The Evangelical Lutheran Church
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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL)
Salaam and grace to you from Jerusalem, City of Peace November, 2007 An Open Letter to Annapolis Leaders: Half Empty or Half Full?
In the midst of all the skepticism and cynicism over Annapolis, I believe we are called to embody hope and act with courage. In a world where too many leaders see the cup as half empty, we are called to be a people of hope and choose not only to see the cup as half full but to commit ourselves to whatever it takes to make the cup overflow.
Our steady mantra has been that the security of Israel is dependent upon freedom and justice for Palestine, and freedom and justice for Palestine is dependent upon the security of Israel. Until we understand and act upon this symbiotic principal, we will fail to achieve what we want.
Both sides must be mutually accountable. This is where the international community must take leadership. Words and talk must be accompanied by tangible, visible changes on the ground that prove to people on the street that an end to the occupation, violence and oppression are actually possible through peaceful means. There must be a solid development plan to resurrect the beleaguered Palestinian economy, for without economic growth there is no future.
Leaders of Annapolis, I implore you to make this more than a glorified photo opportunity with smiles and handshakes. Time is not on our side. Every step toward just peace delayed is a step toward the entrenchment of extremism in the Middle East. This we cannot afford.
People in this land are living in fear and oppression and are fed up with war and rumors of war, of sending yet more arms to an already violence-ravaged Middle East. Let this be a time that sets in motion a new path of lasting peace with justice. Yes, it will be slow, but let it be the right path that finally takes seriously the basic problems that divide us here: boundaries, security, the future of Jerusalem, the illegal settlement enterprise, an equitable sharing of resources, prisoners, a just resolution of the refugee problem and the right of return. Only when we have the courage to confront these controversial issues will we start down the only path to lasting peace, which is the path of truth-telling and justice. This is the only way to end the hatred, division, occupation and violence that have plagued this land for so long.
I was among the members of a new interfaith initiative called the Council for Religious Institutions of the Holy Land who were invited to Washington recently to encourage united support for a just and lasting peace. For the first time, Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders signed a document that recognizes one another's deepest needs:
We, believers from three religions, have been placed in this land, Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is our responsibility to find the right way to live together in peace rather than to fight and kill one other. Palestinians yearn for the end to occupation and for what they see as their inalienable rights. Israelis long for the day when they can live in personal and national security. Together we must find ways of reaching these goals.
If we, faith leaders steeped in the religious sensitivities of the land, can take an unprecedented move toward reconciliation, then you can, too. This new council stands ready to be a reference group about religious issues, peace and justice in the Holy Land.
We urge the Americans, the European countries, the Quartet and the Arab countries to seize the momentum and help create the solution with a viable, sovereign, contiguous state of Palestine living peacefully side by side with Israel along the 67 Green Line, with Jerusalem a holy city shared among Christian, Muslim, Jew, Palestinian and Israeli.
To those whom God has given much, God expects much. I implore those with power and influence to use your strength to bring about justice, peace and reconciliation, for all the people of this land and for the sake of the whole world. May God Bless you and lead you to wise decisions for justice and peace, remembering the words of Jesus:
"I came so that you might have life, and have it abundantly." (St. John 10:11) Bishop Munib A. Younan Council for Religious Institutions Visits Washington Bishop Younan was among members of the newly-formed Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land, which visited Washington at the US government's invitation to discuss prospects for peace in the region and the religious sensitivities involved. The group, which consists of Jerusalem heads of local churches, the two Chief Rabbis of Israel and Chief Judge of the Islamic Court Sheikh Tamimi, has been working together for about a year to build mutual respect and understanding among religions. They have been speaking out against any defamation of holy sites, symbols or scriptures and for education about religious tolerance, justice and peace, and are acting as a reference group for negotiators on religious issues. For the first time in history, the group signed a document acknowledging the deep needs and core issues of the "other side." The group met with several members of congress and other officials. Communiqué November, 2007 All of us believe in one Creator and Guide of the Universe. We believe that the essence of religion is to worship Him and respect the life and dignity of all human beings, regardless of religion, nationality and gender. We accordingly commit ourselves to using our positions of leadership, and the influence of our good offices, to advance these sacred values, to prevent religion from being used as a source of conflict, and instead serve the goals of just and comprehensive peace and reconciliation. Our respective Holy Places have become a major element in our conflict. We lament that this is the case, as our respective attachments to our holy places should not be a cause of bloodshed, let alone be sites of violence or other expressions of hatred. Holy places must remain dedicated to prayer and worship only, places where believers have free access and put themselves in the presence of the Creator. Holy places are there for believers to draw inspiration to strengthen their acceptance and love of Almighty and all His creatures, from all religions and all nationalities. Accordingly each religious community should treat the Holy Sites of the other faiths in a manner that respects their integrity and independence and avoids any act of desecration, aggression or harm. We, believers from three religions, have been placed in this land, Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is our responsibility to find the right way to live together in peace rather than to fight and kill one other. Palestinians yearn for the end to occupation and for what they see as their inalienable rights. Israelis long for the day when they can live in personal and national security. Together we must find ways of reaching these goals.
