. The etymologically observant will recognise the Hebrew shalom in the name-and the related Arabic salaam, both of which mean peace.

Starting from this idea, Jordi Savall and Montserrat Figueras, specialists in music of old centuries and UNESCO Artists for Peace in 2008-have produced an unusual musical project, Jerusalem: La Ville des deux Paix (the city of two peaces). On this musical album, accompanied by a 400-page book detailing the historical and musical background of the city, the two artists explore musical traditions from Jerusalem's various epochs: the Jewish, the Christian, the Arab and the Ottoman eras.

For the dialogue-centred Jerusalem project, Savall and Figueras brought together Jewish, Muslim and Christian musicians from many countries that have left traces on Jerusalem's musical traditions over the centuries: Israel, Palestine, Greece, Syria, Armenia, Turkey, England, France, Spain and Italy.

The section on the "Jewish city" begins with its foundation and ends with the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. It is presented musically through a selection of the most beautiful psalms of King David as preserved in the ancient musical tradition of the Jews of southern Morocco, along with a piece on the 1st century Rabbi Akiba, one of the most important fathers of rabbinical Judaism.

The Christian section embarks with the arrival of Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine I, in 326 CE and ends in 1244 CE. It opens with a dark, meditative hymn to the Virgin Mary, attributed to Emperor Leo VI (886-912), and closes with a quiet, humble improvisation on the hymn, Pax in Nomine Domini! ("Peace in the name of the Lord!").

Among other pieces in the Arab section of the album, a version of the 17th chapter in the Qur'an-entitled "the Israelites"-describes the Prophet Mohammed's ascent to heaven from the Temple Mount through song.

The album's most dramatic piece is a historic recording by Shlomo Katz, a Jew of Romanian origin. Before Katz was to be executed in Auschwitz in 1941 during the Holocaust, he asked for permission to sing the hymn, El Male Rahamim ("God full of compassion"). Deeply moved by the magnificence, emotional depth and intensity of the music, the Nazi officer on duty allowed Katz to escape. In 1950, he recorded the song as a lasting testament and hymn to the victims of Auschwitz. Exuding a moving sense of tragedy and grace in itself, the piece becomes a devastating musical document in the knowledge of its history.

"Music," according to Savall, "becomes the indispensable means of achieving a genuine intercultural dialogue between human beings from very different nations and religions, but who nevertheless share a common language of music, spirituality and beauty."

Savall and Figueras' Jerusalem album is an astutely compiled mosaic of religions and cultures. Every song, every set of lyrics forms a possible starting point for exploring the dramatic and chequered history of the medieval East and West, and the points they have in common.

Christians scuffle in Bethlehem

2010-01-05T15:14:00.000-08:00

You would think that Christians in the Holy Land have enough to worry about being a double minority, that is a minority among Jews in Israel and among Muslims in Palestine. But you would be wrong, as December witnessed Christians again fighting each other along denominational lines.

This time it occurred in Bethlehem on the occasion of the annual general cleanup of the Basilica of the Nativity. This general cleanup is made just before the beginning of the Orthodox Christmas celebrations that according to the Julian calendar falls on 7th January. Scuffles broke out between the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox monks, who conduct celebrations within the same Basilica. Two years ago similar scuffles took place and, then and now, Palestinian police forces had to intervene.

The squabble concerned the cleaning of the northern transept of the Basilica, which is officiated by the Armenian Orthodox. The lower walls of the transept are cleaned by the Armenians, but the Greek Orthodox claim rights on the upper sections of the transept. The Franciscan friars, or Latins, have the right to clean the passageway leading from this transept to the northern steps of the Nativity Grotto, but they were not directly involved in this dispute.

Similar scuffles have broken out in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which is the other main Christian site shared by three Churches (Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian Orthodox). In those cases, and similarly, the Israeli police had to intervene.

The effect that such internecine violent quarrels could create is of real concern both regarding the Christian witness of mutual brotherhood and peace that the Churches are bound to give, as well as regarding the image of Christianity in the Holy Land and in front of the civil authorities in Israel and the Palestinian Autonomous Territories.

It is a sad thing that the Holy Land finds itself in the news virtually every day not only regarding disputes between/among the three religions that each find it holy, and but also because the denominations and sects within each of those three religions also find themselves at each other’s throats.

