MUSALAHA NEWSLETTER
June 2002

From the Director..
Leader's Conference in Holland
Student Desert Encounter
Together again
The story of a songbook in Hebrew, Arabic and English
Upcoming Events
Munayer Family Update

From the Director..

Last week, my wife Kay was introduced to someone. As they became acquainted, he inquired about my job. When she shared about her husband's work in reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis, the person turned his back and walked away.

On the other hand, some react with curiosity and amazement. One of our staff members was telling someone about her work at Musalaha and he asked, "Do you have work anymore.? Keep going!" Many Palestinians and Israelis hunger for a resolution and transformation of the conflict.

Yet for the most part, the general reaction to the idea of reconciliation has been to scoff. It is not a popular idea. Those who seek relationships with the other, or the enemy, rarely receive the praise of their own people. There is the sense that those who meet with the other side are betraying or undermining the interests and identity of their own. Suspicions are high; anger is rampant; trust is lost. For many, this is not the time to reconcile; this is the time to protect. A common attitude is the fatalistic outlook that for generations our peoples have fought in wars and this will not change.

In addition to these objections and obstacles in the process of reconciliation, Musalaha must negotiate the logistical complexities of bringing Palestinians and Israelis together. Travel and location have become difficult issues. Some are afraid to go to certain places, some are prohibited from leaving or entering areas, and unable to cross checkpoints. Therefore, Musalaha staff, board and planning committees have found creative ways to carry out activities. One solution has been to conduct conferences outside of the country, as with our Leaders' Conference in Holland and the Student Desert Encounter in Jordan . As well, members of our board and office have visited former participants when the groups could not get together, sharing greetings, encouragement, and support. Internet and phone communications have been important means of keeping in touch and maintaining relationships. Believers have taken initiative to send supplies and funds to those suffering on the other side. Prayer has been a constant point of connection between people who cannot be together physically.

Musalaha's efforts in the past half year have been tremendously blessed by God. When it seems like our activities should decrease due to the political division, in fact the number of events and of people involved has increased. Despite the difficulties, it is possible to negotiate the logistical obstacles in arranging programs.

However, none of these activities would take place if people were not moved by God to participate. Believers continue, in spite of tremendous pressure, to come together, to want to help each other, and to embrace one another. This is evidence of two things: First, God's spirit is alive and at work among believers. Second, believers are obedient to the commands to be members of the body of the Messiah. As I Corinthians 12:24-27 states, " But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

~ Salim J. Munayer

Leader's Conference in Holland

The gathering of 22 leaders and wives and their children (91 people in total!) was a time of miracles. From the conception of the conference - with the generous offers of the Near Ministry to host the group - right down to the gorgeous weather (yes, gorgeous Dutch weather), the Lord's presence was powerful and evident throughout Musalaha's Leaders' Conference.

In the initial planning, a main obstacles was finding a place where leaders from Palestinian and Israeli congregations could meet. Due to the political situation, travels between Palestinian and Israeli areas is very difficult. The Near East Ministry offered their conference facilities in Holland , and to cover costs of the accommodations and activities while there. Musalaha had positive and encouraging responses from invitees, and in a short time were able to recruit 22 leaders from both sides.

As the dates approached, the situation in our country further deteriorated. We wondered if it was the right time, and whether or not to proceed with conducting the conference. The emotionally charged situation had potential to negatively affect our program; and instead of being a blessing, the conference could be a barrier. Some participants called and shared their hesitations, questioning and doubting, but the Lord was leading us to continue with the planning.

Days before leaving the country to Holland , new challenges arose. It was uncertain if one family from the Bethlehem area would be able to get out of Palestinian areas to join us. Miraculously they were able to obtain permission, not only to leave, but also to fly with us on the same airplane from the Tel Aviv airport. Two other members from the Jewish side were called up for army reserve duty, and they also were released to join us in the conference. We believe that it was an answer to many of your prayers that all the leaders and their families who registered to the conference were able to attend.

During our time in Holland , our sessions were intense times of sharing, prayer, and discussion. As families, we also enjoyed more light-hearted activities such as touring, shopping, and swimming, that provided an important balance to the program.

