Category: Join

In This Issue

Seeking MennoPIN Communications Coordinator
Resilience and Hope
A Poem: Gate A-4
Mennonite Action July Mobilizations
Prayers from Sabeel
Stay Informed on Palestine

Seeking MennoPIN Communications Coordinator

Are you looking for a way to help Palestine? Do you have 3 to 4 hours to spare once a month? Are you technologically competent and/or teachable?

If so, you may be a really great fit for the Communications Coordinator role with MennoPIN! My name is Lydia, and I started volunteering in this role last fall. Even though I didn’t have any communications experience, I was able to learn MailChimp and WordPress pretty quickly and was really grateful to have a concrete way to help out on a regular basis. It’s been wonderful getting to know the wonderful MennoPIN steering committee members and seeing more up-close the amazing work they’re doing as I put together the newsletter each month. I’m leaving the role next month so I’m looking for a replacement. Please reach out if you have any interest at all, and I can tell you more about the role.

And feel free to pass this on if you think someone else might be a good fit!

Contact Lydia Miller at lydia.miller28@gmail.com or text or call (607) 280-9471

Resilience and Hope

I should be in Palestine right now. The plan was to spend ten days there in August, visiting friends, and doing field research for a book I’m writing.  But four days before the trip was scheduled to begin, Israel killed a Hezbollah leader in a targeted attack in Beirut, and also killed the leader of Hamas who was visiting Iran.  

The drumbeats of a regional war grew louder.  As I tried to discern next steps for my trip, the airlines canceled all flights into the region.  

Deflated, I reached out to friends in the West Bank to cancel our plans, and as I did, I received updates on how they were doing.  Islam, who lives in Jerusalem (but on the “wrong” side of the wall) reported that the Israeli military had demolished the home her father, an absolute genius with stonework, had been building for the two oldest sons in the family.  She also sent me a video of a missile strike that narrowly missed her home the night before. She’s scared and angry.  

Ali, Sami and Tariq, residents of the South Hebron Hills, reported settler attacks in each of their communities. These attacks resulted in water supplies cut off in Tariq’s community, attacks on sheep herders in Sami’s village, and an attempt by settlers to steal sheep on Ali’s village which resulted in his injury.  

Hamed told me that even though money in the West Bank is very tight, because few are able to work, he’s still trying to get money together to send food to Gaza.  He was happy to have found a restaurant that could somehow get meals into Gaza, and had fed several families.  

My friends at Community Peacemaker Teams in Hebron told me that many of the shopkeepers I loved to visit have left the old city.  It’s too dangerous to open their shops, because soldiers patrol the streets, and if there is anything in the shop that resembles the Palestinian flag, the shop can be trashed or the shopkeeper threatened.  

All of my friends in the West Bank, despite their difficult circumstances, are safer than Gazans. Gaza continues to be bombed, the people continue to starve, and the death toll rises.  

I don’t know anyone in Gaza, but because I know Islam, Ali, Sami, Tariq and Hamed in the West Bank, it makes what is happening in Gaza feel personal.  

But Palestine is about more than just stories of death and woe.  It’s about resilience and hope.  I remember my visits with Munir, who makes me his signature tea for me.  When I try to guess the secret ingredient, his eyes sparkle with joy and pride.  I remember Abdullah, who has a quick, witty response to anything dense I  could say about the occupation.  I think of Mona, who likes to  refer to me as “her favorite colonizer,” a sign that I have earned her respect, even though my country sends bombs that have been used on her people.  I think of Laila, who has been known to  chase soldiers out of her shop with her sharp tongue and fierce eyes. None of these friends have given up on their freedom, and neither can I.  We continue to call on our legislators for a ceasefire because God’s beloveds in Israel and Palestine need to be free.  

I hope to try to get back to Palestine next month, if a war can hold off.  I miss my friends, and the way we can laugh, even when things are hard.  I miss the land and the cool breeze that blows over the rocks when the sun sets. It’s those little moments in Palestine that give me hope–not all is lost.  And one day, we will all be free.  

Amy Yoder McGloughlin is the Conference Minister for Allegheny Mennonite Conference. She serves on the Steering Committee and Pastoral Team for Mennonite Action and the MennoPIN Christian Zionism Sub-Committee. She volunteers with Community Peacemaker Teams in the West Bank as much as she can. 

Gate A-4

A photo of the poet. Credit to Michael Nye

Gate A-4, a Poem by Naomi Shihab Nye

Wandering around the Albuquerque Airport Terminal, after learning
my flight had been delayed four hours, I heard an announcement:
“If anyone in the vicinity of Gate A-4 understands any Arabic, please
come to the gate immediately.”

Well—one pauses these days. Gate A-4 was my own gate. I went there.

An older woman in full traditional Palestinian embroidered dress, just
like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the floor, wailing. “Help,”
said the flight agent. “Talk to her. What is her problem? We
told her the flight was going to be late and she did this.”

I stooped to put my arm around the woman and spoke haltingly.
“Shu-dow-a, Shu-bid-uck Habibti? Stani schway, Min fadlick, Shu-bit-
se-wee?” The minute she heard any words she knew, however poorly
used, she stopped crying. She thought the flight had been cancelled
entirely. She needed to be in El Paso for major medical treatment the
next day. I said, “No, we’re fine, you’ll get there, just later, who is
picking you up? Let’s call him.”

We called her son, I spoke with him in English. I told him I would
stay with his mother till we got on the plane and ride next to
her. She talked to him. Then we called her other sons just
for the fun of it. Then we called my dad and he and she spoke for a while
in Arabic and found out of course they had ten shared friends. Then I
thought just for the heck of it why not call some Palestinian poets I know
and let them chat with her? This all took up two hours.

She was laughing a lot by then. Telling of her life, patting my knee,
answering questions. She had pulled a sack of homemade mamool
cookies—little powdered sugar crumbly mounds stuffed with dates and
nuts—from her bag—and was offering them to all the women at the gate.
To my amazement, not a single woman declined one. It was like a
sacrament. The traveler from Argentina, the mom from California, the
lovely woman from Laredo—we were all covered with the same powdered
sugar. And smiling. There is no better cookie.

And then the airline broke out free apple juice from huge coolers and two
little girls from our flight ran around serving it and they
were covered with powdered sugar, too. And I noticed my new best friend—
by now we were holding hands—had a potted plant poking out of her bag,
some medicinal thing, with green furry leaves. Such an old country tradi-
tion. Always carry a plant. Always stay rooted to somewhere.

