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Fostering a just peace in Israel and Palestine through education

January 2025

MEEI Students Celebrating the Holidays

Message from the Executive Director

Dear Friend,


Welcome to 2025. I remain at a loss for words given the endless horrors inflicted upon a people whom I love dearly. I cannot say Happy New Year, but I remain hopeful that by year's end we will have cause to be happy - with violence having subsided and promise on the horizon - may it be so.


What I can offer is a brief excerpt from Rev. Munther Isaac's moving Christmas sermon, that I encourage you to read or watch in full:


"Today, let us reflect on the Child Jesus-the Child of Bethlehem. At the heart of the Incarnation, there is a child. In His weakness, He is our hope, our consolation, and our strength. This child shook Herod's throne. While there are some who talk about their 'Roman Empire,' or glorify Herod as 'great,' we Christians are the ones who sing of a child born to refugees escaping a massacre. And you cannot worship both. I pray that the image of the Child in the Rubble will be deeply rooted in our hearts and minds. He was born among us and entered our world under the most difficult and harsh circumstances. His family suffered greatly to protect His life. The children of Bethlehem were massacred, but not all of them. Jesus survived this genocide, becoming a refugee with His family in Egypt, then returning to His land and people, serving, building, working, and bringing salvation and redemption. In this resilient child and His family, we find hope. This child, whom we see today among the ruins, once stood before Pilate and Herod, faced death itself, and triumphed, granting eternal redemption.


With this hope and faith, we endure. We refuse to surrender to despair, because ours is a faith of resurrection. From the midst of the rubble, a plant of life will arise, giving the promise of a new dawn. The assurance of a harvest where justice and restoration will flourish, and the vine will bear fruit that nourishes generations to come. As the poet Mahmoud Darwish said: 'And the dying seeds will fill the valley with ears of grain.'"


On a happier note, because of an incredible outpouring of generosity in 2024, we were able to send an additional $105,000 to Mar Elias last week — $65,000 to renovate the nursery Safe Room and $40,000 in scholarship funds. We thank you so much for all you've given to these efforts.


Below you'll find news about Father Chacour's soon-to-be-published book, a webinar with peace partner Wi'am's Usama Nicola in February, and highlighting Mar Elias's impressive alumni.


Blessings,


Essrea Cherin

Executive Director

Donate Now

Safe Room and Scholarships to MEEI

In 2024 we raised over $500,000! Mar Elias has been in crisis this past school year, and you stepped up in response.


As a result, we were able to accomplish more in 2024 than in several years. The nursery at MEEI will have a new safe room. Hundreds more students will benefit from scholarship assistance to cover tuition (as you may know, poverty in Palestinian communities continues to escalate with a struggling Israeli economy, and Palestinians tend to get the worst of economic challenges).


In addition we were able to help with upgrading and updating the electrical system in the Kindergarten, bridging the gap on mounting operational expenses, and an additional over $150,000 in scholarship funds.


Your magnanimous and kind-hearted giving is so very appreciated! Mar Elias would not be where they are today if it were not for you and your support.


Thank you so much

Sermon on the Mount Update

Abuna's forthcoming book, The Sermon on the Mount: An Invitation to Receive and Advance the Reign of God: Then, Across Time, and Now is in the final stages of editing, proofreading, and formatting at the publishing house, Wipf and Stock.


We anticipate that the book will be available for purchase in the coming weeks — I'll be sure to let you know how to get your copy.

We are very appreciative for the skilled editing and oversight that former board member and prolific writer Dr. Duncan Ferguson gave to this effort. Duncan has served many years in congregations and church-related higher education. He received his PhD at the University of Edinburgh; served as a chaplain and professor for three universities, and worked within the national offices of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in higher education ministry. He is the author/editor of 12 books.

Webinar: West Bank in Crisis: Life Under Occupation

Usama Nicola joins us from Bethlehem

Saturday February 22 at 1pm ET, 12pm CT, 11am MT, and 10am PT (8pm Bethlehem)


Usama will discuss what life is currently like under occupation.


The ongoing aggression in Gaza often dominates headlines, drawing significant attention due to the magnitude and horror. This focus sometimes overshadows the equally dire situation in the West Bank, where tensions, settler violence, and human rights violations are escalating at an alarming pace.

Both regions face severe and catastrophic crises, deserving urgent attention and action from the international community, us.


Usama is a committed Palestinian civil society activist, serving as the Citizens Diplomacy Project Coordinator at Wi’am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center. Many of you may know Usama as our guide on our Living Stones Pilgrimages.


Please note that at the speaker’s request, this webinar will NOT be recorded, so plan to join us on February 22 to hear more.

Register for Webinar

MEEI Students Celebrating Christmas

Even though the holidays are behind us, I thought you might enjoy one more video of Mariam Bawardi Elementary and Junior High School Students singing Joy to the World in three languages.


Click on the image to watch the video.

Exceptional Alumni

5 doctors who graduated from the same class at Mar Elias Ablin College completed their education in medical schools in Israel and specialize in the country's hospitals -


  • Dr. Heba Yassin (Nassar)... Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine Technion Institute
  • Dr. Nidaa Nassar.... Bar Ilan Safed Medical College graduate
  • Dr. Sahar Nassar.... Graduate of Tel Aviv University Faculty of Medicine.... She currently specializes in Pediatrics at Haemek Afula Hospital
  • Dr. Majd Nassar..... Bar Ilan Safed Medical College graduate... He currently specializes in Pediatrics at Soroka Hospital
  • Dr. Mays Nassar.... She graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the Hebrew University Hadassah and finished her specialization in internal medicine at Ziv Safad Hospital


It is noteworthy that five of them finished secondary education in the same grade at Mar Elias College and the four are the children of Araba Al-Batuf. They represent five of the hundreds of MEEI Alumni who have become doctors.

Donate Now

Your donations support the ongoing work of

Pilgrims' Peace Partners in fostering a just peace

through education in Israel and Palestine.



Thank you.

Essrea Cherin

Executive Director, Pilgrims of Ibillin

(303) 928-0923

essrea@pilgrimsofibillin.org

www.pilgrimsofibillin.org