Holy Land Blog

Milk Grotto, Bethlehem By Mr. Haytham Dieck Tour Guide Program Coordinator As we celebrate World Tourism Day, it’s important to recognize that tourism is not just a social and cultural phenomenon, as defined by the World Tourism Organization, but also a gateway to understanding the rich heritage of women in the Holy Land. The role [...]

Simeon and the Peace of God By Gabriel Hanna, Vice Academic Dean   25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before [...]

Palm Sunday in the Palestinian Church By Ursula Mukarker A Tour Guide Student One of my favorite days of the year is Palm Sunday. It’s springtime in Palestine, the weather is usually beautiful, the sun is in the middle of the sky, red poppy flowers spread across the fields, bees and butterflies dancing magically among [...]

Love your Neighbor By John S. Munayer Lecturer and Coordinator of the Journal of Palestinian Christianity “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than [...]

Solidarity with the Oppressed By John S. Munayer Lecturer and Coordinator of the Journal of Palestinian Christianity   Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away [...]

Bedouins, The Desert Dwellers By Haytham Dieck, Head of Tour Guide Program Bedouins are Arab nomads who choose the harshest environment of the desert to live and settle. The etymology of their name reflects their character, "the desert dwellers." Arab Bedouins have lived in the Middle Eastern desert (Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel) [...]

Forgiveness has the power to free us By Rev. Dr. Jack Sara Last week, I was asked by a couple of colleagues from MENATE (the Middle East & North Africa Theological Accreditation for Theological Education) to present with them a webinar on the issue of reconciliation and forgiveness. It was a forum and they would [...]

Perceiving Resurrection in the Light of God's Grace to Us and the World Christ is Risen… He is Risen indeed! This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118: 24)   By Bahjat Khader, Head of the Online Diploma in Biblical Studies.   At this [...]

On this Land By Yousef Alkhouri, Academic Dean Assistant for Academic Extracurricular Programs Coordinator of Christ at the Checkpoint The Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish writes, “we have on this land that which makes life worth living.” These words of Darwish are profoundly reflecting Palestinians’ intimate connection to their land. How much can we learn from [...]

Faith Out of Pain By Gabriel Hanna I was greatly touched by the events that Jesus Christ went through from His childhood to His ascension to heaven. I was very saddened by His pains, but His suffering makes me feel that we are not alone. Jesus understands what is happening in our lives simply because [...]