And I looked around that gate of late and weary ones and I thought, This
is the world I want to live in. The shared world. Not a single person in that
gate—once the crying of confusion stopped—seemed apprehensive about
any other person. They took the cookies. I wanted to hug all those other women, too.

This can still happen anywhere. Not everything is lost.

Mennonite Action’s July Mobilizations

Mennonite Action participants march accross a bridge holding signs and flags (photo credit to Rachel Schrock)

Reflection contributed by Adam Ramer, MennoPIN Board member and co-organizer of Mennonite Action.

In July, members of MennoPIN joined Mennonite Action on an ambitious goal — to march from Harrisonburg Virginia over 11 days and 135 miles and join an interfaith, multi-racial and intergenerational coalition, called “Interfaith Action for Palestine” to counter the large Christian Zionist organization, Christians United for Israel (CUFI) during its annual gathering. We also aimed  to bring our message to Congress and President Joe Biden’s administration to support an immediate, permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages and political prisoners, an end to military aid to Israel, and a political solution that ends the occupation of Palestine, ensuring peace for Palestinians and Israelis. 
It felt important to join this coalition for a number of reasons, but maybe most importantly was the question “What more can I do for Gaza?” As a member of both MennoPIN’s board and a co-founder of Mennonite Action, I felt a responsibility to continue working for peace and justice, and the opportunity to join in a broader coalition with Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist groups felt like a powerful choice.

On Thursday, July 18th the heatwave that engulfed much of the east coast for the previous subsided as the march began. That first day was mixed with emotions. Talking with marchers, a patchwork of sadness, nervousness, physical uncomfort, gratitude and determination brought the group together. On our first night we stayed at a local Mennonite church where we held a joint potluck with the Valley Muslim Community Foundation — a group that local Mennonites have been building community with for months in our work to pass Harrisonburg’s ceasefire resolution, along with other local coalition partners. Through interfaith prayers and gathering time we grounded our bodies and spirits for the days to come. 

Each day we marched roughly 13 miles across varied terrain. We passed through the Blue Ridge Mountains, through fields and towns towards Washington DC. Each morning we read a land acknowledgment, and thought of our own complicity in settler colonialism in the United States/ Turtle Island while we also were marching for Palestine. As we marched, we sang hymns and shared poems and stories from Palestinine. The pain of blisters and aching knees accompanied us, and it guided us. We held signs and banners that read: ‘God Loves Every Child, No Exceptions’, ‘Send Food Not Bombs’, and ‘President Biden Open Your Eyes,’ 

Every step of our long journey to the DC our hearts were with the people of Gaza who have suffered so much from attacks with weapons of war supplied by our own government. We wanted our lawmakers to understand that our love must extend to all of God’s children, and that’s why we need a permanent ceasefire in Gaza now. 

Once we arrived in DC, we marched directly to the White House for a service. For an hour, we held the space just north of the White House with prayer, song, and lamentation for those suffering in Gaza. And at the end of the service people were invited to write prayers and set them beside small tea candles in front of the White House. 

Arriving in DC meant that we completed the first half of our mobilization and were ready for the second half: joining in with the interfaith coalition (Interfaith Action for Palestine) to counter the annual conference of Christians United For Israel (CUFI) and confront US lawmakers who are embracing CUFI’s agenda. 

CUFI is an extreme Christian nationalist organization founded by far-right televangelist John Hagee, who is known for promoting extremist antisemitic tropes and Islamophobia. Mennonite Action and our interfaith allies wanted to demonstrate that this organization does not speak for all or most Christians and people of faith, and the goal was to ask lawmakers why they are aligning themselves with far-right extremists?

Interfaith Action for Palestine was made up of a number of convening organizations: Christians for a Free Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Jewish Voice for Peace (DC), IfNotNow, Rabbis for Ceasefire, Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Hindus for Human Rights, Fellowship of Reconciliation and Mennonite Action. On top of these convening groups, numerous ecumenical groups, other Palestinian justice organizations and individual Synagogues and churches joined too. We wanted to show up as ourselves, from all of our faith backgrounds and show that faith voices won’t let far right Christian Zionism and Christian Nationalism speak for us. 

We wanted to demonstrate this through direct action, interfaith prayer services, and our own lobbying efforts. And over a few days of programming, Mennonite Action and members of MennoPIN joined in a series of these actions across Washington DC. And much like Mennonite Action’s large action in January, we also had the opportunity to partake in Civil Disobedience. So on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 30th, a group of 50 of us walked into the large atrium of the Hart Senate building, sat down, and began singing hymns. 

We wanted to disrupt business as usual for our elected officials who continue to prioritize death and destruction over a pathway to peace. We wanted our voices to echo out and show that we were saying no more, that we refused to be quiet in the face of injustice and that our faith demands us to call for peace and justice. And even as the plastic handcuffs were tightening around our wrists we kept singing. After a few hours in custody and paying a small fine, we were released and greeted with pizza and water, and lots of support from volunteers offering care. 

The entirety of both the journey and the actions in DC felt immensely spiritual. It is easy to become numb and tired, especially after months of protests, meetings and prayers but where I find hope and purpose in the connections and relationships we forge along the way. During our time, I met some wonderful new people and connected with old acquaintances, and it is through those moments that I felt the most empowered. 

Throughout our mobilizations I asked a lot of people the question: Why are you here? Why did you join? Specifics in the answers varied but there was a common thread: An unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and liberation for God’s beloved children. 

It is because of those commitments why we must continue our work together. 

And in the face of so much destruction that is being blindly supported by our government we must ask ourselves, How Can We Keep Silent? 

Prayers from Sabeel

Last week, Israel arrested 30 Palestinians, including a female student, in its latest round of raids throughout the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society. Most of those detained were taken from the Hebron governorate. Since October 7, Israel has made more than 10,100 arrests throughout the West Bank, holding many in administrative detention. 

God of Justice, you know what it is like to be incarcerated under empire. You were with Joseph when he was imprisoned, and Your spirit visited Paul during his incarceration. Oh Holy Spirit, comfort the victims of cruelty and their families. Be with them in their moments of pain and anguish and kindle in them a light of hope. As we pray for those  taken from their homes throughout Palestine, we remember the words of Isaiah 61:1: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners.” 

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer. 

Last week, which also marked the 75th year anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinked approved a new batch of arms sales worth over $20 billion to Israel. This comes at a time of mounting criticism of the Biden administration and in the wake of reports of numerous Israeli violations of international law and human rights, including  horrifying massacres of civilians on schools and camps in Gaza, torture of Palestinian detainees , and settler violence in the occupied West Bank. 