Some would say it always has been that way in the Holy Land. But if it has been, we need to dedicate ourselves to healing all these divisions to make sure it does not remain that way. And given all the emotion and factions, the effort must be based on love and forgiveness, and not seeking to fix blame. And all Christians throughout the world must contribute to this effort through getting informed and getting involved.

Visit www.UnitedChristianCommunities.org for more information and thoughts.

Christian runs for Palestinian Presidency

2009-12-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

Ray Hanania is an award winning journalist and commentator, standup comedian and American Palestinian peace activist. He coordinates the National Arab American Journalists Association and is a diversity board member with the Society of Professional Journalists where he has received three Lisagor Awards for column writing. In addition Ray hosts a morning radio show in Chicago.

Ray Hanania has announced that he intends to run for the presidency of the Palestinian Authority. If he is successful he will succeed Mahmoud Abbas.

Ray is a Christian.

Ray’s father George, emigrated to Chicago in 1926 with an older brother following the death by drowning of another brother. He drowned while swimming at the quarry outside of West Jerusalem. Ray describes the circumstances as follows:

“The police reports noted that bystanders nearby refused to help him with Jews believing he was Arab, Muslims believing he was Jewish and Christians believing he was a Jew. That hatred, only a few years old at the time, has become the actualization of today’s Arab-Israeli conflict. Although my dad could not foresee the tragedy that was unfolding in Palestine, it was too much for him and he decided to find a place where people could live without the hate.”

In speaking of Christian Jewish Muslim relations in the Holy Land, Ray writes:

“Ever since I was a child, I remember the heart and spirit of the Palestinian Revolution was to create a "secular independent Palestinian State where Muslims, Christians and Jews" could live together as equals and in peace.

It was a mantra of my mentor, the late Professor Ibrahim Abu-Lughod who was an activist partner with the late Edward Said. Christian and Muslim Arabs fought for Palestine as indistinguishable brothers and sisters in conflict, they taught me. But now that they are gone, their lessons are being lost.

Both the conflict and attitudes have changed. Raising the issue of Christian rights in the Arab World provokes a reprimand from Palestinians and Arabs, not because the simmering Christian-Muslim Arab conflict does not exist, but rather because the critics hope that if we pretend it doesn't exist and not discuss it, it will go away.

Instead, when the issue of Christian relations in the Arab World is raised and overcomes the resistance, it is placed immediately into the political context of the abuses of the Israeli occupation causing the disappearance of the Christian presence in Palestine.

But it is not just the fault of the Israelis, whom the Arabs blame for everything; although in truth, the Israelis are no different and they blame the Arabs for everything, too. The issues of blame are symptoms of the problem, not the cause of the problem. So is the simmering relations between Muslims and Christian Arabs.”

Ray’s observations dovetail with the mission and message of United Christian Communities. On our website, www.UnitedChristianCommunities.org , in discussing the problem of the flight of Christians from the Holy Land, we point out:

“Some try to place the blame on Palestinian Muslims by alleging Muslim acts against Christians such as threats, roadblocks to permitting Christians buying land, arson attacks on Christian property, rapes, forced marriages and, in the case of at least one Muslim convert to Christianity, murder.

Others try to place the blame on Israelis by alleging discrimination in education, employment and public services that Israeli-Arabs face, as well as the spillover effects of Israeli policies with respect to Palestinians.

The fact is we don't have the time for these blame games. Injecting the politics of the region into discussions of how we halt and then reverse the decline of Christians in the Holy Land simply drowns out the Christian message.”

Now Ray Hanania is not running for the Palestinian presidency on a Christian platform, but rather on a Palestinian platform. His message, though, as well as his personal history, say something of importance for all Christians. We wish him well.

Climbing Everest in the Holy Land

2009-11-03T13:13:00.000-08:00

What is between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean and not Israel or Palestine? It's the land on which the Everest Hotel stands. Run for 60 years by the Christian El-Arja family, the hotel today is one of the few points of connection between Israelis and Palestinians

"My hotel is in its own country," jokes Everest's owner Makram El-Arja (most of his brothers and sister left the country in 2001, some to Egypt others to the United States). "Everyone from both sides knows that it's safe to come here and they all trust me."

"It's the last corner for Israelis to come freely [before they reach areas under total Palestinian control] and Palestinians can also get here without too much trouble," he continues, referring to the myriad checkpoints and security barriers that have sprung up in the area over the last decade."