At the onset, our group together set goals for our selves individually, as a family, and as a group. Some of these goals included the need for rest and healing, to be understood and to understand, and finally to have an impact on our communities. As a group, our corporate goals were to discover what it means to be a body of Messiah and our accountability towards each other. We thank the Lord that we were able to meet some of these goals.

The guidance of the Holy Spirit was apparent. Salim J. Munayer, the director, reports, "During one session we were confronted with the fact that the events in our country have had a tremendous effect on us, and have polluted our hearts and thoughts toward each other. We recognized a measure of hardness of our hearts and resentment, and a questioning the validity of reconciliation between believers in light of current events. This was a powerful and emotional time when many confessed their sins. This session of repentance was key to the success of the conference, as it freed us to begin to talk about difficult issues, and to express love and unity toward each other, and to listen to each others' struggles."

For our families, our hope was mainly that the time will be a healing time for the children and that they would get to know each other better. The children and youth had a marvelous, unforgettable experience being with each other. They spent times in outdoor activities, studies, play, doing puppets and other things. This is so important in light of the situation here in our country, as they broke down a lot of negative stereotypes of each other.

The conference would not have happened without the Dutch believers who, quietly in the background, loved and served us unconditionally. Their servants' attitude was truly an example to us, and created the perfect atmosphere of warmth and openness. During each meeting, a prayer group met in a separate room to pray for the session. They donated their time, vehicles, and funds to make this conference a very special event.

Many of us came with doubts that a small group of men and women can make an impact in society in our situation. In discussion, we realized that each one of us has as great influence that begins with our self and family, and extends to our congregations and communities. More than anything else, people expressed that we have to guard our hearts. Many times leaders can be a door or a dam, for the ways of hatred or revenge in their own congregations or communities. Even in this small gathering, one leader shared that this gave him hope, that we truly can impact in our society. People expressed their commitment to helping each other and working together upon return to the country.

We asked two participants to give their impressions of the conference. Salwa Salman is a Palestinian Arab Christian living in Beit Jala. Her husband is the pastor of Emmanuel Church in Bethlehem . Sandy Shoshani is a Messianic Israeli Jew from Maale Adumim She runs a preschool and her husband is an elder in a Jerusalem Hebrew-speaking congregation. They shared the following:

Sandy : "It was not new, this idea of the ' kingdom of God ' being our real home, but this conference sharpened it. Since, we have been very careful not to consider anything a higher priority than the Lord's citizenship. And others from the same side are saying the same thing, which is great.

Seeing the other side of the story, helped me to gain compassion. I was touched by the faith of our Arab brethren, by their love for the Gospel. The way that Nihad [a Palestinian pastor] spoke about the Lord with such compassion touched my heart.

The Dutch were so good to us. The conference was very well-planned and they were so generous and kind. Their love was contagious. The way they gave themselves to the kids was amazing.

The fellowship was sweet. There was a beauty in the repentance that we sought and in the spiritual aspect we were united. For me the experience of being with people in the evenings, and laughing together was a real blessing. In the midst of such a difficult situation, the experience of being able to do that, to be together and to sit and talk and laugh, was

really something.

Salwa: "It was a very, very special time for our family to be together. It was a miracle that we made it out of Bethlehem , even though we had permission. The situation in the Nativity church was just beginning, so we had to walk over dirt blockades with our bags in order to get to Jerusalem.

At the conference, there was a good spirit of love and unity. We had prayer times and shared about the situation. It was a challenge to go back to our country and face the difficult time. But I see now how it is difficult for the other side also. In the political situation, we questioned some things, but when we came to Holland and got to talk about things going on between Palestinians and Israelis, it made the picture clearer and much easier to pray for each other.

I see that it affected our relationships even after we came back home. We keep in contact by phone. Two people from the families who were with us in Holland have visited our home in the last month, bringing help [food, money]. This was so special for us."

Student Desert Encounter

"We must take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, as he commands us" Exodus 8:27.

April 1-5, our group of 16 young adults journeyed into the desert of Wadi Rum in Jordan. Due to a recent escalation in the political conflict, Palestinians who had intended to come from Bethlehem were unable to leave their areas and one Israeli was called up for reserve army duty. We rejoice that we were able to continue with the trip, and regret that these 10 people could not join us.