Towards these ends we are actively working to:
1. Establish “hot line” procedures of rapid communication among ourselves in order to address and advise government officials regarding issues of protection of and access to Holy Sites before such issues become cause for conflict. 2. Establish mechanisms to monitor media for derogatory representations of any religion, and issue statements in response to such representations. 3. Together reflect on the future of Jerusalem, support the designation of the Old City of Jerusalem as a World Heritage Site, work to secure open access to the Old City for all communities, and seek a common vision for this city which all of us regard as holy. 4. Promote education for mutual respect and acceptance in schools and in the media. We will sponsor a conference for Israeli and Palestinian educators, academics and Ministers of Education on “The Role of Religion in Educating for Peace: Principles and Practices.” 5. Demonstrate through our relations that differences can and should be addressed through dialogue rather than through violence, and strive to bring this message to our respective communities and political leaders that they may embrace this approach accordingly. Provide ongoing consultation to our government leaders, and through the example of our work together remind them that the interests of one community can only be served by also respecting and valuing the humanity and interests of all other communities
Bishop Younan Meets with President Carter and Speaks at Screening
Bishop Younan also traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, where he preached and spoke to the community at local churches. He met in person with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at the Carter Center to discuss the situation in the Middle East between Israelis and Palestinians and how the Carter Center might cooperate in working for justice and peace. The Bishop was then invited by Carter that evening to speak about peace and justice to an audience of about 250 people who had been invited to the Carter Center to view the new film about Carter's life, "Jimmy Carter Man from Plains."
Lutheran Redeemer Church Celebrates Annual Reformation Service
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City of Jerusalem hosted the annual international Reformation Service on Reformation Day, October 31. The congregation was filled for the service, which was led by more than a dozen clergy from all over the world. As usual, the service featured music, liturgies and prayers in 6 different languages and Holy Communion. This year, Deacon Martin Steinbach, from our partner congregation in Bad Tolz, Germany, presented Pastor Ibrahim Azar with a candle representing their intent to be ever-present with their partner as well as the ever-present Holy Spirit. The choir from the Lutheran School in Beit Sahour added their music to the festive day.
Abraham's Herberge in Beit Jala Coordinates Interfaith Music Group
Abrahams Herberge, a ministry of Reformation Lutheran Church in Beit Jala, recently hosted an interfaith music ensemble from northern Israel. This group, including Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Druze musicians, performed at a music festival in Jerusalem. The group plans next year to coordinate with a group from Germany, "Horro", to give performances in Palestine and Israel, and to go to the Jerash Music Festival in 2009 and a festival in Europe in 2010.
American Ecumenical Accompanier Karin Brown's Reflections Photos and Story by Karin Brown http://www.elcjhl.org/palestine/conditions/karin/karin.asp
Awoken suddenly by loud voices entering their tent, Musleh and his family found themselves confronted by five masked gunmen and one man dressed in army fatigues. It was one in the morning.
Musleh, his wife, and their young children had set up an encampment for the duration of the olive harvest on their land just east of Lower Yanoun. For the sake of convenience, they were living amongst their olive trees that needed to be harvested and pruned, rather than traveling back and forth daily from their permanent home in Aqraba. Working at a steady pace for the last .month, Musleh and his wife bore the load of EA Karin Brown (middle) kneads dough with the labor while their children attended school another EA and Tammam, a neighbor from Yanoun during the day. Musleh projected that they needed ten more days to finish the picking.
With their identities obscured and large weapons in hand, Musleh was invariably at the mercy of these Hebrew speaking men. Told they did not have the right to be on this land any longer, Musleh's family was given three days to vacate the area. Otherwise, their lives would be in jeopardy.