"We are not with the Israelis or with the Palestinians… we are the government of Everest."

Being in an area forgotten or overlooked by both Israel and Palestine has its advantages and its disadvantages. For example, being in the middle of nowhere (politically speaking) makes it difficult to expand or improve the 60 year old hotel. El-Arja says he has not been allowed to make any changes since 2000, noting that there are eight Israeli court orders halting improvements to the hotel. However he then shows off, with more than a tinge of pride, the eight new guest rooms he opened in December. And being ignored by both sides meant no municipal services for years. Like adequate electricity. (Today the hotel pays taxes to the Palestinian Authority for services) . These and other difficulties, like being surrounded by checkpoints that made it next to impossible for tourists to get from the hotel to sites like Bethlehem and Jerusalem, forced the family to change the hotel’s business model or go out of business.

And so about four years ago El-Arja, began marketing the hotel as a meeting place. "At first it was for businessmen, Jews who wanted to work with Palestinians but did not feel it was safe enough for them to enter the territories.

"However, when they realized that this was a safe area and that their car insurance would cover them while here, they decided to use my services," continues El-Arja. "The Palestinians could come here, too, without any permission. It was the perfect place."

While a myriad of checkpoints still must be negotiated, politicians (including Tony Blair) come to meet to talk peace, non-profits come to meet to create connections between Israelis and Palestinians, and Israeli and Palestinian business people come to meet to talk about making money. And it’s also the place where families separated by the Israel Palestine conflict can get together for such events as weddings.

Jerusalem Christians expected to decline by half within 7 years

2009-10-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

"Excerpts from Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem’s talk on the plight of Christians in the Holy Land at Westminster Cathedral on September 8, 2009

A constant theme in the life of the Christians in the Holy Land is the fact that we are a very small community, about two percent of the general population whether in the Palestinian Territories or in Israel. In Israel, Christians live as part of the Arab minority in a state that is overwhelmingly Jewish. In the Palestinian Territories, Christians live within a population that is overwhelmingly Muslim.. . . .

Christian demography, illustrates in a dramatic way, the situation of the Christians in the Holy Land. Whereas Christians constituted between six and ten percent of the general population in 1948, this has dropped to about two percent today. . . . Not only has the relative proportion of Christians dropped radically, but Christians often find themselves marginalised in both Palestinian and Israeli society.. . . .

At Mass in Jerusalem on 12th May 2009, [Pope Benedict] called on Christians to be pillars of faith and harmony: "Precisely because of your deep roots in this land, your ancient and strong Christian culture, and your unwavering trust in God's promises, you, the Christians of the Holy Land, are called to serve not only as a beacon of faith to the universal Church, but also as a leaven of harmony, wisdom and equilibrium in the life of a society which has traditionally been, and continues to be, pluralistic, multiethnic and multi-religious”. . . .

Many do not believe that the Israelis want to end the occupation, and the Palestinians are dramatically divided in how to resist the occupation, between those who use violence and those who seek diplomatic resolutions. Islamic fundamentalism that has sprung up as a response to the hopelessness of our general situation pushes Christians even further into the margins and alienates many of our young people.. . .

The issue of being a small community in a precarious situation is exacerbated by the fact that since the end of the 19th century Christians in the Holy Land in particular, and Christians throughout the Middle East, have been tempted to emigrate, seeking a more prosperous and promising future for their children elsewhere. One of our greatest challenges is to persuade our faithful to stay and build their future in a land where many of them feel hopeless, marginalized and even threatened.. . .

Many Christians continue to dream of a future elsewhere, in a place where they can guarantee their families jobs, housing, education, decent living conditions, equal rights and socio-political stability. . . . . The number of Jerusalem Christians, for example, is expected to fall from 10,000 to 5,300 in the coming seven years . . . Our young people, and the best among them, often cannot resist the temptation to leave and make their future elsewhere. They often do so with heavy hearts, but when they see no brighter future ahead, and no possibility to raise families in security, they emigrate and very seldom return.

However, despite the obstacles, we have a great treasury to sustain us. God chose this land, and this community, in which to establish his Church. We are a community of ‘living stones’ that has a rich treasury of ‘monumental stones’ that commemorate the major events of our salvation history. We are a Church called to be custodian of the Holy Places of our Christian memory, but we are also called to be custodians of life.

