Thursday, December 20, 2007
Hope in Bethlehem
In the post "My Bethlehem Experience" I touch on some aspects of my time in the city of Bethlehem and how I witnessed the terrible affects of the occupation on that city and its people. Of course there was more to my visit than just what I wrote in that post.My visit to Bethlehem was a special occasion for me and I think my traveling companions as it is a city with such significance to the Christian faith. It is a city of pilgrimage, of faith, and if it were not for the occupation it would also be a city of peace. Even with the ever present wall, soldiers, illegal settlements and public unrest Bethlehem still has sparks of peace and joy shining in the darkness of its despair. One such spark is the "Bethlehem International Center" http://www.annadwa.org/.I was thrilled that we were going to visit the center, mostly because the founder and director is a Lutheran minister named Mitri Raheb and I had read a book he had written called "I am a Palestinian Christian" before I made my journey to Palestine.(The bok is here: http://www.amazon.com/Am-Palestinian-Christian-Mitri-Raheb/dp/080062663X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198158232&sr=8-1). I was very much looking forward to meeting Asis Raheb (Asis is Arabic for pastor) and taking a tour of the center. The center is housed in a building that is in the old city of Bethlehem on the street that leads to the Church of the Nativity. The programs of the center serve the entire Palestinian community but emphasize work with children, youth and women.The center houses a Health and Wellness center, intercultural studies center, a school, a media center, and is the stage for many an artistic event. One artistic venture is the cave arts and crafts center or Al-Kahf in Arabic.Al-Kahf Arts & Crafts Center aims at reviving the local community’s sense of beauty, strengthening the cultural identity, and cultivating the artistic talents.It seeks to:
Create an infrastructure that is necessary for the rejuvenation of the cultural life in Palestine.
Conserve and revive the traditional Palestinian handcrafts that are slowly dying out, as well as evolve the handicraft industry so as to meet international standards.
Provide needed vocational training for young people, and hence creating job opportunities for young and qualified Palestinians.
Encourage human productivity and creative skills so as to enable people, through their own work, to participate in shaping their future.
Asis Raheb is truly a visionary and among an oppressed population he stands out as an example of a prophetic voice in Palestine. His vision is supported by a dedicated staff, international volunteers and a community open to new ventures. I hope that you will join me in praying for and supporting this worthy endeavor in Bethlehem.
I left the center with some hope, hope that life does go on, that peace can grow and that people can overcome even the direst of situations.
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