Author: admin

Living Stones Pilgrimage, May 13-26

Posted by

Let the adventures begin!

Arrivals at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.

A new Living Stones Pilgrimage starts May 13th, when 12 “Pilgrims” will fly from the USA to Tel Aviv, and walk this hallway in Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv. They will enter a land that’s holy, historic, welcoming, and challenging, all at once.

Come look over our shoulders: bookmark this page and return to it often between now and May 26th to see what we’re doing and read our reflections!

We will visit key biblical sites in and near Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and the Galilee region, and learn why the Holy Land is known as the Fifth Gospel. Follow us as we also meet Pilgrims of Ibillin’s partners in Ibillin, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramle, Ramallah, and Zababdeh — learning about the people and  organizations in Israel and the West Bank who seek a nonviolent path to peace and justice.

Experience Palestinian hospitality through our eyes and writings, including a home-stay in Zababdeh, in the upper West Bank.

St. George’s Melkite Church, Zababdeh, with neighboring mosque in background

Get to know students and leaders at the Mar Elias Educational Institutions in Ibillin as we meet them. Join us from afar as we visit with MEEI founder and peace activist Archbishop Elias Chacour.

Visit the destroyed village of Biram where Fr. Chacour was born and lived until 1948.

We will return home equipped to give presentations, so do invite us to share with you when we return! But for now, we invite you to follow us as this pilgrimage unfolds. We will be sharing a story of new friends – Christians, Muslims, Druze, and Jews – who live with hope and work for peace despite great challenges.

A Glimpse of the Old and Rays of Light for a New Day

Posted by

Monday, 22 October ~ Donna Veatch

Each day has brought a glimpse of the old and rays of light for a new day in Palestine. In Nazareth, home to Mary and Joseph and Jesus’ boyhood, we visited sites commemorating the Annunciation and wandered through excavations revealing structures of times past. 

Nabila Espanioly, founder of Al Tufula Center for Women and Children shared her struggle for each step of her education and profession, returning to build a center focused on child development and women’s empowerment. 

Over lunch at the Liwan Cultural Cafe, co-owner Sally Azzam explained how they are revitalizing community life in the neighborhood where locals may find comfortable space to share arts and culture. 

Abuna Elias Chacour

Father (Abuna) Elias Chacour, Archbishop of the Melkite Catholic Church and founder of the Mar Elias Educational Institution, met with us to share stories of overcoming tragedy to reach out in love.  He commented that after all his years of seminary and religious life he remembers the following:  God does not kill. God is love. You can forget the rest!  He asked us for our friendship and solidarity, which has been the most critical factor of this journey. We can see the sights and remember what they represent, but more importantly hear the stories and honor the people behind them who work to make each tomorrow better. 

Father Chacour invited us to be pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian, but not anti-Israeli or anti-Palestinian. This is perhaps our biggest challenge yet. 

Galilee!

Posted by

Sunday, 21 October ~ Alan Ogilvie

We have seen many remarkable sites during our tour. Some sacred like Church of the Nativity and some secular like Dar Al Kalima University. Today was no different as we visited various churches along the Sea of Galilee, took a beautiful late afternoon cruise on the Sea of Galilee in a boat similar to what was used during the time of Christ and visited the ancient Village of Biram, which was destroyed by troops in the early 1950s.

Toomi Magzal

Particularly memorable was walking the ruins of Biram with an energetic 91 year old former resident, Toomi Magzal, who spoke of how his family and the entire population of the village was forced to leave their homes with only 48 hours notice with the promise from officials that they could return in 2 weeks. Only later did it become clear they would never be permitted to return and the village would be destroyed. Despite what he and his family had experienced through this ordeal, he was not bitter but rather simply desired for there to be peace in the Holy Land. Truly an amazing individual.