Our Churches are vibrant centers that sponsor a vast array of projects, that touch every aspect of daily routine. Our schools are among the best in the region, our hospitals among the most advanced, our housing projects are being constantly built, our clinics, our social welfare agencies and so on…. . .

It is this community of living stones that welcomes Christians from all over the world who come to the Holy Land, to drink from the sources of our common faith. We ask you to come and to pray at the Holy Places, but do not be satisfied with the monumental stones alone. Seek out the living stones, our Christian faithful. Pray with them, comfort them, strengthen them, and you too will be enriched by their testimony to the Living Lord, in the land that is His own.

We are called to be Christian and that means we must have hope, hope in a God of surprises: a God who brings life out of the tomb, a child out of a virgin womb, a created world out of the nothingness of chaos. . . . We know that we do not and cannot live this hope alone, isolated from our brothers and sisters in faith throughout the world. We depend on your prayers, on your support and solidarity, on your advocacy for our rights, on your lobbying for justice and peace in Israel/Palestine.

Christian Brewery Finds Success in the West Bank

2009-10-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

The Taybeh brewery is the only brewery in the overwhelmingly Muslim Palestinian territories. It is located in the village of Taybeh, which is largely Christian. Economic conditions make operations difficult, including the extra costs and challenges of dealing with the checkpoints and delays that make up Israel's military occupation. And, on top of all that, they face the daunting challenge of trying to market their Palestinian beer to Israeli customers.

Located in the hills of the West Bank just east of Jerusalem, it will hold its fifth annual Oktoberfest, expecting to draw to 10,000 visitors, including tourists, but also Palestinians and Israelis!

The Taybeh brewery was begun by Nadim Khoury, a Christian, in the wake of the optimism that followed the Oslo Accords. He had left the village years before for Boston where he taught himself to brew beer at home. He returned to Taybeh in 1994 at the urging of his family.

There, unable to find a bank or aid agency to fund a Palestinian brewery, his family provided the $1.2m in funding for the brewery. "The banks and NGOs thought we were crazy to build a brewery in a Muslim country," says Khoury. "But now I think we were lucky we didn't take their money."He says that because all business in the West Bank virtually completely ceased during the second intifada, that is the Palestinian uprising that began in late 2000. While he was forced to lay off many of the brewery's workers the business survived because it had no mortgage or other debts and therefore no loans to be foreclosed upon.

Today the brewery is fully operational, producing three different lagers and, beginning this summer, a non-alcoholic beer, called Taybeh Halal, which is aimed at the young Palestinian market. In part, this is an effort to enter a new market, in part it is an insurance policy. "Just in case something happens and there is a change in the environment and political situation,"

Khourey says.Khourey is quick to note the decline of Christian population in the area. He reports having seen so many Palestinian Christians leaving for a life abroad that he says there are now more of his fellow villagers living in Michigan than in Taybeh itself.

Khoury sells his beer to restaurants in the more liberal Palestinian cities, such as Ramallah and Bethlehem, but many of the deliveries go into Jerusalem and further into Israel, to Tel Aviv, Haifa and Nazareth. This is a complicated process because of the occupation. Even though Taybeh is only a few minutes drive from Jerusalem, the beer deliveries must go through a checkpoint at near Hebron, about two hours’ drive away where the delivery trucks are searched and the beer transferred to Israeli trucks. This procedure often takes several hours , while the beer, which contains no preservatives, sits exposed to the sunlight. Khoury says "My beer is delicate. I cannot afford to have it sit in the sunlight,"

He would like to export more Taybeh beer to the Arab world but, for example, the Jordanians impose prohibitively high import duties to protect their own foreign-run beer industry.

Khourey sees signs of an improvement in the economy of the West Bank economy. "Demand has rapidly increased," says Khoury. "If there is peace and prosperity, people celebrate more." His daughter, Madees, 24, now helps him run the brewery and he expects she will take over the business some day.Khourey hopes his brewery will help to change opinions and biases.