O God of justice, we lift up the Palestinian people who endure unimaginable suffering—children in schools, families in camps, and detainees in prisons. As violence continues, fueled by the sale of arms and the silence of leaders, we pray for your intervention. 

Grant justice where there is oppression, peace where there is violence, and strength to those who suffer. May the world awaken to their cries and act with righteousness. 

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer. 
 

Stay Informed on Palestine

Organizations

• Mennonite Church Canada PIN
• Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
• Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center
• Mennonite Central Committee Palestine and Israel
• Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
• U.S. Campaign for Palestine Rights (USCPR)
• Kairos Palestine
• Kairos USA
• Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU)
• Christian Zionism
• Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace
• Palestine Portal

Web Publications

• Mondeweiss
• The Electronic Intifada
• +972 Magazine
• B’Tselem
• Palestine InSight

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Mennonite Palestine-Israel Network
mennopin@gmail.com | mennopin.org | facebook.com/mennopin | twitter.com/mennopin

Steering Committee:
Bob Atchison (Manhattan Mennonite Church, Manhattan, KS)
Dorothy Jean Weaver (Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA)
Dave Janzen (Fellowship of Hope, Elkhart, IN)
Jonathan Kuttab (Palestinian lawyer and human rights activist, Manheim, PA)
Lydia Brenneman (Lima Mennonite Church, Lima, OH)
Zachary Murray (Mennonite Central Committee, Washington, DC)
Lydia Miller (Kalamazoo Mennonite Fellowship, Kalamazoo MI)
Adam Ramer (Co-coordinator of Mennonite Action, New York, NY)

In This Issue

Gaza Twinning Update
Funding Support for Tareq Abuhalima’s Family
Civil Services in Gaza
Prayers from Sabeel

Gaza Twinning Update

Children taking violin lessons at the Edward Said Public Library in 2022. Youth Vision Society, a non-profit organization and MennoPIN twinning partner, operated the library until its recent destruction.

This update was contributed by Michael George, Landisville Mennonite Church

It has been a privilege and blessing to help coordinate MennoPIN’s “Twinning with Gaza” Initiative over the last four years. Three Mennonite Church USA congregations have built relationships with non-profit groups in Gaza doing wonderful and life-giving work in their communities. Representatives of these dynamic organizations and small groups from congregations met via Zoom regularly to share stories, life experiences, hopes, and challenges. As a result of this consistent and open communication, close friendships have been developed between the “twinning” participants in Gaza and the United States. It has been a gift to get to know our friends in Gaza and we will continue to walk alongside them during this horrific and catastrophic time.

The three “twinning” relationships are:

• Youth Vision Society (Gaza City) and Manhattan Mennonite Church (Manhattan, Kansas)
• Gaza YMCA (Gaza City) and Fellowship of Hope (Elkhart, Indiana)
• Pulse of Peace Association for Psychosocial and Mental Health (Khan Younis) and Landisville Mennonite Church (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

Youth Vision Society is a non-profit organization in Gaza City that aims to empower youth, children, and women through myriad programs such as promoting civic involvement, providing basic life necessities to those living in refugee camps, raising awareness about gender-based violence, and operating the Edward Said Public Library. Youth Vision Society’s work has improved the lives of thousands of people in their community.

The Gaza YMCA is a non-profit organization in Gaza City operated by members of the very small Christian community in Gaza. This vibrant organization is a safe haven for Christians and Muslims alike and is known for its interfaith cooperation. Its youth and adult sports leagues, summer camps, arts and educational programs are just some of the ways that the Gaza YMCA serves its community.

The Pulse of Peace Association for Psychosocial and Mental Health in Khan Younis works to provide activities for children to cope with the trauma of living under blockade and experiencing frequent violence. They work to provide their community training and awareness of mental health by providing workshops for schools and play-based therapies for the younger children. They also provide after-school programs for many children in their neighborhood.

Tragically, the physical buildings of all three organizations have been destroyed during the past nine months. However, members of these organizations are still actively helping their communities survive despite unimaginably perilous circumstances. Most people in Gaza have been forced to relocate multiple times and are struggling to provide the basic necessities of life. They are faced by constant bombardment by the Israeli military and there is no safe place in Gaza.

For example, many Gaza YMCA members are among over 600 people currently sheltering in two churches in Gaza City. There are now 250 people sheltering in the St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church and nearly 400 in the Holy Family Catholic Church. Just a few weeks ago, a YMCA board member sheltering in the Holy Family Catholic Church sent his “twinning” partners at Fellowship of Hope this urgent message:

The situation in the church is very difficult now. All the people who live around us have left their homes and headed to areas that are not under attack. Most of the places around us are empty and no one lives there. The occupation forced them to leave for southern Gaza. The bakeries have closed. Luckily, last week we bought enough gas to last us a month to make bread and eat. We are now under siege and have not been able to leave the churches for three days. The nearby hospital, Al-Ahli Al-Arabi, has closed and the doctors have left. The patients have been transferred to small clinics as a result of the bombing. Today we ate ready-made meals that we had stored and got from the ANERA Foundation. I do not know what to say. The situation is very sad and frightening.

Fellowship of Hope is responding to this dire situation by raising funds for those sheltering in the Gaza City churches. Please see this link to find out how you can help: Appeal on Behalf of Those Sheltering in Gaza City Churches

Whether our partners have remained in Gaza or have fled to countries like Egypt, Qatar, or the United States, MennoPIN “twinning” congregations will continue to communicate the best we can with our partners and share their stories with as broad an audience as possible.

Please take a few moments to view the pictures here of the incredible work that these organizations do as well as the tragic destruction of their facilities. I share these pictures with you in an effort to restore the humanity of our friends in Gaza as well as provide a glimpse into their current catastrophic reality.

Funding Support for Tareq Abuhalima’s Family

Tareq’s neice Tulin manifests resilience amidst destruction

Attacks against Gaza are escalating and Deir Al-Balah is one of the next targets of Israeli Defense Forces.  The invasion of Rafah caused Tareq Abuhalima’s family to be displaced to the beaches of Deir Al-Balah where they are living in old nylon tents. The tents are extremely hot during the day and cold during the night. Tareq has been one of MennoPIN’s Gaza Twinning partners. This last year Tareq came to the United States to pursue a graduate degree at Bluffton University.

It is a time of profound uncertainty and fear for Tareq’s family. They endure significant hardships. Basic necessities like food, water, and medical supplies are becoming scarce. The constant threat of bombing, violence, and displacement has made everyday life incredibly challenging. Communication is sporadic, which adds to stress and worry. 