Sacrifices in the desert

At the end of each day throughout the trip, we played the "one-word" game where we each gave one word to describe our impressions of the day. Some comments were humorous, some had to do with the weather. Our leader, Arieh, made one comment that lingers in our minds: "Payment.There is a payment one has to make to be in the desert." That day the weather had been extremely cold, with biting wind and even some rain. Arieh went on to explain that if one wants to be in the desert, they have to sacrifice some comfort.

What sacrifice or payment did this group, made up of Palestinian, Jewish, and international believers, have to share in participation of such a trip? Was it the sacrifice of bubble baths, McDonalds, cellphones, comfort, make-up? The sacrifice of privacy? Yes, and much more. For we had to forfeit our fears and reservations, and become vulnerable and open with each other. Many of us had to sacrifice our impulsive expressions of opinion, and learn to exercise James's exhortation that "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19). For most of us, this was not easy.

One participant shared, "Even between Palestinian and Jewish believers there is much pain and prejudice towards the other side.. During the trip the two sides get to know each other, in hope of shattering myths or ideas that one has against the other side without ever encountering it. First we build trust for each other, loving each other in the Lord, and then learn to listen full-heartedly to the experiences of the other side, trying to understand it rather than attack and condemn it.. I only wish that this kind of reconciliation could occur on a larger scale."

We sacrificed the notion of "reconciliation" being a warm and fuzzy handshake, and took it to the next level of practical interaction between people who on a daily basis do not reach each other. This, like the desert surrounding us, can be an uncomfortable place. Yet there in Wadi Rum, we found joy and peace in the sacrifice.

The Fruits of Sacrifice

Several participants shared that for them, the trip was a time of spiritual growth. We asked people to write in a common journal, and the following excerpts highlight some of the spiritual lessons that were realized.

"One night and a morning in the desert. It's cold. We've had a Bible study and testimony from Arieh Bar David about what it means to be in the desert - to be stripped of all that is dear so that we can hear from God. Ledeber [in Hebrew means] to lead sheep in the wilderness and Deber means to talk. So the Word speaks to us if we are willing to ask, hear, and do."

"For me, this trip was about accountability - owning up to the mistakes of my past, acknowledging that I've been running from His still small voice and that He wants to see some change, and believing that He is willing to help me on the difficult but redeeming road that lies ahead. They will know we are Christians by our love."

The participant added this poem to the journal:

The Simple Path - Mother Theresa

The fruit of SILENCE is PRAYER

The fruit of PRAYER is FAITH

The fruit of FAITH is LOVE

The fruit of LOVE is SERVICE

The fruit of SERVICE is PEACE.

"I felt like we became a unit. It's been such an experience to break away from the pressures around and pull into the real issues. The building of relationships, tearing down the term of 'those on the other side," and realizing that in Messiah, there is only one side."

Together again

On May 10 the group that went to Jordan met together for a follow-up gathering. It was great to see everyone again, share pictures, fellowship and barbeque together. As we debriefed the Jordan trip, Salim lead us in a time of discussion on the "issue" of confronting the "issues." We recognized the challenge the faces us: how do we approach topics that are divisive, while remaining unified? It is one thing to throw out comments by a television set, it's quiet another when the recipients are before you.

One aspect of the follow-up projects is choosing a social service project or program of study. As a group we thought of different options for a community project that would reach out to both Jews and Arabs. We also came to the conclusion that we wanted to learn more about specific aspects in each others' history, culture, and ethical standing as believers in light of the situation. Please pray for us as these plans are being made.

Our time together was a refreshing blessing. It was a joy to break bread together on more familiar territory after each had returned to the routines of our lives. We do need your prayers as we take the next step of exploration into the deeper meaning and practice of reconciliation.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Ps 150:6

The story of a songbook in Hebrew, Arabic and English

Worship can be both uniting and dividing. Even between denominations within the same cultural, social, and ethnic groups, worship styles can range from the formal to casual, from liturgical to charismatic, and can cause deep division. At the same time, worship draws believers together in praise of the one God. There is a power in worship, when believers of all backgrounds are united by their praises.

In Musalaha's experience, worship times have been some of the most unifying and the most challenging. It is often the case that while one side is singing in their own language, the other side is silent, unable to keep up or to pronounce the words. On other occasions, hearing and singing songs together in the language of 'the enemy' can be an expression of unity.