"People don't believe that we have a product like Taybeh beer brewed in Palestine," he says. "On the news they see only violence, bombing and uprisings. Now we are trying to change this and to show the world we can live in peace with our neighbors. We are human beings. We have a right to enjoy life. Enough is enough with the fighting”

"Christians Vital to Peace in the Holy Land", Bible Society Chief

2009-09-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

During a visit to the Bible Society in the United Kingdom, the head of the Palestinian Bible Society, Nashat Filmon, says that Christians are “vital” to bringing peace to Israel and Palestine.

He went on to blame both for the recent war in Gaza.He also feels that notwithstanding the efforts of US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, in Mr Filmon’s view there was “not a very strong chance of peace”. But he feels that Christians could help foster peace by acting as a bridge between Palestinians and Israelis.

“As Christians, we have a role to be peacemakers. Palestinian Christians are between a rock and a hard place. They can easily be crushed by both sides. But we have the opportunity to build bridges to bring both sides together.

“It’s our task to be true peacemakers between people and between people and God.”

Jordan/Israel: Baptism “Wars” on the Jordan River. The Stakes? The Hearts and Minds of Christian Tourists.

2009-09-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

A visit a to the Holy Land invariably includes a visit to the baptismal site at Yardenit on the Jordan River, just south of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. The water there is pure, deep and lovely. Leafy trees line the banks. Wildlife flourishes in and near the waters. And tourist amenities abound, including steps leading into the River Jordan, making access very easy, and available smocks for those desiring to immerse themselves totally. There is even a good restaurant nearby.The only fly in the ointment is that many are convinced there never was a baptismal site at Yardenit before the tourists started coming.

Some thus look to an area downriver near Bethany-Beyond-Jordan, in Jordan. Prior to the Jordanian-Israel peace treaty this was a no-man’s land. Since the peace treaty the Jordanians removed their military installations and have been feverishly excavating the area and encouraging Christians to build churches there. The results so far of the excavations have been discovery of almost two dozen ancient buildings, including the remains of five churches which appear to have been constructed over a 700 year period.In addition a cross shaped baptismal pool was found under one of the churches, which to some is evidence that this is indeed the site where Christ was baptized.

Covering its bases, a few yards away, just across the river, Israel is building its own tourist site out of beautiful Jerusalem stone, replicating much of what has made Yardenit such an attractive destination. And not surprisingly both Israel and Jordan that Christ was baptized on “their” side of the Jordan River. The only fly in this ointment: Just downriver from Yardenit, salty wastewater and emissions from a sewage plant have polluted the Jordan River, including the area at these new tourist baptismal sites. And Israel faces at least one other problem it may wish to address: to get to their new baptismal site you have to drive through miles of minefields.

Is Mubarak's Son and Likely Successor Good for Egyptian Christians?

2009-09-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

Is Mubarak's Son and Likely Successor Good for Egyptian Christians? Opinion is Divided.

The Christian community in Egypt is divided regarding Gamal Mubarak. Mubarak is the son of current ruler Hosni Mubarak and widely viewed as his likely successor. Hosni Mubarak is 81 years old.Christians are estimated to represent between six and 12 percent of Egypt's population. Most Christians belong to the Egyptian Orthodox, or Coptic Church. Copts are Egyptians whose ancestors embraced Christianity in the first century. In fact the word Copt means Egyptian. The history of the Coptic Church traditionally begins with the visit of the Holy Family (baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph) to Egypt. They lived there for some time.

While leaders of Egypt's Coptic Christian Church have voiced support for Gamal Mubarak as the preferred candidate for president, some Christian activists are calling for demonstrations against what they see as official state bias (through Mubarak’s ruling National Democratic Party) against Christians.

"Comments in support of Gamal Mubarak by church officials don't represent the opinion of all Egypt's Copts," says Youssef Sidhoum, editor-in-chief of Coptic weekly Al-Watani. Meanwhile, he says “calls for strikes and demonstrations by online Coptic activists represent only the views of a small minority within the Coptic community."

According to Hafez Abu Saeda, secretary-general of the Cairo-based Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, the church's apparent support for Gamal at least partly reflects longstanding Coptic fears of an Islamist government. But he also warns against making generalizations. "In the 2005 parliamentary elections, the church instructed Copts to vote for the NDP," said Abu Saeda. "Nevertheless, those elections saw Copts voting for Muslim Brotherhood candidates in some cases."

