May 2021 Pilgrims Post

Fostering peace and justice in Israel and Palestine through education.

May 2021

editor: brenda@pilgrimsofibillin.org • pilgrimsofibillin.org

President Peter Henry Introduces Pilgrims' New Executive Director

Essrea Cherin

Welcome Essrea Cherin

The Board of Directors of Pilgrims of Ibillin is pleased to announce Essrea Cherin as our new Executive Director. “Essrea brings countless professional and personal qualities relevant to the job requirements of our executive director position and the mission of Pilgrims of Ibillin,” says Gail Doering, board member and member of the search committee.

Essrea came to Pilgrims with high recommendations from colleagues in past ventures, extensive experience in connecting people with the goals of peace and justice in the Middle East, a history of building relationships with people of different backgrounds and perspectives, and past experience as an executive director of a non-profit organization. A resident of Boulder, Colorado, Essrea has been a dedicated peacemaker for most of her adult life.

Dedicated Peacemaker

Essrea Cherin has put into practice her commitment to contributing to a more peaceful planet through many endeavors, including as the Executive Director of the journalism advocacy nonprofit, Media in the Public Interest, as co-founder of the Boulder-Nablus Sister City Project, designed to inspire cross-cultural friendships between Americans and Palestinians. She also served as the Chief Operating Officer of ReSolutionaries, Inc. an organization dedicated to incorporating Restorative discipline practices in schools. She also worked to support the peace-building efforts of world-renowned negotiation expert Dr. William Ury, which included creating a hiking trail in the Middle East to follow in Patriarch Abraham’s footsteps (Abraham’s Path). In addition, Essrea is a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Regis University and teaches communications courses such as intercultural communication and conflict management. Her various experiences underscore Pilgrims board member Don Brown’s words, “I was most impressed with Essrea's clear commitment to seeking and supporting justice in the Middle East."

Essrea’s life path was significantly influenced by an early adventure as a ‘global peace-walker' having the unique distinction of being one of a handful of women to have circumnavigated the globe largely on foot. The experience instilled a profound appreciation for cross-cultural understanding and connecting as key components to fostering peace.

Essrea Cherin's full introduction continues on our website...

The Rev. Dr. Peter J. M. Henry

President of the Board of Directors, Pilgrims of Ibillin

(313) 600-7370 | peter.henry@alum.ptsem.edu

A Visit with Archbishop Emeritus Elias Chacour in Ibillin

With permission from Elias Chacour and Messiah Lutheran Church

Recently I sat in on an Adult Education discussion with Elias Chacour by Zoom with a group from Messiah Lutheran Church in Schenectady, New York. Here are some excerpts from that discussion that I would like to share with all of you. It reminded me about what is so special about the Mar Elias Schools and Fr. Elias Chacour.

~ Brenda Mehos

Q - What are you up to these days?

A - I have been working in the school developing national relations of brother hood and reconciliation. We have one thing in common - whether we are Jews, Palestinians, White or Black Americans… we are born babies. This has been my guide during my life. All people are born of the likes of God. This is not always very easy but my guideline for my life. Now we have 3,000 students at the Mar Elias Schools. When I address these students in the morning, I consider them all my children, whether Muslims or Jews. I care only that all are children of God. The school was built for all to come and find our dignity together.

This past year I was home-bound and I dedicated all my time to writing. I wrote three books:

A Vision Not a Road Map – This is to say that I was constantly looking for what God wanted from me, and I was permanently ready to do whatever he wanted me to do. It’s about different initiatives in different towns and villages. These are different stories for people to consider God’s great, providence and inspiration.

It’s to Him to Grow and Me to Diminish, This is a book with different commentaries, mainly reading from the Bible during the Sunday celebrations, as well some pastoral letters from when I was acting Archbishop.

The Sermon on the Mount, the Way to the Kingdom – It’s some reflections on the central place of the Sermon on the Mount in the life of those who follow Christ. It’s mainly the fulfillment of wishes of many international friends to see me comment on the Beatitudes and wider on the Sermon on the Mount.

These three books reflect my concern to preach repentance and reconciliation. I would like the first and third book translated into English and I’m currently looking for a translator.

Q - How do we help people see each other? We are all so divided right now. Why is it so hard for us to see we are the same? What can the church do?

A - Converting the other to just be human. I am asked by the Lord Jesus to not hate. Even those who hate me, I pray for their well-being and I pray for a change of their heart. I’m sure the lord listens and acts. He will do that in his time.

Q&A with Abuna Chacour continues on Pilgrims' website...