Therefore Musalaha has been seeking ways to make worship songs more accessible to people who do not speak each others' languages. The first step was taken by Karin Jensen, a Danish volunteer at Musalaha, who arranged a music conference where small groups of musicians met and learned a handful of worship songs in Hebrew and Arabic. A song booklet was produced to accompany the conference.

From this and other mixed-language events, it became apparent that a book with an extensive collection of Arabic and Hebrew songs was needed. In December 2001, Musalaha met with a committee of musicians and worship leaders to develop a vision and plan for the book. Following that meeting, the committee met to select the songs. These meetings were a blessed time of worship and fellowship, as well as a challenging process of dealing with different cultural and musical sensitivities.

Musalaha staff and volunteers have been collecting songs for the past year. While this seems like a simple process, it involves acquiring musical notation (which in some cases does not exist), chords, lyrics in the original language, translating the song into the other language (Arabic to Hebrew and English, Hebrew to Arabic and English), and transliterating the song into Latin letters. As Hebrew, Arabic and English, have completely different alphabets, (indeed Hebrew and Arabic move from right to left), this is also a complicated process for the computers and word processing. The Lord has provided patient workers and volunteers who are diligent in these tasks. We pray that their labor will bear much fruit, as Palestinian and Israeli believers make a joyful noise together.

Upcoming Events

Student Reunion Gathering, June 7

This month students and young adults who have participated in Musalaha activities in the past 3 years will be reuniting. The gathering will include fellowship and discussion on the theme, "How the conflict affects our relationship."

Leaders Conference Follow-up, June 14.

The time has come for leaders who attended the conference in Holland to get together again. They and their families are excited to reunite on this day of food, fellowship, worship and sharing. We pray that this will be a time of reflection what took place at the conference and of encouragement to continue in the process of reconciliation.

Youth Encounter, July 4,5

Palestinian and Israeli youth will be participating in a trip to the Galilee area. Together they will participate in water activities along the Jordan River and a ropes course, helping one another through various physical challenges. We pray that the Lord will use these activities and Biblical teaching, to build relationships between the youth from both sides. Please pray for the planning of this event and for safety in travels and activities. We also request prayer for the youth from Palestinian areas, that they would receive permission to attend the encounter.

Representatives attending Greenbelt Festival, August 23

The Christian Missionary Society has invited 3 representatives to attend the Greenbelt Festival a Christian music and arts festival in the UK. Shelley Zeiger, Tanas Qassis and Brittany Browning will be sharing about their experiences on Musalaha programs and as Messianic Jewish, Palestinian and international believers living in the Land. Please pray that they will have wisdom and clarity in their presentation.

Munayer Family Update

This has been a good school year for all of the boys. They received good reports from teachers and are eager to move on into the summer holidays. Throughout the year they have also competed on the YMCA swim team, taken extra Arabic, English and Hebrew lessons, and enjoyed various clubs and camps.

Jack is hoping to get his braces off soon, so that will be an exciting moment for him this summer. John and Daniel have excelled in swimming, both among the top 4 in their swim leagues. Sam had a great year at the YMCA preschool, which is mixed Arabic and Hebrew languages. He is now speaking Hebrew and understanding Arabic very well.

Kay continues to volunteer at Sunbula, although sales of the Palestinian handcrafts have suffered due to lack of tourists. (If you are interested in checking out the beautiful merchandise, please visit their site: www.sunbula.org) . Kay has joined the Quilters for Peace, which is a group of women sewing a quilt together to share their vision and hopes for peace. This group of Palestinian and Jewish women meet monthly, demonstrating that cooperation and collaboration between their people is possible.

For over a month this spring, Salim has been unable to enter Bethlehem, and the Bethlehem Bible College was closed. During that time, Salim along with other Palestinian and Messianic leaders collected and passed on food and donations to help those in need in the Bethlehem area. Classes at the college resumed in May, and the college has arranged a schedule with an intensive course of study so that the students can complete their requirements for the semester.

The family plans to travel this summer for a month to Europe. They will visit family in England and spend time exploring Denmark. Everyone is looking forward to that!

Thanks to all of you who have kept us in your prayers. The Lord has provided for and protected our family, and we rest always in the palm of His hand.