From Dr. Emil Halloun, head of the International Relations Office at MEEI:
Dear Friends,
It's been nearly a year since our region began to experience heightened instability and complexity on all fronts, adding layers of tension, and sadly, deepening, thus, the divides within our diverse community of Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Christians, and Druze. All of us—breathing the same air and hearing the same harrowing sounds of sirens and explosions—have been starkly reminded of the fragility of our existence in this small land.
In recent days, our towns and villages across Galilee and Mt. Carmel, including Ibillin, Shafoamer, and Isfiya, have been shaken by missiles impacting nearby farms and homes. This has sadly become an all-too-common occurrence in our region and is particularly distressing for everyone in the communities from which the students and faculty of MEEI come.
Since September 20th, Mar Elias Educational Institutions have resumed classes via Zoom amidst these challenging conditions. Our experienced and dedicated faculty, counselors, and administrators have prioritized the emotional well-being and stability of our students above all. Inspired by the resilience modeled by our founder, Father Elias Chacour, who endured numerous conflicts from his childhood, we continue to foster a spirit of perseverance. Father Chacour's experiences now resonate deeply with our students, for whom words like “wars” "shelters" and "missiles" have unfortunately become a part of their vocabulary.
Despite these trials, our commitment to providing a safe and nurturing educational environment remains unwavering. Father Chacour and Mrs. Nawar Mussalam will share more during their upcoming visit.
In closing, I'm reminded of the words of Thomas Merton, the American Roman Catholic monk, which seem especially pertinent now for all of us who live far from each other and yet are united in our vocation guided by our faith in the value of life:
"If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for."
Thank you for your steadfast friendship and support!
|