Saturday, May 28 – After spending the night in the home of the father of our host, Father (Abuna) Firas of St George Melkite Greek Church in Zababdeh, we enjoyed breakfast under citrus and pomegranate trees, next to a grape arbor and the fragrance of mint and rosemary in their beautiful garden,then shopped from a variety of beautiful handmade gifts which helped to support the congregation in this time when it is hard to find work.  The kindness and generosity of both their spirit and lodgings was incredible.

We then travelled to the city of Nablus where we toured the old city, had a beautiful lunch and, best of all, enjoyed their famous dessert called knafe – A warm dough with cheese in the middle and a sweet topping. A soap factory visit and an exotic spice shop were next on our agenda. The spice shop had a wonderful ‘lounge’ where we had Arabic coffee.

We then went to the Burqin Mosque in the West Bank to visit the cave in the Church of the Ten Lepers (where it was said that 10 lepers were healed by Jesus and only one, a Samaritan, gave thanks).

The high point next was when we took one hour to go through the busy Jalameh checkpoint and got to the village of Ibillin.  We happily settled into our guesthouse and enjoyed some quiet time.

Our time on the bus gave us the opportunity to share thoughts. Some of us have responded earlier to the Palestinian Kairos Document request to encourage and participate in BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) and this has been encouraged on this trip. On this trip, we have also heard Christian leaders who preferred to encourage positive investment in the Palestinian economy rather than divest from Israeli entities that profit on West Bank land.  So far, we, as a tour group, have engaged twice in activities where Israel is profiting in the West Bank so … where to stand?  What is most helpful? Will divestment harm positive relationships we and the Palestinians already have with the Israelis?  How much would positive investment in the Palestinian economy be undermined and deflate any effect we intended?  Will divestment hurt the process of a just peace or is it ‘tough love’? Where is the line between developing friendships and standing up for Justice? Oh God, show us the path and keep us faithful.

~ Emily Schornstein and Anna Lee