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SUNDAY,
DECEMBER 3rd
FIRST
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
OF OLD
LYME
ANNA BA LTZER is a young American Jewish woman, and granddaughter of holocaust refugees. Based upon her experience with the International Women’s Peace Service, she has written the book, Witness in Palestine: Journal of a Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories. Sharing her own experiences and extensive photographs, Anna describes the human rights impact of the occupation, the human and the environmental cost of the conflict, the injustice of the wall and the destruction of Palestinian communities. (www.annainthemiddleeast.com)
BENJAMIN BEIT-HA LLAHMI’s book Original Sins: Reflections on the History of Zionism and Israel was published by Interlink, New York in 1993. An Arabic translation was published in 2001. Dr. Beit-Hallahmi will speak on “how the historical response to the great sin of anti-Semitism has led to the great sin of the victimization of the Palestinians in West Asia and on how these two wrongs don’t make anything right.” Dr. Beit-Hallahmi is a professor of psychology at Haifa University in Israel.
BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY — Located in the ancient city of Bethlehem, now largely surrounded by the separation wall, the University is a haven of learning and interfaith cooperation. This year we welcome both Christian and Muslim members of their administration and faculty who will help us understand more deeply the situation on the ground in this holy city. Brother Jack Curran is the Vice President of Bethlehem University in Palestine and a member of the Brothers of LaSalle. From the faculty we plan to welcome Ms. Hanadi Soudah-Younan from the English department and Dr. Hala Al-Yamani from the Education department. (www.bethlehem.edu)
MARILYN NELSON — Founder and Director of the Soul Mountain Retreat. Poet Laureate for the State of Connecticut.
YEHUD SHAUL is a former Israeli soldier and the founder of “Breaking the Silence” which is working to document the dehumanization that accompanies the occupation, both for the Palestinians who are occupied and also for the Israeli soldiers who enforce the occupation. (www.breakingthesilence.org.) SPONSORS
The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme
(AS IT IS TODAY) “The hopes and fears of al the years are met in thee tonight.” These words from the popular Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, are particularly relevant for the current situation in Palestine and Israel. With the escalation of the violence and the harsh realities of the occupation, many Palestinians and Israelis are understandably fearful about the future. Will a 28-foot concrete wall forever imprison the ancient city of Bethlehem? Will the children of Abraham – Jews, Christians and Muslims – ever enjoy a peaceful and prosperous family reunion? Will more and more Christians flee from the birthplace of the Christian faith out of the fear of violence, repression and economic desperation? Will there be a Civil War in the Palestinian community? Will the conflict between Israel and Palestine continue to be a flashpoint for regional and perhaps global significance? If fear is the precondition for more and more violence and repressive measures, what is the antidote to fear? Surely, it is hope, and although it is sometimes hard to find reasons for hope, in each of our Tree of Life Journeys to Israel and Palestine, we have found more than a sufficiency of hope. These intentionally interfaith journeys have sought to identify voices of conscience and models of hope that have served as beacons of light in this conflict. Fortunately, there is an abundance of Israelis and Palestinians – Jews, Muslims and Christians – who have exemplified themselves in their efforts toward peace and reconciliation. In this Tree of Life Conference we hope to highlight those efforts. With a special focus on the City of Bethlehem as it is today, we will try to come to a better understanding of the realities of the occupation and the impediments to peace, but also, we hope to explore how we can support and amplify the voices of those children of Abraham – Jews, Muslims and Christians – who have exemplified themselves as a light shining in the darkness. “Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light, The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” (Philip Brooks, “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”,1867)
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