Jerusalem Local Heads of Churches
Call for a Shared Jerusalem with Special Status

Jerusalem must be shared by Jews, Christians and Muslims, Israelis and Palestinians, the local heads of churches reiterated in an October statement.  In the statement, they laid out what this status must look like for a lasting peace:

1. “The human right of freedom of worship and of conscience for all, both as individuals and as religious communities” (cf. Memorandum 1994).
2. Equality of all her inhabitants before the law, in coordination with the international resolutions.
3. Free access to Jerusalem for all, citizens, residents or pilgrims, at all times, whether in peace or in war. Therefore Jerusalem should be an open city.
4. The “rights of property ownership, custody and worship which the different Churches have acquired throughout history should continue to be retained by the same communities. These rights which are already protected in the Status Quo of the Holy Places according to historical "firmans" and other documents, should continue to be recognized and respected” (cf  Memorandum 1994).
5. The various Christian Holy Places in the city, wherever they are, must remain united in geography, whatever the solution envisaged.

The statement came during a week when Jerusalem was largely shut down to Palestinian movement –both Christian and Muslim – due to the Jewish feast of Sukkot and the simultaneous Feast of Tabernacles sponsored by the International Christian Embassy here that draws Christian Zionists here for their support of Israel.  Although by law and previous agreement, Jerusalem is supposed to be open to all to access their holy sites, younger male Muslims are routinely kept out of the Old City during Ramadan, especially on Fridays, their most holy day of the week.  Each week during Ramadan, checkpoints into Jerusalem let fewer and fewer male Muslims into Jerusalem, putting many in the hospital from beatings, tear gas and sound grenades.  Picture here is the last Friday  of Ramadan at the Bethlehem checkpoint, where these men denied access to Jerusalem had their prayers at the main gate into Bethlehem.

The Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Beit Jala

Since school opened this fall, some new melodies have been sounding from the Lutheran Church in Beit Jala.  Music director Hannelore Shihadeh and her new volunteer assistant, Pastor John Setterlund, are teaching new organists to play the “king of instruments.”  Pastor John recently retired from campus ministry at the University of Illinois in the USA, and now lives at the boarding school in Beit Jala.  His work, besides organ instruction, includes English communication and pastoral assistance with the congregation and students.

.Four young people, two from the congregation and two from the boarding school, have begun weekly lessons on the church organ.  For some, this is their first experience with reading music or playing any instrument.  There are two electronic organs on which to learn.  In the near future, these students plan to see and hear a pipe organ in Bethlehem.

Ms. Shihadeh directs the congregation’s adult and youth choirs, and gives guitar and recorder lessons.  A Handel workshop for children is scheduled for this fall.  The adult choir has applied for an invitation to the Kirchentag choir festival in Köln, Germany, next spring. 

She also has coordinated the collection, transcription, and editing of a collection of 50 traditional Arab Christian songs, including Arabic text, musical notation, phonetic transliteration, and English translations.  An appendix contains some German pieces as well.  Publication of this unique volume, thanks to a generous donor in Germany, is expected early in 2007.

 

The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem

Pastor Sani Ibrahim Azar has been pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Arabic speaking congregation for 16 years.  He has watched the Jerusalem congregation go through good times and bad times, but now, he says, "you can see it in their eyes."  Uncertainty and worry, he said, about the future, housing, jobs, the church.  Many are  waiting for the wall to be finished before they will know which side they are on, a difference that can render the house you have paid for almost worthless.  Still, life and ministry go on. 

Twenty children arrived at Sunday School this past Sunday, a good day. People talk and greet one another after the service.   Later in the week, Bible study will take place at the Beit Hanina center they have rented because it is so hard to reach the Old City of Jerusalem for so many.  There are 20 young people in confirmation who also gather at the Beit Hanina center, but Pastor Azar must pick some up at the checkpoint because their parents can't get through the checkpoints.  Once there, confirmation meets, the younger kids will meet to work on the Christmas play.
Women are working to prepare for the Christmas Bazaar in December.  A new physical therapist at the Elderly Center leads classes now for both men and women to help with physical exercise and movement.   Signs of hope, signs of faith that sustain through the daily grind under occupation.   