Gaza Dress Codes Regs Reversed . . . But

2009-09-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

2009 September:. In noting the possible imposition of religious requirements in public schools throughout the Holy Land, we recently pointed out that in Gaza female lawyers were being required to wear the hijab (hair covering) and high school girls were being required to wear long dresses, leggings and the hajib, all in alleged accordance with Islamic law or views. The New York Times is now reporting that those regulations have been reversed.

This of course is a good thing for Christians. However the Times also reports that the Gaza education minister said that any new uniform or dress requirement is "an individual thing." Unofficial requirements can be just as compelling as official ones so it is no surprise that the Times also reported that at the beginning of this school year in August "a number of high school girls were told to return home to cover their heads and dress in the long coat known as the jilbab." In addition the Times reported that while 98% of girls in one area abided by the strict dress code, that number appeared to be declining in the in the second week, at least (the Times made no prediction as to whether is expected the decline to continue). And it also noted that in poorer areas full compliance continued.

'Day of recreation' ends in tears for Christian campers

2009-09-03T07:30:00.001-07:00

2009 August. Racism alleged.Children from northern Israel, as well as from abroad, take part in the Jish church summer camp every year. It is considered the most successful summer camp among the Christian community in Israel. However this year the children were reduced to tears.This year, as always, the camp planned a day of recreational activities at the swimming pool at the country club in Katzirn, a city in Northern Israel. But 250 children from Jish church's summer camp left the country club in tears after the club's manager refused to allow the counselors to play Arabic music. 'We can't have every sector coming to the pool and playing whatever music they want,' manager explainedThe Jish church summer camp director, Jadi Sliman, said the country club manager's conduct was "insulting and racist". Sliman says he explained to the manager that Arabic was the summer camp children's mother tongue, "but he refused to listen and said, 'l am the manager here and I decided. There will be no music in Arabic here."Adib Halif, one of the children's father, told Ynet News that this was a first-class act of racism. "I couldn’t believe that here in Israel there are such open expressions of racism. My child was very disappointed. This is no way to treat children."Separately an Israeli court ordered the operator of municipal swimming pool in Ofakim to pay fine of NIS 10,000 (NIS = New Israel Shekels) for not allowing family to enter place, claiming mother's veil would 'drive customers away' The municipality was not fined.

In the Holy Land: Religion in Public Schools Decreed

2009-09-03T07:28:00.000-07:00

2009 August. The Palestine News Network reports that in Gaza, the government is requiring all high school girls to comply with a new dress code requiring that they cover their hair and wear leggings under their dresses. Supporters refer to it as “legitimate Islamic dress”, and as part of the program to “feminize” schools.
The Director of Education called on girls to “wear Islamic dress.” He said it is a decision for the entire school district for the “feminization of schools”, a program that includes ridding all girls’ schools of any male teachers or administrators. "The Muslim society and Islam requires us to differentiate between the brother and sister after the age of seven, let alone in the school,” the Education Director said.
An official at a school in western Gaza City that "Islamic dress is compulsory for all students and must be adhered to and that is what we have asserted this morning, all students will not be allowed as of tomorrow to enter school without a new dress."The measure is being described as a new phases on the road to turning Gaza into its own entity. Critics note the recent decision by the Interior Ministry to impose robes and head scarves on female lawyers while in the court room.
Meanwhile YNET News reports that Israeli Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded to fears expressed by the Arab sector regarding his plans to teach Zionist subjects in schools by saying "I have no intention of 'Judaizing' anyone and no one has heard me say I would impose the national anthem on the Arab schools," However he also said "I mean to start a new program in grades 4-9 called Heritage and Israeli Culture, in which students will study the Hebrew calendar, the flag, and the national anthem."

n Nazareth: Inauguration Bible Society for Arabs

2009-09-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

2009 July in Nazareth: Inauguration of the Bible Society for ArabsIn July 2009 Bishop Elias Chachour, leaders and clergy from various Christian denominations and others met in Nazareth to inaugurate the Bible Society for Arabs in Israel. Anglican Pastor Bilal Habibi offered a prayer and 12 year old Muslim violinist Yamen Saadi entertained. All viewed their presence celebrating making the Bible accessible, available and affordable as a sign of hope for all those living in the Holy Land. Yamen Saadi, entertained. All viewed their presence celebrating making the Bible accessible, available, & affordable as a sign of hope for all living in the Holy Land.

In Jordon: Sodom found?