Above is a photo of Tareq’s niece Tulin, who manifests the resilience and steadfastness of Tareq’s family amidst the destruction of Gaza. In response, MennoPIN is raising funds for Tareq’s family which includes his mother, siblings, spouses, nephews and nieces like Tulin. MennoPIN’s fund-raising goal is $12,000 which should provide food for a four-month period.  Checks should be made out to “MennoPIN”, with “Tareq Abuhalima” written in the memo line, and mailed MennoPIN Treasurer, Jim Norton at 1410 Pembroke Circle, #4, Goshen, IN 46526.

Civil Services in Gaza

Article by Jonathon Kuttab originally published by Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA). Image credit to FOSNA
 
Every society requires some form of civilian authority to provide basic services, maintain public order, and ensure civilian life goes on. This is particularly true in times of crisis, catastrophe, and war.

The territory of Gaza, with a population of 2.3 million, is particularly in need of these services. Under international law, the occupying forces are responsible for providing these services to their “enemy” civilian population. This was the case even before October 7, when Hamas provided this function and carried out these services with Israeli approval, consent, and cooperation. While Israel claimed it was no longer an occupier, and that its redeployment released it from such responsibilities, the fact is it still controlled the borders, the electricity grid, water, currency, population registry, postal services and cyberspace, collected customs duties, and found different ways to ensure that Hamas carried out its civilian functions in cooperation with and subject to the approval of Israel.

On October 7, following the Hamas attacks, Israel ended this cooperation, declaring its intentions to utterly destroy Hamas, not only as a fighting force, but also its “governing functions.” That meant that all civilian functions of government could no longer be carried out by Hamas and that its civilian operatives would henceforth be targeted and destroyed. This has indeed been done, in a brutal and systematic way, and continues to be the case today.

The implementation of this policy has left the civilian population completely vulnerable, as Israel was in no hurry to provide its own alternative civilian administration structures to the local population. As the fighting continued, Israel issued draconian orders for the population to move out of its residential areas, several times, on pain of death, while it reoccupied and systematically destroyed buildings and structures, including all sources of income and sustenance. The population became even more dependent on outside assistance for food, water, fuel, electricity, medical care, and shelter. 

Even as Israel reluctantly, and under international pressure, began to allow minimal quantities of food and water into the area, the situation continued to be dire as there was no civilian authority to oversee the distribution of the food, the provision of supplies, or even to safeguard the personnel who were attempting the distribution. In fact, Palestinians report that the distribution centers themselves and the locations where people could pick up food were themselves targeted, bombed, and destroyed. Famous among these attacks was the attack on the World Kitchen Personnel, seven of whom were pursued and killed with airstrikes, and the “flour massacre” where over 100 Palestinians were killed, mostly by tank fire, as they gathered to collect food for their starving families. Over 200 aid workers have been killed so far in Gaza.

Not only is Israel refusing to carry out its obligations to provide for the needs of the local civilian population, but it has also announced a policy that undermines and prevents any other form of civilian authority even in the long term. It has refused to give any indication of what it plans for “the Day After,” proclaiming that it wishes to indefinitely keep “security control” over Gaza but that it does not wish to govern it or its population. It has indicated that it will not allow Hamas to have any authority there. It has also indicated that it does not want the Palestinian Authority to play that role either. It has declared its refusal to allow UNRWA to have any role, when UNRWA is the only actor on the ground with personnel, infrastructure, and capability of providing basic services in the area. UNRWA Headquarters have been attacked and many of its centers bombed and destroyed. Before the war, UNRWA was a major source of employment (13,000 employees) and provider of schools, clinics, and social services to the refugee population (2/3 of the population of Gaza are refugees from 1948).

Food is just one issue. Water, housing, schooling, garbage collection, basic medical needs, education, roads, courts, policing and governance, are all essential services that no human society can survive without. The issue is not just survival and relief, but the ability to live as a human society. The fact that Israel systematically destroyed those structures and is not allowing anybody to replace them points to a much more serious problem. 

Could it be that Israel is not only shirking its responsibility, but is also actively preventing others from providing these services because it does not believe Palestinians are entitled to such minimal services at all?

The problem, sometimes openly admitted and frequently hinted at by Israeli leaders, and which is openly discussed in Hebrew in public and social media, is that Israelis do not think of Palestinians as human beings. They do not see Palestinian needs as worthy of their attention, much less as their responsibility. If they are viewed as “human animals,” and the solution is to eliminate them as they would “Amalek,” then the logical conclusion is to completely destroy those structures and institutions that support Palestinian life and social organization. Those who still refuse to acknowledge that this constitutes genocide need to address the question of a policy which openly denies the humanity of Palestinians, their need for basic services, and a system to provide such minimal requirements.

Prayer from Sabeel

The Israeli military continues its relentless bombing of Gaza through weapons supplied by several countries, most of which is provided by the US. The headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza has been destroyed and the man-made famine is increasing to unimageable levels. Moreover, the highly infectious polio virus has been found in sewage samples in Gaza, putting thousands of Palestinians at risk of contracting a disease that can cause paralysis. 

God of the broken and destitute, we come to you again and again asking for you to stop this nightmare. Incarnated Christ, you stand among us, yet we fail to recognize you. We repent our failures to the people of Gaza and thank you for the voices from the wilderness who help us to turn away from sin. Make us your instruments of love by fighting the good fight, even if it makes our discipleship costly.  

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer  

In the early hours of Friday the 19th of July, a Houthi drone hit the city of Tel Aviv killing one person and injuring 8 others. Although the drone was identified, it was not intercepted by the Israeli military due to human error. Since then, the Houthis stated that this attack will be the first of many if an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is not achieved. However, Israel since then has heavily bombed a port in Yemen killing at least 80 people.  

God of peace, for months we have been pleading for an immediate ceasefire. Lord, illuminate to the world that an immediate ceasefire will save numerous lives, both Palestinian and Israeli. Lord, have mercy on all the bereaved families who are mourning their loved ones killed because of violence.  

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer 

On July 19th, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s ongoing presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is unlawful and constitutes Apartheid. The judges highlighted numerous violations of international law by Israel in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. While this ruling is not legally binding on Israel, it significantly influences the legal interpretation of Israel’s actions as it comes from the highest authority in international law. 

God of Justice, whilst we know the truth of Israel’s crimes for many years, educating and advocating against Israel’s Apartheid, we are glad about the ICJ’s ruling. Lord, ignite in us a fire that continues to struggle for justice, freedom, and peace. Lord, let the victims of injustice remind us that there is plenty of work to be done regardless of the progress the Palestinian cause has in international legal bodies. 