Upcoming Webinar - May 2021

You Are Invited to a Zoom Interview and

Discussion with Author Richard Forer

and

Pilgrims of Ibillin Executive Director

Essrea Cherin and board member

Brenda Mehos on Forer’s latest book

Wake Up

and Reclaim Your Humanity

Wednesday, May 19

6 pm MDT (8 pm EDT)

Richard Forer will discuss his unique understanding of the hidden factors at the heart of the Israel-Palestine tragedy, especially the factors that lead people who ordinarily believe in decency and justice to support indecency and injustice. For readers who’d like to be informed about these factors beforehand, his new book, Wake Up and Reclaim Your Humanity: Essays on the Tragedy of Israel Palestine, is available at Amazon and other venues.

After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email

containing information about joining the webinar.

A $15 donation suggested for Pilgrims of Ibillin

Webinar Donations

Read more about the May 19 Webinar . Register to receive a secure Zoom link to the webinar. Your welcomed donations will fund the mission of Pilgrims of Ibillin in fostering justice and peace in Israel and Palestine through education.

Peace Partner Updates

News from Hope School in Beit Jala

By Tula Stephens -

International Relations - Hope School

M. R. was admitted to Hope School in 2014 at the age of 11. He lived in our school’s boarding section until he successfully graduated in June 2020. He dreamed of his future and his family whom he missed but lived most of his childhood away from. He is very vigilant and persistent and never gives up or bends when facing challenges or difficulties. After graduation, M. R. asked the school to continue sponsoring his higher education at university as we did at Hope School. Regrettably, we could not do that due to budget constraints and financial liabilities which were tripled during the pandemic.

A UK organization called Practical Compassion for Destitute Children (PCDC) sponsored him several years while he was living at the Hope School’s boarding section. Hope School was able to help M.R. in the process of applying and selecting a university. He chose a university in Turkey for several reasons – one being that Turkey has a more affordable cost of living for students. Hope School just recently learned that PCDC and another organization called Abraham Children in Crisis will partially support him with his higher education!

M. R. has almost finished the language courses which will enable him to attend the university in Turkey. He will be admitted to the International Relations program at the university next September.

We pray for M.R.’s educational success at university and that his dreams will come true and will help him to build a productive and fruitful future!

Diyar Women’s Soccer Team in Bethlehem wins

Palestinian National Championship

Diyar Women's Soccer Team - 2021 Palestinian National Champions

Congratulations to the Diyar Women’s Soccer Team for winning the Palestinian National Championship this month! We're so proud of the diligence and hope displayed through the young women in Palestine!

Pilgrims of Ibillin annual program grant supports the girls’ soccer program by paying fees for trainers who work with the program’s coaches every summer. Such support contributes to empowering Palestinian young women.

Interim Executive Director Brenda Mehos

A Note from Brenda Mehos

I first learned about Pilgrims of Ibillin back in the fall of 2013 when I went on a Living Stones Pilgrimage with Joan Deming and a group from my church. The experience hit all my senses. The delicious foods, the beautiful countryside, the smell of spices in the market, and the feel of the cool water of the Sea of Galilee on my feet. It was amazing to walk where Jesus walked and be in a place with so many layers of history. I was touched, dismayed, and rocked to my core by the problems and injustices that are occurring today in the land where a third of humanity call “The Holy Land.” It brought it home for me in a personal way how so many people in my own country are not treated well and we are not living up to our full potential as kind and loving human beings.

I really enjoyed my time filling in as Executive Director for Pilgrims of Ibillin while we searched for a permanent Executive Director and in fact it feels bitter-sweet as I pass it on because I loved talking to donors and making more connections with Mar Elias and our Peace Partners. We are all about relationships and that is what I enjoyed the most! I think our new Executive Director Essrea Cherin will be a great addition to our team and I look forward to what’s next for Pilgrims of Ibillin!

Pilgrimages in 2022

I look forward as well to continuing as a board director leading the program committee for our future webinars and pilgrimages. I’m really excited about the “Living Stones Pilgrimage To Meet The Peace Makers” I’m planning with fellow board member Rev. Dr. James Thomas and our West Bank Wi’am guide Usama Nicola in March of 2022. You can find more information about this pilgrimage on our website: pilgrimsofibillin.org/pilgrimage-planned-for-march-2022/. Consider joining us in March or joining the Holy Land Pilgrimage and Study Tour - “Encountering Women in the Holy Land Where They Lived and Live” led by board members Dr. Monte Lukar, Rev. Dr. Mary Sue Drier, and Rev. Gail Doering in June of 2022. More information on this pilgrimage: pilgrimsofibillin.org/holy-land-pilgrimage-and-study-tour-june-2022/

Thank you all for engaging with us by going on pilgrimage, attending our webinars, and being friends and funders of the Mar Elias Educational Institution and our Peace Partners!