2009-09-03T07:26:00.002-07:00

2009 Aug East of Jericho, Palestine is Tall el-Hammam in Jordan, which may be the location of Sodom.One archeologist believes that the site fits perfectly with the geographical profile outlined in Genesis 13-19. The archeologist, Steven Collins, arrived at this conclusion using a a scientific methodology he developed called "criterial screening." His conclusion is that Genesis is reliable for geographical profiles, and therefore can be used to locate sites.He came to believe that the traditional site of Sodom (in the southern region of the Dead Sea) was wrong based upon the geographical indicators and text in Genesis. Based on those indicators he concluded that the site of Tall el-Hammam was the site of Sodom. He noted that the site has 25 geographical indicators that align it with the description in Genesis. This compares Jerusalem which has only 16 and other sites that have only 5 or 6. “So, this site has many times more indicators than any other Old Testament site” he says. Pottery, architecture and destruction layers uncovered during his diggings also fit the timeframe profile indicated by Genesis. Collins also reports that he has secured internationally recognized experts to review his findings and that their conclusions reflect that his findings are correct“Though we are still digging and uncovering a plethora of material and artifacts, and much research still needs to be conducted, I feel that the evidence for this being the ancient city of Sodom is increasing by the day” says Collins.

Christian and Druze teenagers fight in the streets

2009-09-03T07:26:00.001-07:00

2009 Aug 17 in Northern Israel Last week, Christian and Druze teenagers fought in the streets of Shfaram, a town in northern Israel, following rumors of a posting by Christians on the Internet of a video dishonoring the memory of the late Druze spiritual leaders Amin Tarif, showing Tarif's head attached to a pig's body. Leaders of the Christian and Druze communities intervened to stop the fights. During the brawl several homes and vehicles were set afire, and shots were fired at police trying to restore order. No injuries were reported. A few days later a youth, a resident of the western Galilee, was arrested as a suspect in the posting. The suspect is neither a resident of the town, nor a member of the Christian community. Police have released no other details due to fears of renewed violence.

Nazareth HS Students Meet with Nobel Prize Winners

2009-09-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

2009 June: For the second year in a row, a delegation from Nazareth Baptist School BS participated in the annual meeting for Nobel prize winners held in June in Lindau in Germany in June. Two 12th graders of NBS, Wisam Haddad and Hanna Khalil, were invited to participate as part of the “young researchers” group in this conference. Dr. Ousama Moalem, NBS principal and Physics teacher was invited to be a distinguished guest in the conference.NBS is the only school in the world to that was invited to participate in this event that 22 Nobel laureates in Chemistry participated with more than 600 “young researchers” who hold masters and doctorates from 67 countries. The invitation was the result of the large number of prizes that NBS students received in recent years in the international contest for Physics research. The purpose of the conference was to expose young researchers to the failures and successes that the Nobel laureates dealt with, bringing them closer to one another and also presenting the research possibilities in Europe in general and Germany in particular.The conference included also lectures given by the Nobel laureates as well as young researchers on the issue of the raise in the temperature of the earth and water problems.

It’s time to become part of the solution

2009-01-26T11:41:00.000-08:00

With the fighting over in Gaza, at least for the time being, rather than supporters of each side looking to reconciliation, the first blush of hope fades as energies turn to efforts to demonize the "other" side. "They" are evil and "we" are pure. "Their" requests/demands are unreasonable and "ours" are just. "They" must demonstrate contrition. The "discussions" are truly amazing. "You did this. Yes but because you did that. Yes we did that but only because you did . . .." in an endless regression. And the Christian communities living in the Holy Land are caught in the middle.

Christians have a large stake in seeing this madness end.The fact is until both sides learn that both sides are right and both sides are wrong, until they become less concerned with claiming victory and trying to assign blame and until we all learn to focus on how things can be made better for everyone (even before deciding who "wins"), those living in the Holy Land in general, and the Christian communities living there in particular, will suffer.

They say those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. But perhaps it is more correct to say that about those who remember it too well.

What can you do about all this? First of all you can refuse to participate in "blame games" and urge people to focus on the future and not the past. You can learn about the plight of Christian communities in the Holy Land and then find ways in which you can engage with them and support their efforts to make lives better for Christians living in the Holy Land. Start by visiting www.UnitedChristianCommunities.org

Signs of shifting energies from assigning blame to a focus on solutions?