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer   
 

Stay Informed on Palestine

MennoPIN keeps you informed about Palestine through our monthly update, special alerts, calls to action, important resources and tour possibilities, all from an Anabaptist perspective. But there are additional excellent organizations and web publications that can keep you informed, some on a daily basis. We invite you to explore these groups and visit the web publications as another way to keep current and active for the people of Palestine. Here are some MennoPIN recommends:

Organizations

• Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
• Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (Sabeel)
• Mennonite Central Committee Palestine and Israel
• Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
• U.S. Campaign for Palestine Rights (USCPR)
• Kairos Palestine
• Kairos USA
• Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU)
• Christian Zionism
• Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace
• Palestine Portal

Web Publications

• Mondeweiss
• The Electronic Intifada
• +972 Magazine
• B’Tselem
• Palestine InSight

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Mennonite Palestine-Israel Network
mennopin@gmail.com | mennopin.org | facebook.com/mennopin | twitter.com/mennopin

Steering Committee:
Bob Atchison (Manhattan Mennonite Church, Manhattan, KS)
Dorothy Jean Weaver (Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA)
Dave Janzen (Fellowship of Hope, Elkhart, IN)
Jonathan Kuttab (Palestinian lawyer and human rights activist, Manheim, PA)
Lydia Brenneman (Lima Mennonite Church, Lima, OH)
Zachary Murray (Mennonite Central Committee, Washington, DC)
Lydia Miller (Kalamazoo Mennonite Fellowship, Kalamazoo MI)

In This Issue

Holding Onto Hope
Kairos Palestine Offers Powerful Response to WCC Statement
Mennonite Action’s March to DC and Interfaith Coalition
MennoPIN Welcomes New Steering Committee Member!
Prayers from Sabeel
Stay Informed on Palestine

Holding Onto Hope

Image from https://achievement.org/achiever/desmond-tutu/

This reflection was contributed by Rod Stafford

In the midst of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, ‘I am not an optimist. I am a prisoner of hope.’

In the midst of the struggle to seek peace in Palestine and Israel, I am not an optimist. Eight months after the horrific attacks of October 7, Hamas continues to hold hostages. The IDF continues an unrelenting, deathly war on Gaza. The United States continues to supply the weaponry and resources to sustain the violence. Antisemitism is on the rise around the world. And Gazans are left to bleed out and starve. After our calls and letters, our organizing and protesting, there are times I wonder what difference we’ve made. I am not an optimist.

But as followers of Jesus, we are prisoners of hope. We hold onto the vision Jesus had of the Beloved Community – everyone has a place, everyone is safe, everyone has what they need to thrive. We hold onto faith that the love of God, embodied in Jesus, is stronger even than death. Nothing was more pessimistic than Good Friday, but then Easter happened. As followers of Jesus, we hold onto hope that the power of God makes possible a future of love and justice for all.

With that kind of hope to sustain us, it has been heartening for me to imagine our work for peace in Palestine and Israel as a ‘ministry of erosion.’ That’s a phrase that Willie Dwayne Francois III uses to describe the work of his congregation, Mount Zion Baptist Church in New Jersey – the work of ‘wearing down structural evil and organized sin.’ That kind of erosion happens when we, with patience and persistence, flow in the direction of mercy, justice, and truthfulness, of repentance, prayer, and peacemaking. It happens when we stand in solidarity with the suffering people of Gaza, when we seek the release of Israeli and Palestinian captives, when we protest the actions of our government that underwrite the war, and when we refuse to let hate into our hearts.

When energy starts to wane, when frustration sets in, let us hold onto hope.

Kairos Palestine Offers Powerful Response to WCC Statement

On June 11, the World Council of Churches recently released their most comprehensive statement so far on Israel’s war on Gaza. While it had many good elements to it, Kairos Palestine issued a response stating where they felt the WCC statement could have been much stronger and hoped that their response would be a beginning of dialogue between the two organizations.

• Read the WCC’s statement here
• Read the response from Kairos Palestine here

Mennonite Action’s March to DC and Interfaith Coalition

Mennonite Action participants walk down a street holding a “Send Food Not Bombs” poster (credit to Mennonite Action)

July 18-28, Mennonite Action is organizing an 11-day, 135-mile march for peace from Harrisonburg, VA to Washington DC. This bold public action will use our bodies, our voices, and our beliefs to show our government that everyday people — including Christians and Mennonites — are unwavering in our conviction that we need a permanent ceasefire in Gaza immediately.   Mennonites and allies are invited to join this march for one day, one weekend, one week, or the full march. Consider organizing your congregation to join together and march or to sponsor the cost of a smaller group of marchers from your church.  Sign up here for the march.

The March leads Mennonite Action to the July 28-30, Washington, DC., Multiracial, Interfaith Action with Christians for a Free Palestine, IfNotNow, Jewish Voice for Peace – DC, Faith for Black Lives, Rabbis for Ceasefire, Hindus for Human Rights, and more.  Our collective actions will promote a theology of liberation and peace, in contrast to a theology of domination, hatred, and violence being offered at the Christians United for Israel’s Summit which is also occurring July 28-30.  Activities throughout the weekend will include: interfaith services, civil disobedience, nonviolence training, a lobby day, and an all-inclusive rally.  Sign up here to participate!

MennoPIN Welcomes New Steering Committee Member!

MennoPIN is excited to announce that Adam Ramer, co-coordinator of Mennonite Action, has joined the MennoPIN Steering Committee.  Adam replaces long-time committee member Rod Stafford, who is leaving after years of dedicated service.  Ramer’s  presence on the steering committee will facilitate collaboration with Mennonite Action and help MennoPIN adapt as we continue to work for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel.

Prayer from Sabeel

In the last few months, the international community has been increasingly worried that the Palestinian Authority (PA) might collapse in a few months. Several factors, such as lack of funding, unpopularity amongst Palestinians, and half a million Palestinians unable to work in Israel since the 7th of October, contribute to this worry. Furthermore, the Israeli security cabinet met on June 17th to discuss increasing settlement expansion and imposing sanctions on the PA due to its activity at the United Nations and at both international courts in the Hague.

Divine creator, we are living in difficult and uncertain times, with no clear vision of a better future. Many of us carry deep fear and anxiety. Lord, as the realities around us are collapsing, give us faith. Give us faith like the Psalmist that “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3). Give us courage, O Lord, to face our realities and put our faith on you rather than our own understanding or on corrupt powers. 

