October 2020 • editor: brenda@pilgrimsofibillin.org • pilgrimsofibillin.org |
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A Message From Interim Executive Director Brenda Mehos
As many of you may know by now we are in transition here at Pilgrims of Ibillin. After 2 1/2 years, Rev. Laurie Lyter-Bright resigned at the end of August to focus more on ministry. I eagerly agreed to serve as an interim director for Pilgrims while we find the perfect fit for what we hope will be a long term executive director. The new director will take us to the next level - serving our mission of fostering peace and justice in the Holy Land through the promise and hope of education.
Search for Pilgrims Executive Director
Our young people are our promise for a better world and an excellent education will help level the playing field in an unjust world. Working as an executive director for Pilgrims of Ibillin will offer the chance to make a difference. We are looking for someone with leadership skills, people skills, an interest in Israel and Palestine, and someone with experience in raising funds for non-profits.
If you are interested in this position or know someone who may be a good fit please contact me or our President Rev. Dr. Peter Henry. Thank you for your interest in our organization and being part of the Friends and Funders for the Mar Elias Educational Institutions and our Peace Partners!
Brenda
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A conversation with
Usama Nicola of Wi’am and
Dr. Celene Lillie
“Resistance in Battir
Then and Now”
Walk with Us Through Time to the West Bank Village Battir, an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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The Battir Valley is thick with presence, holding memories from ancient to modern times. The Roman road in the bowl of the valley, dotted with ancient tombs, weaves through ancient olive groves still tended by the nearby Palestinians. The village of Battir holds the remnants of the last stronghold of the Bar Kokhba revolt and the plaque commemorating the Romans who crushed it in 135 CE, while the terraced hills, predating that time, still flourish with the gardens of the people who live there.
In the not-so-distant past, the people of Battir drew on their amazing creativity to save the village during the war in 1948—and this creative resistance in the face of overwhelming forces that threaten their land continues to this day. Please join us as we learn together about the 2000 year history of this beautiful land and it’s amazing people who have much to teach us about the power of creative, nonviolent resistance.
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Usama Nicola is the Citizens Diplomacy Project coordinator along with Zoughbi at Wi’am in Bethlehem (The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center). Wi’am is one of our Peace Partner organizations and our West Bank tour planner. Since its inception, Wi’am has offered alternative tourist programs with opportunities for individuals and groups to visit the Holy places (Holy Stones) and the people (Living Stones) and as an introduction to the socio-economic and political conditions (Rolling Stones).
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Celene Lillie completed her Masters of Divinity and Ph.D. at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and is a historian of early Christian texts. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Oklahoma, and The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. She lectures nationally, most often with the Jesus Seminar, and has recently been named as the inaugural Dean of the Westar Academy. Celene is the author of several books including The Rape of Eve: The Transformation of Roman Ideology in Three Early Christian Retellings of Genesis.
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Join us Oct. 31, 10 a.m. (Mountain), 12 noon (Eastern), for our 3rd Pilgrims Webinar. |
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Click the Register button (above) for the October 31 Zoom Webinar and receive a secure link for the event. Donations collected from the webinar will be split with Wi’am: Palestinian Center for Conflict Transformation, Bethlehem, who is suffering greatly from the cancellation of tourism right now. Usama Nicola, Celene Lillie, and Brenda Mehos were leading the October Pilgrimage now cancelled due to COVID-19. This webinar is an hour long "virtual hike" while we hope to reschedule the pilgrimage in May 2021.
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“We Are All Born Babies”
— Abuna Chacour
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An article by Femininza based on an interview with Archbishop Elias Chacour in 2019.
“Feminenza and Abuna share a hopeful vision of a different future, possible to achieve through the ripple effect of educating the young and propagating the seeds of update and upgrade in human society.” Read the full interview.
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News from Our Peace Partners |
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Mar Elias Educational Institution in Ibillin Israel
Because of soaring COVID-19 rates, students at the Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI) have been going to school virtually. In fact, Israel is currently in the middle of a 3 week total lock down that started September 18th. As a result MEEI students have been facing many challenges especially those who lack computers. English teacher Emil Halloun estimates that currently 85 students at least are still without computers for online learning. The Ministry of Education has allotted a special budget to deal with the demand ,but this will not meet the required amount to purchase computers.
In addition to challenges from COVID-19, Arab schools in general have the additional challenge of less government funding for schools than their Jewish counterpart. According to Kenesset Member Dr. Yousef Jabareen, the financial gaps between Jewish and Arab school funding can reach up to 18,000 NIS ($5263.43) annually in high schools.
Mr. Halloun added, “online teaching at MEEI is going well despite the many challenges. Teachers work often past school hours online talking to students who are distressed or needing extra help, our teachers are so committed to the success of their students. Many teachers have used their own money to help purchase computers”.
If you would like to assist with the purchase of computers for MEEI students please consider donating and mark for MEEI student computers. Go to www.pilgrimsofibillin.org
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Hope School in Beit Jala –
to the West of Bethlehem
This school helps vulnerable children who are orphans or unable to live at home due to problems with their family situation. Their general director, Kader Saba, says “our educational process is based on love, peace, co-existence, tolerance, and other values stemmed from the Word of God.“ For more on Hope schools go to www.hopesschoolbeitjala.com.
Director Saba is also unfortunately reporting that due to COVID-19 and it’s consequences, their school as other Christian schools in the Holy Land, is going through a very difficult financial situation. They are unable to fulfill the needs of their staff, especially the salaries so unfortunately they can currently pay only 50% of salaries since March 2020. Eighty percent of their budget depends on donations that have dropped drastically. If you are moved to help Hope School you can donate directly through their website or through Pilgrims of Ibillin. Read Hope School's most recent newsletter.
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West Bank Village of Zababdeh
We recently heard from another Peace Partner, Fr. Firas Khoury Diab, the priest at the St. George’s Melkite Catholic Church in Zababdeh. Those of us who have visited Fr. Firas and his village can appreciate the great work that he does for his village, his love for others, and his wonderful sense of humor! Pilgrims of Ibillin’s yearly donation to this program provides scholarships to the excellent private Catholic school in Zababdeh for local children grades 2nd through High School. Abuna Firas says “he is very thankful for Pilgrims of Ibillin support for the students at the Catholic School to make a difference for the better.”
Photo: First day of school September 6 in Zababdeh
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Brenda Mehos
Interim Executive Director, Pilgrims of Ibillin
(303) 928-0923
brenda@pilgrimsofibillin.org
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