Today was the first full day of our pilgrimage, and what a beautiful day it was! It began in a way befitting of our cause – a worship service at the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Palestine. It’s easy to get lost in the sunshine, falafels, and mint lemonade (thank you Abu Dawod Restaurant!), but our cause is much more purposeful: to learn, specifically to learn about the barriers between the Israeli and Palestinian people.
One of the first things that I became acutely aware of as the service this morning began was that I knew exactly one word in Arabic, Shukraan – or thank you – which the overall hospitality of our Palestinian hosts necessitated we learn. Fortunately most hymns were written in English, too,and the pastor, Munther Isaac, was kind enough to also summarize most of the lessons to English for us. One of these Lessons was predicated upon the teachings in Romans 11: 33-36.
He spoke of the Romans and the Jews and the barriers between them. He spoke of how each looked down at the other, and each thought the other to be unworthy to praise by their side. And he spoke of the miracle that was them coming together and overcoming the barriers that kept them apart in the name of the Lord.
The physical barriers between the Israelis and Palestinians are evident in the numerous barbed or electric fences and checkpoints in the West Bank (about 500, most of which are constantly moving, checking out any person they find ‘suspicious’ – i.e. any person they choose). The barriers between us and our hosts, in that moment at the Christmas Lutheran Church was much more basic – language. And yet, when I closed my eyes as those around me sang “Uhibbuka Rabbi Yasu” it felt as if the words didn’t so much matter. For, we were two people (or about 75) rejoicing in the Lord- and the passion of that, in that room, could break down any barrier.
And so we started off our time in the Holy Land. As it was in that church this morning, I look forward to the rest of our time, learning how passionate Christians are fighting to break down a much larger barrier- a barrier to peace between nations.
Thanks be to G-d (and, again, to the Abu Dawod Restaurant. If you’re ever in Bethlehem… just saying.)
Daniel Duquette
We arrived from 5 time zones, together in Bethlehem at last despite a couple flight delays (and miraculously with all of our luggage). This morning’s sunrise over the Bethlehem hills invites us to be fully present to the geography, the people, the stories, the deep roots of our faith tradition.
Today will ease us into this Living Stones experience: first, in worship with the congregation of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, then a walk through the old city and lunch in Manger Square. We’ll drive down to Qumran, float in the Dead Sea, and take a sundown walk to see St. George’s Monastery and the road from Jerusalem down to Jericho from Wadi Qelt. 
