Peace and the Holy Land
by Jessica PalysImagine choosing a place to live, not on the crime rate in the area but on the bombing rate in the area. If you live in Southern Israel, this might be a consideration you have to make.
Imagine hearing bombs falling, perhaps on the building next door, but knowing that there is nowhere to run to because you and 1.7 million others like you are locked in by concrete walls. If you are an Arab Palestinian living in Gaza, this may have occurred several times in your life, including during the last month.How does one raise children and teach about God in circumstances like these?For approximately 1,700 years, the descendants of ancient Israel and Judea lived in what we call “diaspora,” or dispersion beyond their historical homeland and across the nations of the world. During all those centuries, the Jewish people prayed for the ability to return to their homeland.Now, while reclaiming much of the area in the Old Testament, they have created a new diaspora: that of Palestinians. 80% of the Palestinian population lives outside of Palestine, in refugee camps, after being forcibly expelled from their homes. Those who managed to remain in historical Palestine live under oppressive military rule: this includes standing in line to cross through armed checkpoints several times a day; being evicted from a home that is rightfully yours at gunpoint; and perhaps stopped, harassed, beaten, or humiliated at any given time just to remind you of your powerlessness in your own hometown.We in the United States are often told a one-sided view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many Americans believe that there always has and always will be violence in the area of the Holy Land, perhaps as a result of it being holy. But this is an inaccurate picture, a picture painted by powers whose hope is to safeguard the financial and military support that America provides to Israel. The ELCA recently joined 14 other Christian denominations in calling on Congress to stop aid to Israel until it desists from violating international law and US policy regarding human rights and territory.Please join St. Luke’s on Sunday, December 2nd, for a study series called Peace & the Holy Land to understand the roots of this conflict, the current situation, and what we as Christians can do to bring about peace. “Peace & the Holy Land” is a 3-part adult education series taking place on Sundays from 9am - 10am, Dec. 2 - 16. For more information, contact Seminarian Jessica Palys.