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

Since the Israeli invasion of Rafah, access to food and aid in Gaza has been further restricted, compounding threats of starvation and malnourishment faced by an already weary population. Latest estimates state that 3,500 children are at risk of dying from malnourishment. Furthermore, the UN and other aid agencies say transfer of goods from the US built pier to Gazans remains suspended due to the Israeli military usage of that area in the hostage rescue that took place a few weeks ago.

Good God, where are you amidst the man-made famine in Gaza? Do you see what is happening? Lord, “Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees?” (Job 10:4). Amidst our lament, we ask you to cast away the miserable comforters who increase the pain of the oppressed by offering words of false optimism. Help us with our faith, help us with our witness, help us see your face and participate in the work of your revolutionary love.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer  
 

Stay Informed on Palestine

MennoPIN keeps you informed about Palestine through our monthly update, special alerts, calls to action, important resources and tour possibilities, all from an Anabaptist perspective. But there are additional excellent organizations and web publications that can keep you informed, some on a daily basis. We invite you to explore these groups and visit the web publications as another way to keep current and active for the people of Palestine. Here are some MennoPIN recommends:

Organizations

• Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
• Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (Sabeel)
• Mennonite Central Committee Palestine and Israel
• Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
• U.S. Campaign for Palestine Rights (USCPR)
• Kairos Palestine
• Kairos USA
• Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU)
• Christian Zionism
• Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace
• Palestine Portal

Web Publications

• Mondeweiss
• The Electronic Intifada
• +972 Magazine
• B’Tselem
• Palestine InSight

---

Mennonite Palestine-Israel Network
mennopin@gmail.com | mennopin.org | facebook.com/mennopin | twitter.com/mennopin

Steering Committee:
Bob Atchison (Manhattan Mennonite Church, Manhattan, KS)
Dorothy Jean Weaver (Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA)
Dave Janzen (Fellowship of Hope, Elkhart, IN)
Jonathan Kuttab (Palestinian lawyer and human rights activist, Manheim, PA)
Lydia Brenneman (Lima Mennonite Church, Lima, OH)
Rod Stafford (Portland Mennonite Church, Portland, OR)
Zachary Murray (Mennonite Central Committee, Washington, DC)
Lydia Miller (Kalamazoo Mennonite Fellowship, Kalamazoo MI)

In This Issue

Competing Messsages and Visions
MennoPIN Needs your Help Now!
Palestinian Feminist Scholar and Academic Arrested and Jailed
Prayers from Sabeel
Stay Informed on Palestine

Competing Messages and Visions

Image credit to Museum of the Bible

Contributed by Jacob Janzen

In 2018 I received an invitation to an event at the Museum of the Bible titled “Chosen People, Promised Lands: The Bible, Israel, and U.S. Foreign Policy.” By the time I registered, it had been changed to “Chosen Peoples.” Samuel Goldman was by far the most kind and intelligent speaker at the event, so afterwards I approached him about the discrepancy and asked, “Who are the Chosen Peoples?” He smiled and said, “We’re all Chosen.” What a beautiful sentiment! I believe that all people are God’s People.

There are some who might say that God’s Chosen are the people who choose the one true God. While there are merits to this, it is a slippery slope that cause some to justify treating non-believers in very un-Christian ways. However one defines what it means to be Chosen, it is important to remember we are called to Love and serve others, and share the Good News of Christ with all.

As an ardent Anti-Zionist, I’m mindful of how important it is to advocate for something rather than stand against something, so I’ve been searching for how to describe the principles I believe can bring about Peace and Justice in Palestine/Israel. Fundamentally, the ideology is “equal-human-rights-ism”. Beyond not being catchy, this phrase doesn’t capture the peculiar challenges obstructing Peace in Palestine/Israel. I haven’t found a better phrase than “All- Chosenism” but this is awkward too, because Zionism is a spectrum, and not all who embrace it do so out of a sense of spiritual superiority. If anyone comes up with a phrase that describes our advocacy, please let us know.

Speaking of the forms of Zionism, Christians United for Israel is holding a conference at the end of July. Their political influence often goes underestimated, and observing their messages will be a great way to highlight the destructive nature of their vision. For those who feel called to do so, challenging this event is a great way to get involved.

Considering the small number of Federal Representatives who opposed the recent vote to send billions of dollars of weapons to Israel, ideas have been circulating on how to broaden support for Palestinian people. There are many Zionists who are calling for a cease-fire, and in some cases an end to the occupation. Should we alter our messaging to avoid alienating them, even if their vision is still for Segregation in a different form? After all, a Gazan who is living under starvation and bombardment probably doesn’t care whether relief comes from people committed to principles for a Peace that lasts for generations. They just want to live right now! 

But there is danger in allowing the situation to return to a status quo, and more attempts to normalize Injustice. This will only perpetuate the cycle of violence that Zionism always has required, and always will. The trauma of the current situation is an opportunity to highlight the true intentions of people who have always demanded an unjust Peace.

It is also a chance to highlight the people who have worked for Peace for decades. Check out Zochrot, and Standing Together. Although their message hasn’t won out yet, true Peace must come from within Israeli society. For the Israelis and Palestinians who would prefer to live without each other, and have failed to even live next to each other, it is a tall ask to expect them to live with each other. Let’s Hope and Pray that God finds a way out of the impasse.

We Need Your Help

MennoPIN rarely asks for financial support, but in 2024 we have some very special needs. As you know, the situation in Gaza is very bad. Over 35,000 people have been killed with over 15,000 children among them, and their entire infrastructure has been destroyed. The Israeli government is refusing to allow a tiny portion of food, water and medicines that are desperately needed. Many of the deaths now result from starvation and untreated illness.

While the world is rightly focused on Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu and his extreme right-wing lieutenants, Itmar Ben-Gvir and Bezalil Smotrich, are using that attention to double down on the West Bank and East Jerusalem, arresting prominent academicians, killing youth, jailing teenagers on  administrative detention, demolishing homes and attacking Muslims and Christians alike.

In these tragic days, MennoPIN seeks to accomplish three goals: 

1. Expand our outreach more broadly within the Mennonite Church to increase awareness about the horrors in Gaza
2. Apply more pressure on the Biden administration to forge a permanent ceasefire and to condition US military aid to Israel on ending the bombing and greatly increasing humanitarian aid, and 
3. Support people who we met via Zoom through our Gaza Twinning Initiative, people who have managed to leave Gaza and who seek asylum in the United States.