This kind of night terror perpetrated by settlers from the outpost of Itemar settlement has not happened since the international presence was established in Yanoun. At one thirty that same morning, the International House in Upper Yanoun was targeted by those same masked gunmen, who made their presence known with a series of rocks thrown at the windows. Petrified by the unknown intentions of the settlers, the Ecumenical Accompaniers stayed low to the ground and waited out their night visitors.
Israeli police and military officials were contacted, the threats were not taken seriously and no immediate action to protect the family or to punish the settlers was taken.
Resolute to complete the olive harvest, with both their lives and livelihood now under threat, Musleh and his family continued to hastily pick and collect their olives for the next three days. Accompanied and aided by other local Palestinians, several Ecumenical Accompaniers and international volunteers, and a couple dozen Israeli activists, all of their trees were picked in time and without ELCJHL Schools and Educational Programs further incident. But, perhaps according to plan, the groundwork for instilling fear once again in the villagers of Yanoun has been laid.
Ecumenical Accompaniers serve for 3 months in one of six or 7 placements in Palestine/Israel. For more information about EAPPI, see www.eappi.org.
By Sister Sylvia Countess, Ass't to Schools' Director Dr. Charlie Haddad
Since our last newsletter, the Schools and Educational Programs of the ELCJHL have participated in various school, community, national, and church events that promote our educational objectives for a holistic education. The annual Reformation Day celebration and school holiday took place at the end of October. Bishop Younan and Director of Education Dr. Charlie Haddad welcomed the eighth graders from the Lutheran Schools to the Evangelical Lutheran School of Beit Sahour, this year’s host. After an opening assembly, music, and prayers, students formed five separate groups representing all four ELCJHL Schools and the Good Shepherd School in Bethlehem, a new Lutheran partner in Students reenacted the trial of Martin Luther. education. A rotating set of activities included more music, a dramatic presentation on Martin Luther’s trial, a video on Luther’s life, a game show format that quizzed teams on Reformation facts, and group games. These activities gave students from the five schools a chance to meet and talk with each other personally and encouraged a sense of identity with the Lutheran tradition.
Students and staff from the Lutheran Schools were also part of the Seventh Annual Olive Harvest Festival held at Manger Square in Bethlehem November 3. Simon Award, Director of the Environmental Education Center, an educational program of the ELCJHL, joined the officials on the speakers’ podium. Dar al Kalima Lutheran School in Bethlehem and Talitha Kumi Lutheran School in Beit Jala brought their musicians and singers; ELS Beit Sahour and the Lutheran School of Hope in Ramallah sent their Debkeh folklore dancers. In addition to the program, visitors to Bethlehem toured the exhibits illustrating the importance of olives and olive wood to Palestinian culture, browsed the crafts booths, and sampled Palestinian cuisine. Later in the month social studies classes and morning assemblies studied and discussed the National Palestinian Declaration of Independence in preparation for the celebration of Palestinian Independence Day November 15. The Lutheran Schools are committed to prepare leaders for the day when this hope becomes a tangible reality, free from violence and occupation
The next day the Lutheran Schools’ annual soccer tournament took place again at Beit Sahour. The teams and guests from all four Lutheran schools enjoyed the games, conversation, and food before returning to their schools and preparing for the end of the first semester in early December.
In addition to the two volunteers from North America featured in the October newsletter, the Lutheran Schools are also happy to have six volunteers from Germany. At Talitha Kumi, Wieland Seibt , Peer-Daniel Krause, Sarah Wabbel, and Anna Richter assist with German tutoring and sponsorship programs and work in the guesthouse, kitchen, and boarding home. At Beit Sahour and Dar al-Kalima, Wiebke Kappus assists with kindergarten and German classes and teaches ballroom dancing in the extracurricular program after school. She is also helping with the Challenge 20/20 project that pairs international and US schools who study together global issues. A gymnasium graduate, she has not yet decided what she will do when she returns to Tubingen next year. She does know, however, that she will miss the warmhearted and helpful people she has met here
In addition to these German volunteers, the Lutheran Schools are fortunate to have the two DSD German teachers on a special contract sponsored by both the German government and the ELCJHL. These partnerships and joint projects with local and international groups help to open the world to our students by building windows within their walls of isolation.