News 07

Since our last newsletter, the Schools and Educational Programs of the ELCJHL have participated in various school, community, national, and church events that promote our educational objectives for a holistic education. The annual Reformation Day celebration and school holiday took place at the end of October. Bishop Younan and Director of Education Dr. Charlie Haddad welcomed the eighth graders from the Lutheran Schools to the Evangelical Lutheran School of Beit Sahour, this year’s host. After an opening assembly, music, and prayers, students formed five separate groups representing all four ELCJHL Schools and the Good Shepherd School in Bethlehem, a new Lutheran partner in education. A rotating set of activities included more music, a dramatic presentation on Martin Luther’s trial, a video on Luther’s life, a game show format that quizzed teams on Reformation facts, and group games. These activities gave students from the five schools a chance to meet and talk with each other personally and encouraged a sense of identity with the Lutheran tradition.

Students and staff from the Lutheran Schools were also part of the Seventh Annual Olive Harvest Festival held at Manger Square in Bethlehem November 3. Simon Award, Director of the Environmental Education Center, an educational program of the ELCJHL, joined the officials on the speakers’ podium. Dar al Kalima Lutheran School in Bethlehem and Talitha Kumi Lutheran School in Beit Jala brought their musicians and singers; ELS Beit Sahour and the Lutheran School of Hope in Ramallah sent their Debkeh folklore dancers. In addition to the program, visitors to Bethlehem toured the exhibits illustrating the importance of olives and olive wood to Palestinian culture, browsed the crafts booths, and sampled Palestinian cuisine.

Later in the month social studies classes and morning assemblies studied and discussed the National Palestinian Declaration of Independence in preparation for the celebration of Palestinian Independence Day November 15. The Lutheran Schools are committed to prepare leaders for the day when this hope becomes a tangible reality, free from violence and occupation.

The next day the Lutheran Schools’ annual soccer tournament took place again at Beit Sahour. The teams and guests from all four Lutheran schools enjoyed the games, conversation, and food before returning to their schools and preparing for the end of the first semester in early December.

In addition to the two volunteers from North America featured in the October newsletter, the Lutheran Schools are also happy to have six volunteers from Germany. At Talitha Kumi, Wieland Seibt , Peer-Daniel Krause, Sarah Wabbel, and Anna Richter assist with German tutoring and sponsorship programs and work in the guesthouse, kitchen, and boarding home. At Beit Sahour and Dar al-Kalima, Wiebke Kappus assists with kindergarten and German classes and teaches ballroom dancing in the extracurricular program after school. She is also helping with the Challenge 20/20 project that pairs international and US schools who study together global issues. A gymnasium graduate, she has not yet decided what she will do when she returns to Tubingen next year. She does know, however, that she will miss the warmhearted and helpful people she has met here.

In addition to these German volunteers, the Lutheran Schools are fortunate to have the two DSD German teachers on a special contract sponsored by both the German government and the ELCJHL. These partnerships and joint projects with local and international groups help to open the world to our students by building windows within their walls of isolation.

October
The first two months of classes in the Schools of the ELCJHL have flown by. In addition to new classes and new teachers, students have already participated in some special events that have enriched the regular school calendar.

The four schools have conducted elections for student councils, parents’ councils, and teacher advisory groups. These representatives provide a bridge of communication with the local administration at each school. Such activities help to promote peaceful conflict resolution and build leadership skills in the democratic process for our staff and students. At the School of Hope, representatives from Trondheim Commune in Norway, a sister city with Ramallah, came to explain their Youth City Council, soon also to be a part of the city government in Ramallah.

International partnerships are important to the Lutheran Schools where students and staff often feel isolated and bound by the Israeli Occupation and the Separation Wall. In addition to the visit from the Norwegian partners, each school is participating for the second year with US school partners as they study together selected global issues in the Challenge 20/20 project. This research project involves class discussions, internet research, interviews with community resources, and using technology to learn and communicate by email, PowerPoint, and websites. An added feature planned for this year is a joint presentation where participants will present their work to all four Lutheran Schools.

November
Prayer for Peace from Churches for Middle East Peace on Eve of Annapolis
ELCJHL Bishop Younan Writes Open Letter to Annapolis Leaders
ELCJHL Bishop Younan Speaks for Justice and Peace at the Carter Center
Top Muslim, Christian and Jewish Religious Leaders Call for Justice and Peace

October
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Hosts Annual Ecumenical Reformation Service
Christian and Muslim Leaders Break the Ramadan Fast Together in Jerusalem

September
Pastor Mark and Marcia Holman Installed at Redeemer's English-Speaking Congregation
Ten Redeemer Students Confirmed at Lutheran Church of the Ascension on the Mt. of Olives
Sweden's Social Democratic Leader Mrs. Mona Sahlin Visits Holy Land, ELCJHL
God's Reign and People's Rule
Back to School at the ELCJHL

August
Bishop Younan Greets ELCA Assembly

July
ELCJHL Explores "Christians in a Changing World"
Love Thy Neighbor Brings Peace Camp to Ramallah School of Hope

June
Congratulations to Anna Liza Younan and Nazeeh Khoury on their Wedding
Southeast Michigan Youth and Adults Visit ELCJHL
"The Amman Call" for Peace, Justice and an End to Occupation
Video Clips of Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia WCC General Secretary
Short Address to Jerusalem Reception on New Forum
What will it take to bring peace and justice here?
Bishop Younan Urges Non-Violence and Unity at Gathering of Civil Society Leaders
Bishop Younan's Statement on Recent Events
Statement by Heads of Local Churches: Stop the Violence and Work Together for Justice/Peace
Statement by NGOs working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 40 Years of Occupation
Statement by Sabeel on 40 Years of Occupation
Amnesty International Report: Enduring Occupation "Destroying Palestinian Hope"; Urges International Intervention

May
Statement by Heads of Local Churches in Jerusalem about 40 Years of Occupation
Opening Windows within Walls: Teaching Peace in the ELCJHL
May issue of ELCA Online Lutheran Journal of Ethics on Christian Zionism: Article by Bishop Younan
World Bank Report Confirms Israel Blocking Palestinian Economy
CMEP Thanks Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum for letter denouncing John Hagee's Nights to Honor Israel As Based in "Extremism and Bigotry"

April
New Anglican Bishop Installed in Jerusalem
Dar al Kalima College Groundbreaking
DEKD Council and ELCJHL Sign Historic Agreement
Christian Leaders Visit Greek, Latin and Armenian Patriarchs for Easter (Click here for photos)
Holy Week in the Holy Land

March
LWF Council Calls for Ecumenical Action to End the Occupation of Palestinian Land
ELCJHL Mourns the Loss of Bishop Emeritus Daoud Haddad
Hundreds of Palestinian and Israeli Women Protest for International Women's Day at Qalandia Checkpoint
King Abdullah Backs Arab Peace Plan in US Text of his speech - Click here)
Visiting German Bishops Denounce Conditions in Palestinian Territories

February
National Unity Conference Rejects Violence, Urges Democratic, Civil Society
Local Heads of Churches Visit Haram al Sharif to Dialogue with Muslim Clerics
Bishop and Delegation Visit ELCJHL from Strangnas Diocese in Sweden
ELCJHL Women Gather for Jericho Retreat
Construction at Al Aqsa Mosque Brings Closure, Protests and Police

January
Jerusalem Churches Celebrate Week of Christian Unity
Bishop Younan Travels to the US
Local Heads of Churches Issue Statement