Summer is here! So is Juneteenth! We celebrate this holiday with our Black sisters and brothers as cries for racial equity continue to rise across the globe. We're excited to share these updates with you-
HOW DO WE RESPOND, TOGETHER?
Solidarity Statement from our Board
Photo credit: Dar al-Kalima student, Elias Abd Rabbo
The Board of Directors of Bright Stars of Bethlehem is honored to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter global network. We denounce systemic racism, state violence, and inequity here and abroad. 

Our souls ache witnessing violent systems of oppression crushing those who bear God’s image--from George Floyd to Breonna Taylor to Ahmaud Arbery to Iyad Halaq. Just as our partners in Bethlehem live with the daily indignities of military occupation, our Black brothers and sisters bear the weight of four centuries of systemic injustice. (We addressed the parallels of systemic racism that both Palestinians and Black Americans face in our recent blog post .) Rebuilding society into one of equal dignity and mutual loyalty will be neither quick nor easy, but the time is now for organizations such as ours to take focused action.

At Bright Stars of Bethlehem, we believe that the liberation of all people is interdependent. Prayers continue for healing, equity, justice, and peace, both in the US and in Palestine. Internally, we commit to a review of our organizational diversity policies, and we will strengthen and increase our partnerships with Black churches and organizations throughout the US.

With our partners in Bethlehem, we will continue to champion creative resistance through arts and cultural education in Palestine. As an organization, we will continue to fan the flames of hope in the souls of all those whose flourishing is threatened by injustice and oppression. Hope is what we do.
PALESTINE HAPPENINGS
University Reopening
After three long months of quarantine, Dar al-Kalima University students returned to campus last week. With new safety precautions in place, students and faculty gather again to create, dream, and imagine new futures!
Youth Summer Program Update
Due to the pandemic, the Youth Academy and Theater had to cancel or postpone most programs. However, its weekly sports and arts classes just restarted, bringing the joy of karate, swimming, and ballet to over 200 kids!
Pandemic in Palestine
Compared to other countries, Palestine is seeing much fewer recorded cases and deaths of COVID-19. Presently, there are:
  • 460 recorded COVID-19 cases in the West Bank, 72 in Gaza
  • 5 reported deaths

You can view the most recent updates from the Palestinian Ministry of Health here
STAY CONNECTED
Announcing Virtual Summer Series!
We're thrilled to announce our Virtual Summer Series: Palestine During Double Lockdown! 

Please join our Bright Stars team and friends in Palestine as we highlight how we're unlocking hope together amidst this “double lockdown.” 
 
The series title, taken from Rev. Dr. Raheb's latest book, speaks to the added layer of oppression that the pandemic inflicts on Palestinians. We'll hear from Bright Stars co-founder and Dar al-Kalima University President, Mitri Raheb alongside students, faculty, and scholars from the university. Learn the how the pandemic and the recent developments of the Israeli occupation, especially the planned annexation, are affecting our Palestinian partners. Lastly, we’ll hear from our Executive Director on how, together we can unlock hope for the next generation of creative leaders in Palestine.
 
Save the dates: June 29, July 27, August 24 at 12pm Eastern Time/ 11am Central Time, 9am Pacific Time/ 7pm Palestine.

Free. Registration required. Schedule below:
 
June 29
Annexation and the Creative Response: How are Israel’s annexation plans impacting Palestine’s creative leaders?
 
Join Rev. Dr. Raheb and Dar al-Kalima board member and human rights activist, Dr. Varsen Aghabekian to learn about Israel's most recent steps towards annexation. Listen to Dar al-Kalima interior design student, Sandra Murra share how the planned annexation is affecting her daily life- and how they're choosing to respond. Dr. Aghabekian serves on the board of Commissioners of the Independent Palestinian Commission for Human Rights and is former Commissioner General from 2015-2018.

 
July 27
Pandemic and the Creative Response : How can art pave the way for justice? 

We'll hear from students and faculty of Dar al-Kalima as they share how art provides a social justice lens in which to critically reflect on reality while imagining new futures.
 

August 24
Gaza and the Creative Response: How is the program in Gaza empowering students?
 
We'll hear the latest from the Gaza program director, Ghada Araj and students who participated in this spring's pilot program. 

New Release!
We are delighted to announce the release of The Double Lockdown: Palestine under Occupation and COVID-19 . This timely booklet, edited by Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb and chief Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erakat is a timely collection of essays addressing the impact of COVID-19 in Palestine. Contributions include essays by leading Palestinian doctors, sociologists, political leaders, and theologians.

Free download available here.
Kris Wagner, Executive Director