Wall and Restrictions Divide Jerusalem Area Christians
from Their Faith and Life

Al Ram –

The last time the Abu Leils tried to go to the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (about 5 kilometers from their house), they left over an hour early and got there at the end of the service.  They don't try anymore.  They live in Al Ram, which used to be considered a part of Jerusalem because it was integrated with the neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, but it is about to be sealed off on the West Bank side of the Wall.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This map is not completely accurate but gives an indication of the route of the wall.  The solid redline is the completed wall, but it has not been completely sealed in all places.  It is about to be sealed off around the arrow point.  This area is still being completed and has caused tremendous traffic and congestion problems on what used to be the main route to Ramallah.  The dotted red line indicates the portions of the wall still under construction.  It is also hard to travel because the routes change often.  To  enter Jerusalem, the Abu Leils – although they hold Jerusalem IDs – find themselves on the West Bank side and must drive up to Kalandia Checkpoint, several kilometers to the north, and wait for what can be 15 minutes or 3 hours, one never knows.  Picture a 3 lane toll booth, where each car is questioned for an indefinite time, but usually only one lane is open.  Then they must go south again to reach Jerusalem through torn up roads half-constructed. It doubles the distance but can quadruple the time.  They estimated to get to their 9 am service in Jerusalem, in Jerusalem, they would have to leave at about 6:30 to make sure they were there on time.  And since they have to do this same drill every weekday for the kids to reach their schools, they all are so tired that it is hard to make that effort.

This northern wall between Jerusalem and "the West Bank," although it is really right through the middle of Palestinian areas that used to be considered Jerusalem, is becoming more and more complete.  This wall section in Al-Ram is expected to be sealed very soon.

This has virtually cut off faith life for the Abu Leils and almost 25% of the families of Redeemer's Arabic congregation.  It is simply too hard to get there.  This year, their 13-yeard-old son, Feraz, is supposed to begin confirmation class.  But unless special arrangements are made, he won't be able to. He is only 13 and has no ID, so he can't go through the checkpoint on his own, but he might be a special case to go through an existing checkpoint by foot if accompanied by a parent from one side and if the pastor is willing to come and meet him from the other side.  They are still working on it.

The Abu Leils talk about going to the Lutheran Church in Ramallah, about 13 kilometers away, but Samir says:  "We are strangers there.  I grew up at Redeemer.  That is my church."

Another major change may come if they can no longer afford to keep their children in costly Christian schools.  The public schools, the only schools available to them in their neighborhood behind the wall, are Islamic.  But they only cost 20 sheckles (about $5) per student per year. 

Bethlehem
 Zoughbi hasn't been able to go to his church in Jerusalem for 6 years.  Not for Easter, not for weddings, not for funerals, not for baptisms and not for Sunday services.    He used to be a member of the English-speaking congregation of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.  But it's hard to be a member if you can't get there.

Zoughbi said he doesn't even try to get permits anymore because it is such an onerous effort.  "You can wait for hours, only to be told 'come back tomorrow,' but 'tomorrow' never comes.  And that's just applying for the permits."   He said they are rarely given, and even when given, they can be revoked at any time at any checkpoint by a soldier who says, "not today."  He also said that sometimes they will give permits for the wife but not the husband, the brother but not the sister.  Zoughbi also talked about men – and women - having to go through humiliating searches.

He said the effect is a complete fragmentation of the family, which for Palestinians – both Muslim and Christian – is integrally woven with faith and life. For him, it is not just that he can't go to his church anymore for Sundays or Easter, but it is the inability to gather for weddings, funerals, baptisms, confirmations.  These family events are the faith and life moments that are the whole fabric of Palestinian society.  With these restrictions are tearing that fabric apart because most  Palestinians have families spread throughout the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza.

 

 

Christian and Muslim Faith Leaders Celebrate Iftar Meal

The Greek Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican Churches invited the higher Islamic council, Chief Islamic Justice Sheikh al Tamimi, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, Islamic Awqaf Adnan Hussein, Jerusalem PLC members and about 100 other dignitaries and civil society leaders both Christian and Muslim to celebrate a traditional "iftar" meal in October after the Ramadan fasting day ended.  Bishop Younan welcomed the group, and PA President Abu Mazen's Chief of Staff Mr. Rafik Husseini gave the President's regrets that he couldn't be there since these community-building events are so important.   The speakers called for an end to recent tensions between Muslims and Christians, with Sheikh Tamimi recalling the Covenant of Caliph Omar and Patriarch Solphronius in the 7th century which calls for good relations between Muslims and Christians.  He recalled that the majority of Christians and Muslims have lived together in peace since then.  The speakers agreed that they should work together to see that statements and events outside of this area not affect relations here.   All the speakers emphasized the importance of the Holy City of Jerusalem for all, and His Beatitude Michel Sabbah reiterated their common belief that Jerusalem must be shared among Christian, Muslim and Jew and between Palestinian and Israeli.  He said these kinds of events are important and must be continued to strengthen community in the midst of the difficulties.  They also called for unity not only between Muslim and Christian but also among all the Palestinian factions, and urged an end to violence of all kinds. 

