A Member of Menno PIN and on the Twining committee recently sent a letter to the president of the YMCA on behalf of the YMCA in Gaza. A letter to the president of the YMCA, with an introduction from David Janzen is as follows:
Fellowship of Hope of Elkhart IN and other friends in 2020 established a “twinning” relationship with the Gaza YMCA, located in Gaza City. The Gaza Y along with most of Gaza City, has been largely destroyed with many of its participants killed or seriously injured. A group of us continue to hold Zoom calls twice a month with several of the Gaza Y’s leaders who, in spite of having to immigrate to other countries, keep in touch with those still in Gaza City. Through their contacts, we send relief help and communicate the tragic existence of those remaining.
In one of our Zoom calls, we discovered that in recent posts, the International YMCA mentioned the situation in the Jerusalem and Lebanon Y’s but notably omitted the status of the Gaza City one. After checking with our Gaza friends, I sent the following letter to the President of the International Y pleading that they also give attention to the Gaza Y.
Letter:
World YMCA President Christopher Lewis
Dear President Lewis:
I am writing to plead for more international attention and support for the Gaza YMCA. I’m sure you are aware of the destruction of the fine facilities and the deaths of many children and adults who used the YMCA, and those sheltering in what is left of the buildings. As I read the deliberations of your International organization, Gaza’s YMCA is rarely mentioned compared to those in Jerusalem or Lebanon. I wonder if the presence of what remains of the Hamas resistance has made it politically unfavorable for the International YMCA to support the good people of Gaza who are in desperate conditions.
My family benefitted from the Elkhart IN USA YMCA for many years. Our boys learned to swim and used its gym frequently. In my social work years in Elkhart, we held many community meetings at the Y as it was truly a place where all ages, cultures, and races interacted and worked together. It was a sad day when it was replaced by a large swimming facility.
I became acquainted with the Gaza Y from a Mennonite Church initiative where individual churches regularly connected by Zoom calls with churches or not-for-profit organizations. My congregation, Fellowship of Hope in Elkhart, began interacting this way in 2020. We continue to meet even though some of the leaders of the Gaza Y left the country. In earlier years, we toured on video cameras through the Gaza facility, saw the work of the children in psycho-social, art, and athletic activities, and attended on Facebook their annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. We were so impressed by the presence of Christians and Muslims working together for the good of all.
We are deeply impressed by the strong desire of our Gaza friends to restore their YMCA, even though it is difficult to imagine with the continued Israeli assaults. We have sent contributions to help those remaining in Gaza purchase scarce and expensive food and supplies, and will continue to have regular contact.
My plea is that the international organization remember the Gaza chapter, include it in your support and communication materials, and inform the Israeli government of the important role of the YMCA in rebuilding Gaza both in structures and in developing peaceful relationships among its people.
Sincerely,
David Janzen
