Flicker of Hope

Doris Shahedah was born into a long established Arab Christian family in Jerusalem during the finals days of WW II,  When fighting broke out during conflict between Jews and Arabs for the control of Palestine, her family was forced from their home and fled to Jordan. They were told they could return when the fighting ended.  When they tried to return they had to settle in East Jerusalem far from their former neighborhood.  Doris's mother pled with authorities to be permitted to at least see their former  home. She was never permitted to visit and died with a broken heart.

Having been born during the time of turmoil Doris's citizenship was classified as "indeterminate status."  It was only  recently that she was granted Israeli citizenship.  As the wife for many years of an Episcopal priest who is an Israeli citizen it was unnecessarily difficult.

Doris was astonished to learn that our group planned to visit the West Bank city of Jenin and stay with Palestinian families.  Having lived for a few years in the U.S. she has a positive view of Americans,  She has found them to be warm hearted and kind.  However,  she has continued to be saddened by their lack of knowledge about the problems of Arab Christians in Israel and the difficulties created by the occupation of

Palestine by Israel. She said she felt no hope about things improving in her life time.

We talked about our plans to attend the olive festival planned by the Fair Trade cooperative and to visit the Jenin refugee camp. We also planned to pick olives.We told her our group had come to learn more about the conflict and to meet peace makers.

During the evening her husband talked about the necessity of non violence as a solution and the need for justice with love. There were many questions from our group about options for change.

At the end of the evening Doris said our group represents a flicker of hope that others in the rest of the world will learn more about their plight and try to find ways to institute change.

                                                                                                                                                        Suzi Pifer

Barrier to Peace

Checkpoint closure

Tomorrow we will travel south to Nablus and then to Jericho.  Our intentions were to return the way we came, but we have been informed that the checkpoint 15 minutes to the north of us will be closed on Sunday at noon.  We will worship with a Melkite congregation in the morning in Zababdeh and will not make the random noon closure.  A minor inconvenience to us; a strangle hold on Palestinian livelihood.

Jenin Olive Harvest Festival

The Rev. Dr. Shahedah Shadedah and Doris Shahedah

It is a powerful evening, indeed. Dr. Shahedah Shahedah arrives at the Ginosar kibbutz with his wife, Doris. They join us for dinner and he is remarkably “western” in dress with his dark suit and Episcopal priest’s collar. Except for her simple but elegant and traditional Arab black dress, Doris does not easily fit the image of a Middle-Eastern woman. Her hair is short as well as stylish and there is no head covering. Their graciousness and level of comfort with this group of strangers is immediately apparent.
There is small-talk including a discussion of the family’s two years in Chicago while he completed a degree at McCormick Theological Seminary as well as his visits to 41 of our 50 United States for the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace.

After dinner, we move to a quiet area of the downstairs lounge and create a circle of fifteen Christian brothers and sisters. It is immediately more than a grouping of chairs - the bond, the passion for peace and reconciliation within this gathering is evident in each and every face.

Shehedah is a man who has spent an entire lifetime in the pursuit of peace and understanding between Jews and Palestinians and even those of us who have followed the events of recent years within Israel are surprised by his initial and very personal comments related to the flickering light of hope for his goals of peace and reconciliation between these peoples. Like so many of his generation, he has concluded that these things will not come to pass during his lifetime. Sadness? Certainly. Despair? Not this man!

Now, his faith and tenacity in ministry seem to seize the moment and he changes course. In the shadow of the dwindling numbers of Israelis and Palestinians alike, who now believe that peace is possible, he talks enthusiastically of dialogue being the only avenue of true peace and of the year-long work of his Reconciliation and Peace Department of the Episcopal Church. Leaders of all the major faiths, Muslim, Christian and Jew have unanimously agreed to, and have begun, regular direct conversation.

Next, he says, “We must start with the children,” and we are instantly transported to the home of the Shahak family and to school in Tel Mond! Was that only yesterday? In that one tiny corner of Israel, that part of the dream is already a blossoming reality! Hope!

We tackle some tough issues and questions in group discussion but now there is a renewed sense of energy and mission. When someone asks, “What can we do?” the reply is immediate and passionate. “That is a very good question. You can tell our story to others.” That is our calling...to be become his storytellers. Perhaps it is yours?

His final words will remain with me throughout the years ahead. They echo of another time and another wall. “I dream that the wall will be knocked down from both sides and that we will share the land and harvest the peace.”

Shalom and Salaam
Bob Forbes

Jenin checkpoint

We arrived in Jenin this afternoon. On our way we talked about what might happen at the check point. We prayed. As we approached, we saw fencing, gates, and an obvious military presence. Would we be hassled, delayed or let through to attend the Olive Harvest festival in Jenin? Or would we have to drive four hours further to try another check point? Fortunately, after a brief wait we were let through. Sadly, we as "tourists" were allowed in when many Palestinians had been waiting all day and had not been let through.

Mixed emotions: relief that our passage was smooth, tears that the Palestinians had to wait to go to their homes. How long will they have to wait?

Carol Papa

Tel Mond Day one