2008-11-24T07:54:00.000-08:00

From Israel
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday railed against what he termed 60 years of "deep-seated discrimination" against Arab Israelis [meaning Israeli-Christians and Israeli-Muslims].
"For sixty years there has been discrimination against Arabs in Israel. This discrimination is deep-seated and intolerable," Olmert said while addressing a meeting of the Knesset committee that is investigating the lack of integration of Arab citizens in public service.

Jerusalem Post Email Edition November 13, 2008

From Palestine:
"Christians are being persecuted not only in Iraq, but in most Arab countries, regardless of their numbers there. They are subjected to every possible kind of discrimination, as well as expulsion.
.. . .

"Today, this problem is also rampant in Egypt, Lebanon, Algeria, and Palestine - and while the situation may be slightly different in Palestine, the trend is the same.

"Let us be honest with ourselves and courageously say out loud that Palestinian Christians are taking many severe blows, yet are suffering in silence so as not to attract attention. I do not refer here to the suffering caused by the occupation... but to actions of the past 20 years . . . involving the confiscation of Christian property, especially in Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Al-Birah.
. . .

Furthermore, there has been an attempt to marginalize Christian culture in Palestine, even though it is rich and deeply rooted [there]. This began with [accusations] of unbelief [against Christians] - a move that ultimately harmed Palestinian society as a whole...

"Despite all the injustices [against the Christians], no one has seen or heard of any constructive action to curb it and to [defend] the Christians' rights - whether by the elites, by any of the three branches [of the Palestine government] (executive, legislative, and judiciary), by non-government organizations, or even by the political factions themselves

Columnist Abd Al-Nasser Al-Najjar, Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam, translated by MEMRI, www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP211208

United We Stay, Divided We Leave

2008-11-12T12:06:00.000-08:00

Christians flee from the Holy Land for many reasons . . . including Christian on Christian infighting. Violence among monks again recently broke out at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the church in the heart of Jerusalem's old city which marks the place of Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection. As such, it is arguably Christianity's holiest site.

The fight broke out during an annual Armenian Orthodox procession commemorating the fourth-century discovery of the cross believed to have been used to crucify Jesus. It was sparked by the Greek Orthodox demand to post a monk inside the ancient structure built over the site of Jesus' tomb. When the Armenian Orthodox refused to admit the Greek Orthodox monk, more Greek monks blocked their path, and the brawl began. Israeli police rushed in to separate the fighting monks.

In the past monks and friars have started throwing punches over whose right it is to clean which step. The smallest slight can end in violence. For example in 2004, a door to the Roman Catholic chapel was left open during a Greek Orthodox ceremony. This was perceived by the Greeks to be a sign of disrespect, and another fight broke out which again had to be broken up by Israeli police. Another time, six years agao, when a monk moved a chair out of the sunshine into a shadier area during a heat-wave, his action was seen as an attempted land-grab. Again a fight broke out that left several monks needing hospital treatment.

Christians all have a stake in stopping this internecine warfare and uniting in addressing the issues that are driving Christians from the Holy Land. And add a comment here (or contact United Christian Communities at info@UnitedChristianCommunities.org ) if you have any cooments or any ideas about how we can do this. Letter-writing campaigns? Visits to the monks when we visit the Holy Land to let them know they must find other ways to settle their disputes? Grass roots activities can unite us.

Christians Flee the Holy Land

2008-11-12T08:07:00.000-08:00

Less than 60 years ago 60 % of the population of Nazareth was Christian. Today that number is 35%.

Less than 60 years ago 85% of the population of Bethlehem was Christian. Today that number is 12%

The situation is similar throughout the Holy Land. Conflict, lack of economic opportunities and the pull of the West have been driving a steady hemorrhaging of Christians from the Holy Land for several decades, while low birth rates ensure that those who stay live as ever-shrinking minorities.

Some now speak of seeing the Holy Land devoid of Christians within just a few generations. This of concern for Christians of all denominations and for non-Christians also.

United Christian Communities is a United States not-for-profit corporation dedicated to helping to halt the flight of Christians from the Holy Land. We don’t focus on who is to blame. We focus on what is to be done.

This blog will discuss this problem in detail and keep you informed about the situation of the Christian communities in the Holy Land.

To find out more about us, you can visit www.UnitedChristianCommunities.org on the web.