To successfully achieve these goals, we hope to raise $10,000 by the end of May 2024. Every MennoPIN Steering Committee member is contributing financially, and we are asking for your help as well. Every penny you contribute will go to these efforts. To make a tax-deductible contribution, please send a check, made payable to MennoPIN, c/o Jim Norton, 1410 Pembroke Circle #4, Goshen, IN 46526. Thank you for for playing an important part in the work we do.

 

Palestinian Feminist Scholar and Academic Arrested and Jailed

Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian during her court proceeding in Jerusalem, April 19, 2024. (Oren Ziv)

For thirty years, Palestinian Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian has been professor of law at Hebrew University. She is an internationally known feminist scholar and has written books and papers on the mental impacts on children of the occupation and especially on those living in Gaza. Her home is in the Armenian Quarter of Old City of Jerusalem. For decades she has been an outspoken critic of Israeli apartheid, and since October 7, 2023, she has vigorously opposed the genocide in Gaza.

Late last year Shalhoub-Kevorkian received a letter from the Hebrew University president advising her to resign, which she refused to do on grounds of academic freedom. Then, in mid-March, she was suspended from her teaching duties, but was reinstated in early April.

Around 5 pm, Jerusalem time, she was arrested by Israeli police at her home. Her cell phone, computer and other personal items were confiscated. While in prison, her feet and hands were shackled, she was subjected to harsh and dehumanizing interrogation, was not allowed to sleep or to take needed medications, and her quarters were urine and cockroach infested. The stated serious charge against her was “incitement to violence.” As a Christian Palestinian committed to nonviolence, the charge was absurd.

She was released the next day. Although Hebrew University remained critical of her, they also objected to her arrest. The Israeli Haaretz newspaper opined that “Israel’s arrest of a renowned Palestinian academic is a direct threat to all Arab citizens [of Israel].”

More than 100 international academics released a statement saying “We hold the Hebrew University of Jerusalem responsible for the arrest and detention of Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian because of its persistent and public repression of her academic freedom, which led directly to [her] arrest.” The charges against Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian still stand and she may be re-arrested, tried and potentially face prison.

You can take action to support her by:

1. Writing to Asher Cohen, President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (asher.cohen@mail.huji.ac.il); Tamir Sheafer, Rector (tamir.sheafer@mail.huji.ac.il); and Asher Ben-Arieh, Dean of the School of Social Work (benarieh@mail.huji.ac.il).
2. Contacting your U.S. representatives and demanding that they protect the academic freedom of Palestinian scholars, students, and those speaking out against genocide.

Prayer from Sabeel

Israel’s military has ordered Palestinians to move out of eastern Rafah, warning it is about to use extreme force. The consequences of an invasion in Rafah would be catastrophic. 1.4 million Palestinians have been sheltering in Rafah and half of them are children, most of whom have already been displaced. All eyes on Rafah.

God of the oppressed, you know what it is like to seek refuge from the power of the empire. We ask you to protect the people sheltering in Rafah, many of whom have been displaced several times. Lord, ensure the people in Rafah that even if they are displaced, killed, and tortured that your love to them is unbreakable since, “he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

On April 30th, the United General Conference of The United Methodist Church made a groundbreaking call for church investment managers to exclude the bonds of three countries – Israel, Turkey, and Morocco – that are holding subject populations under prolonged military occupation. Furthermore, certain public actions were declared to struggle for justice and peace in Palestine and to answer the cries of the Palestinian Christian community.

God of hope, we are thankful for the efforts of the United Methodist Church to struggle for justice, peace, and truth. We pray that these statements and actions will encourage more Churches around the world to be witnesses to the God of the poor and the weak.

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer  

Stay Informed on Palestine

MennoPIN keeps you informed about Palestine through our monthly update, special alerts, calls to action, important resources and tour possibilities, all from an Anabaptist perspective. But there are additional excellent organizations and web publications that can keep you informed, some on a daily basis. We invite you to explore these groups and visit the web publications as another way to keep current and active for the people of Palestine. Here are some MennoPIN recommends:

Organizations

• Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
• Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (Sabeel)
• Mennonite Central Committee Palestine and Israel
• Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
• U.S. Campaign for Palestine Rights (USCPR)
• Kairos Palestine
• Kairos USA
• Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU)
• Christian Zionism
• Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace
• Palestine Portal

Web Publications

• Mondeweiss
• The Electronic Intifada
• +972 Magazine
• B’Tselem
• Palestine InSight

---

Mennonite Palestine-Israel Network
mennopin@gmail.com | mennopin.org | facebook.com/mennopin | twitter.com/mennopin

Steering Committee:
Bob Atchison (Manhattan Mennonite Church, Manhattan, KS)
Dorothy Jean Weaver (Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA)
Dave Janzen (Fellowship of Hope, Elkhart, IN)
Jonathan Kuttab (Palestinian lawyer and human rights activist, Manheim, PA)
Lydia Brenneman (Lima Mennonite Church, Lima, OH)
Rod Stafford (Portland Mennonite Church, Portland, OR)
Zachary Murray (Mennonite Central Committee, Washington, DC)
Lydia Miller (Kalamazoo Mennonite Fellowship, Kalamazoo MI)

In This Issue
Relationships Still Alive
Heartbreaking Testimony from a Gazan Woman
Delegation to Palestine this May with PCUSA
Prayers from Sabeel
Stay Informed on Palestine

Relationships Still Alive

Image of the YMCA in Gaza, taken in February 2024

Contributed by David Janzen
Our regular Zoom call on October 7, 2023, to the Gaza YMCA by Fellowship of Hope (Elkhart IN) and other MennoPIN friends was canceled after the Hamas invasion of Israel that morning. Our 3-year relationship through the “twinning” program appeared to be over when Israeli bombs destroyed the facility along with much of Gaza.

Yet with God’s help we recovered contact through WhatsApp and other means with two of the main leaders of the YMCA and are now in regular Zoom conversations again with one who found his way to a relative’s house in the U.S. After receiving the 18-month visa offered by the Biden administration for Gaza refugees, he has applied for asylum and is working at getting a driver’s license and eventual employment. His mother and sister are with him.

The second leader with his family of 5 have crossed into Egypt and are seeking admission to another country. We have raised funds to help them make this transition. We have also sent funds to help provide food and supplies to those sheltering in the two main churches of Gaza City.

It is so tragic and wrong that these servants of God and their families are forced to flee from their beloved homeland, like their forebears did in 1948. We are grateful they have survived to this point. The urgency of pressuring the Biden government to stop sending bombs and other weapons to Israel, and pursue a diplomatic solution, is in our hearts

Heartbreaking Testimony from a Gazan Woman

Image of Bethlehem Bible College

This testimony came to us through our contacts at Bethlehem Bible College.

