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WOMEN OF CONSCIENCE IN
With the angry rhetoric and violence on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is sometimes hard to hear the many people of conscience – Jewish, Christian and Muslim – who work tirelessly and prophetically for a just and peaceful resolution. In a troubled land, historically and biblically known for the “voice crying out in the wilderness”, those voices of conscience still can and need to be heard. Throughout history, women of courage have been silenced and marginalized by structures of power and authority, and yet relentlessly they have been a voice for human rights, freedom and dignity – Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma, Shirin Ebadi in Iran, Roman Catholic nuns who stood in the way of tanks and stopped them in their tracks in the Philippines. So in Israel and in Palestine there are women of conscience whose voices need to be amplified.
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In this series of presentations – WOMEN OF CONSCIENCE IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE – we hope to amplify a few of those voices. Each of these events will be held at The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, located at the corner of Lyme Street and Ferry Road in Old Lyme. Please call the church office for information: 860 434 8686. ALL OF THESE EVENTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
October 1, 2006: Nurit Elhanan and Hanan Abu Ghoush. Nurit Elhanan, an Israeli Jewish woman whose daughter was a victim of a suicide bomber, teaches language education at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and has lectured widely on the way in which racial stereotypes are perpetuated in curricula. Hanan Abu Ghoush, a Muslim woman from Ramallah, is a nurse, a graduate of Birzeit University and has worked at a Women’s Center for legal aid and counseling. Her brother was recently shot and killed by the Israeli military. These two women met at a women’s conference in France where they established a friendship that transcends the hostilities that divide their two communities. They will speak at both the 9:00 and 11:00 AM worship services and also for the Adult Forum at 10:00 AM on October 1st at The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme
October 15: The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme will welcome THREE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM – a Christian, a Muslim and a Jew – who are living the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They come to the United States to call for an end to war and suffering in the Middle East and share their experiences and hopes for a just peace. Ghada Ageel (a Muslim Palestinian), Shireen Khamis (a Christian Palestinian) and Rela Mazali, (a Jewish Israeli) are all working professionals, activists, mothers, daughters and partners working to end the conflict. These women are part of the Twelfth National Jerusalem Women Speak tour organized by Partners for Peace. They will speak at 7 PM in the Parish House of The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme
October 17: Dr. Maria Khoury will speak on October 17 at 7 PM in the Fellowship Room of The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme in a jointly sponsored program with St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church in New London. She is the author of numerous books, including children’s books written in the Greek Orthodox tradition and also Witness In The Holy Land. She lives in Palestine in the village of Taybeh where she and her husband started the Taybeh Microbrewery, and she works with the Greek Orthodox Christian community’s education ministry and affordable housing program. Originally from Tripoli, Greece and raised in Denver, Colorado, Maria received a Doctor of Education from Boston University in 1993. She will help us to better understand the plight of the Christians in the Holy Land and the way in which the occupation is forcing many to abandon their place of birth. In honor of her Greek heritage and our friends from St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, everyone is invited to bring a Greek dessert!
November 3 & 5: Rachel Corrie, a young American woman from Evergreen, Washington was crushed to death by a bulldozer as she worked as a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement to stop the destruction of Palestinian homes and olive orchards. When a play about Rachel attempted to open in New York City, the theater cancelled the performances due to pressure from those who wanted to silence the courageous witness of this young woman. In two performances – November 3rd at 7:30 PM and November 5th at 3 PM, The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme will offer a dramatic presentation on the life and writings of Rachel Corrie.
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