Israel Day Four: Bethlehem

An earlier incomplete post was accidentally published. This is an updated post.

Today was a great day of visits and meetings. It was full of though provoking conversations with leaders.

Our first meeting was with Jack Sara the President of Bethlehem Baptist College. Jack is a Palestinian Christian and is an alum of the school. His perspective of education was through the lens of peace and transformation of the area. He talked about being imprisoned and beaten because of his work with churches and education.

As we sat in the newly built building, he told us how the school was created. With a vision of a Christian college in the area in 1971, a pastor responded joyously that he wanted to help it start with a donation. The pastor quickly gave $20. So with $20, the school was created. Jack is leading a community of Christians who are very hopeful that local people can be transformed through the hope of the Christian message. He also believes that mercy plays an important role in reconciliation conflict in Israel. Christians are a shrinking group in Israel but they are still leading the way for peace and transformation.

It is very reassuring that Baptists are leading the charge in transformational change and education in a place where Christians only make up 2% of the population. The school offers a BA, MA, a program for mass media, and a course of study in tourism guiding. A number of Muslims attend these programs and give people education for a career. Unemployment in Bethlehem is high. Jobs are tough to get.

After the college, we journeyed into downtown Bethlehem. The streets are tight and shops line the streets. They sell a lot of American goods as well as knock offs. Locals walked the street as they bought food and goods for their morning. There were an large number of young men walking around I asked our local guide what all of the young men were doing. He said that they don’t have jobs or anything to do so they walk around. Amazing to think that you get up in the morning, get dressed (very fashionably I might add) and walk around the town. Older men were selling good in shops or standing/sitting as well. Children were in the streets. Some were selling food or helping their fathers.

We visited the Church of the Nativity. It is an amazing church. The church is the oldest operating Christian church in the world. It is also guarded and patrolled by police. It is amazing that this church has lasted so long.The church is control or shared by Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. We walked down into the birth cave of Jesus. People were praying and lighting candles. The spot was Jesus was traditionally born is covered. The large cave is warm and has limited space for pilgrims. I will right more on this later.

Next we met with Mitri Raheb. He lead the conversation with that Jesus was a refuge. He also talked about how there is too much politics and we are concerned for the polis. The city. What about culture? He said that, “We can be an equal but diverse.” Also that it can be through transformation a whole nation not through religion but through culture. His churches focus on programs that focus on children and youth. Mitri Using sport and soccer is transforming society. We don’t believe whining will help and it will not from Capital Hill. His mission is to transform the people not as spectators but actors.

Next, Sami Awad with Holy Land Trust. His family was moved after the 1948 war. His grandfather died as a civilian. And, his grandmother taught Sami to not find out who killed her son so that the family didn’t want revenge. Sami’s father was adopted, brought to Kansas, and became a citizen. Sammy was born in Kansas. After, he was brought back to Bethlehem when his father was offered job to run an orphanage. As a child he disliked his oppression, but learned to seek peace. Sami’s uncle established Palestinians for Nonviolence. Sammy attended the school and then was awakened to the humanness of the conflict when Israelis he met broke the stereotypes. Holy Land Trust is about strengthening community, addressing challenge, and seeking reconciliation.