My name is Ann* I graduated with a master’s degree from the Bible College in Bethlehem. I do not want to share much personal information to protect my safety and the safety of my family. I am a displaced person in the Latin Church in Gaza, and every day new families join us. We are approximately 570 people, and in a neighboring church, there are more than 300. We are located in the northern half of the Gaza Strip.

I want to share with you that our hearts are broken, and we are full of fear and sadness. We are peaceful Christians and reject violence from both sides. Love, as Christ taught us, is an effective weapon for peace.

There are many people we love who have died. Our family members have died. My cousin and her children died. My best friend died. My daughter’s best friend died. Amid sadness, pain, and heartbreak we look at the face of Jesus Christ.

I would like to share with you the humanitarian situation here. It is catastrophic on the psychological, physical, and spiritual levels. There is very little food, and soon we will not be able to find food or water which will cause us to starve. As a mother of two children, I am afraid for the future. My children’s psychological state is very bad, especially with the lack of food. My heart is bleeding and wounded. I don’t expect to be able to recover.

There are many people whose voices aren’t heard, and we don’t know if the media is reporting any of this. We are not numbers. Each of us has a dream. But I’m afraid that our dreams will end, and the nightmare never will. We see death everywhere. We smell death everywhere. The people of Jesus are heartbroken and waiting for healing and peace. We want to live. I cry while I write this because my people, people who have nothing to do with politics or violence, are burned, broken, and heartbroken. All I can think of to do is write and hope that people will listen. Please don’t forget us. Please pray for us.

*Named changed to protect privacy

Come and See, Go and Tell: PCUSA Tour to Palestine this May

Image credit to ipmn_pcusa on Instagram

A message from Rev. Susan P. Wilder and Rev. Ron Shive of the Israeli/Palestine Mission Network of the PC(USA):
We are writing to invite you to a delegation to Palestine and Israel, May 26 – June 6, 2024 sponsored by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This will be a national grassroots delegation of approximately twenty-five people, both Presbyterians and those of other denominations. This delegation is being planned at the invitation of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem. As co-leaders of this delegation, we are reaching out to you in hopes you can join us.

MennoPIN members have gone on these kinds of trips before with the Presbyterians and we highly recommend them. Click here to read the full description of the trip, get your questions answered, and sign up!

Join a Tree Planting Adventure in Palestine and Israel

Jerusalem residents plant trees as part of an Earth Day event in 2021. Credit: Fadi Amira

Join Mennonite Men and MennoPIN February 12-27, 2025, as we travel to Palestine and Israel to plant olive trees, meet Palestinian peacemakers, and connect the land to Jesus’ way of peace. This is for anyone age 18 and older.

Our two-week sojourn in Palestine and Israel will bring us into multifold contact with this land. Tree planting days in the West Bank will give us intimate, hand-to-soil contact with the land itself as we work with Palestinian farmers. We will learn about the occupation of Palestine through relationship building and experiential learning. We will discover the critical place of trees in the culture, economy, and ecology of the region. And we will see that the olive branch is not simply a symbol but that olive trees are essential for God’s peace in this land. Since this is the homeland of Jesus of Nazareth, we will visit ancient biblical sites—in Nazareth, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem—and make connections between the ancient land of Abraham, David, and Jesus and of modern-day Palestinians. We will also meet with Palestinian peacemakers practicing creative non-violence to bring hope and courage into their local communities. We will make time for worship and reflection together, recognizing that there will be much to process, and much about this trip that will transform us.

We hope you will support this fund-raising campaign or join us for this trip to Palestine and Israel. Learn more about the trip on MennoPIN’s website here, and register for the trip here. Questions may also be referred to the trip organizers below:
– Steve Thomas, US Director of Mennonite Men and ISA certified arborist, SteveT@MennoniteMen.org
– Bob Atchison, Chair of MennoPIN and professional forester, robertleeatchison@gmail.com
– Amy Yoder McGloughlin, delegation leader for CPT (Community Peacemaker Teams) in Palestine, amy.yoder.mcgloughlin@gmail.com

Prayer from Sabeel
Last week, The Israeli military withdrew from the Gaza Strip’s largest hospital after a two-week raid, leaving behind scenes of devastation. Local sources who have witnessed atrocities for more than 180 days remark that the scenes at Al-Shifa Hospital are “indescribable”. Indeed, photos, videos, eyewitness stories reveal torture, killings and destruction that cannot be imagined. It is unclear what is the death toll since bodies are unidentifiable, however, Gaza’s civil defense agency claim at least 300 Palestinians were killed in and around the hospital. Al-Shifa is completely out of service.

God of healing (shifa), how much more death, destruction, and torture can our people take? How many Palestinian lives need to be killed for the world to respond? Why do you not stop this O Lord? Man of sorrows, help us be witnesses to your love and the suffering of the oppressed even though it is hard to see if you are with us “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer

Stay Informed on Palestine

MennoPIN keeps you informed about Palestine through our monthly update, special alerts, calls to action, important resources and tour possibilities, all from an Anabaptist perspective. But there are additional excellent organizations and web publications that can keep you informed, some on a daily basis. We invite you to explore these groups and visit the web publications as another way to keep current and active for the people of Palestine. Here are some MennoPIN recommends:

• Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
• Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (Sabeel)
• Mennonite Central Committee Palestine and Israel
• Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
• U.S. Campaign for Palestine Rights (USCPR)
• Kairos Palestine
• Kairos USA
• Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU)
• Christian Zionism
• Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace
• Palestine Portal

 
Web Publications

• Mondeweiss
• The Electronic Intifada
• +972 Magazine
• B’Tselem
• Palestine InSight

Mennonite Palestine-Israel Network
mennopin@gmail.com | mennopin.org | facebook.com/mennopin | twitter.com/mennopin

Steering Committee:
Bob Atchison (Manhattan Mennonite Church, Manhattan, KS)
Dorothy Jean Weaver (Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA)
Dave Janzen (Fellowship of Hope, Elkhart, IN)
Jonathan Kuttab (Palestinian lawyer and human rights activist, Manheim, PA)
Lydia Brenneman (Lima Mennonite Church, Lima, OH)
Rod Stafford (Portland Mennonite Church, Portland, OR)
Zachary Murray (Mennonite Central Committee, Washington, DC)
Lydia Miller (Kalamazoo Mennonite Fellowship, Kalamazoo MI)