Sat 10/19 ~ Dave Gamble

After lunch we visited a Palestinian farm in Bethlehem that has been owned and worked by the Nassar family since 1916.  (Farm website: www.tentofnations.org.) Two brothers told their own stories about their bond to the land and their desire to remain on the 100 acre farm while in harmony and brotherhood with their Israeli neighbors.

Daher, the older brother, bubbled with joy to show us the farm and the caves the family lived in when the family began farming olives, grapes, carob, and figs. He led us in songs of faith, hope and fellowship in the cave and gushed with hospitality for all including the adjacent Israeli settlers.

Daoud, the younger brother talked about the challenges associated with trying to prove family ownership of the farm with voluminous legal records and witnesses.  It was frustrating to hear the litany of how the Israeli government and lower court system seemed to be focused on gaining control of the land for Israeli purposes instead of justice.  Daoud stressed the need to be proactive in finding solutions while avoiding the trap of victimhood and hate.  He was inspiring in his efforts to make the land a healing place.

His message for us was to take action via – come and see, then go and tell. He witnessed that we can make a difference as all people understand justice and we all must have faith, love and hope.

We ended our visit by harvesting olives from several trees while looking down at the Israeli settlements and hearing Palestinian children from the village but at a distance laughing and watching us hand pick olives. We watched the sunset as we boarded the bus as the end of our day was culminated by the faith, hope and love of the Nassar’s.