Welcome to the German Congregation's New Pastors

Pastors Ulrike and Michael Wohlrab have begun their ministry with Tourists and Pilgrims at the Ascension Chapel of Augusta Victoria and the German congregation of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.  They are replacing the position held by Pastor Ruediger Scholz.   Dr. Bartolt Haase has also arrived to take his post as Vicar at Redeemer. 
Welcome to our new partners in ministry!

Many Partners Visit the ELCJHL and the Holy Land

Many thanks to all the groups who have come to visit with us here.  Delegations from the Norwegian Church, Dan Church Aid, a youth delegation from the Diocese of Borg in Norway and  a delegation from St. Stephen's Church in Madison, Wisconsin all came to deepen partnerships by experiencing Palestinian hospitality and reality here.    A group of Dutch journalists and another from Sweden came to study the situation here in the aftermath of the war.    

 

 

 

 
The Schools of the ELCJHL have been in session for almost two months despite continuing problems in the Palestinian educational system. Lack of funding from international organizations protesting the Hamas party’s January election to the Palestinian legislature resulted in insufficient funding for the salaries for government health, education, and security workers. Teachers in the public schools, unpaid since March, have been on strike since the beginning of the school year. While some private schools have considered joining them, the Lutheran Schools in Palestine remain open. Schools’ Director Dr. Charlie Haddad has urged that students’ education not suffer as it did during the irregular school sessions experienced in the past during the Intifada and the curfews imposed by Israeli soldiers. Dr. Haddad and the principals are working with the private schools in the area to remain open.

Principals have noted an increase in enrollment this year and credit it to at least two factors. Some families of students whose schools are closed have come to register them with the Lutheran schools in the Bethlehem and Ramallah areas. Also of local significance is the report of the results on the national Tawjihi exam, taken by last year’s graduates; teachers and administrators are proud of the excellent scores of the students of the ELCJHL Schools. This year staff and students are happy to welcome international volunteers who teach or assist in the Schools. Among these are Erin Abshire from Atlanta, GA (USA) and Julia Wachter from Germany. Each will work this year with the English or German classes at the Dar al-Kalima and Beit Sahour Schools. Students in all four Lutheran Schools begin to study English in Grade 1 and German in Grade 3.

Another short-term volunteer is Dennis Douglas, a church musician from Wisconsin, who came to teach music for two weeks at Dar al-Kalima School in Bethlehem.  He arrived with a group of eleven visitors led by Pastor Bruce and Cynthia Burnside of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Monona, Wisconsin.  Pr Burnside’s congregation has sponsored eighteen students in the Lutheran Schools through its Soup Groups, where participants contribute the cost of a regular restaurant meal for a simple soup supper and use the profits to benefit the tuition costs of needy students.  Students and sponsors were happy to meet and greet each other since their last visit two years ago.

This month also marks the feast of Ramadan, a month long Islamic celebration of fasting during the day followed by traditional seasonal foods served after sundown. A few weeks ago, the three Muslim teachers at the Evangelical Lutheran School in Beit Sahour prepared for their Christian colleagues’ morning break katayef, traditional Ramadan pancakes, folded in half and stuffed with cheese or ground nuts. Even though the Muslim teachers did not break their fast, they enjoyed serving their colleagues, and the Christian teachers enjoyed the tasty dessert. This kind of cultural sharing exemplifies the religious dialog and coexistence that are core values of the Schools of the ELCJHL.

Pray for all of the Students of Palestine to Get Back to School

School never opened for over 725,000 public school students in Palestine because there is no money to pay the teachers due to the international boycott on aid imposed since the Hamas victory in January.  Bishop Younan released a statement this month asking Israelis, Palestinians and the international community to stop making the children suffer from the political stalemate.  Education is a human right for children, he said, and the only way toward a modern, democratic nation.