Bright Stars of Bethlehem

Bright Stars of Bethlehem USPS Mailing Address:

BRIGHT STARS OF BETHLEHEM NFP

P.O. Box 771055, CHICAGO IL 60677-1055 Rev.

Bright Stars of Bethlehem raises awareness and support for Dar al-Kalima University, the first and only university for arts, culture, and design in all of Palestine. Bright Stars is a 501c3 nonprofit organization born out of the vision of Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb and his outreach ministry in Bethlehem in the mid-90s. The desire to help the people of Palestine flourish and have life in abundance has ga

ined supporters around the US. Raheb, with key US supporters, created an independent U.S.-based nonprofit organization founding Bright Stars of Bethlehem in 2004. Now, in 2024 Bright Stars is celebrating 20 years of HOPE and support for the next generation of creative leaders in Palestine.

"Holding to a hopeful vision in the context of war gives hope a new meaning. It is no longer something we see but rather...
08/21/2026

"Holding to a hopeful vision in the context of war gives hope a new meaning. It is no longer something we see but rather something we practice, something we live, something we advocate, something we plant." — Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb

For more than twenty years, Bright Stars of Bethlehem has partnered with Dar al-Kalima University because we believe art...
08/21/2026

For more than twenty years, Bright Stars of Bethlehem has partnered with Dar al-Kalima University because we believe art, education, creativity, and opportunity have the power to change lives. Together, we have supported thousands of students and strengthened programs that are creating opportunities, nurturing talent, and helping shape the future of Palestine.

Threads of Hope brings those stories together. It reflects the students who pursue their dreams, the graduates who carry their knowledge into their communities, the programs that continue to grow, and the people around the world who make this work possible. Each is a thread in a much larger story, and when woven together, they create a tapestry of hope that reaches far beyond any one person or achievement.

Every thread tells a story. We invite you to explore Threads of Hope and weave your thread into the story. brightstarsbethlehem.org/threads-of-hope

Every scholarship at Dar al-Kalima University represents far more than financial support. It represents a student who re...
08/20/2026

Every scholarship at Dar al-Kalima University represents far more than financial support. It represents a student who refused to give up on a dream, a family that believes in the power of education, and a community of supporters committed to creating opportunities where they are needed most.

Through Bright Stars of Bethlehem, scholarships continue to open doors for students studying the arts, tourism, design, entrepreneurship, and countless other disciplines. Each student carries a unique story, and every scholarship becomes another thread woven into a future filled with possibility, resilience, and hope.

Every thread tells a story. We invite you to explore Threads of Hope and weave your thread into the story. brightstarsbethlehem.org/threads-of-hope

Hope doesn't appear overnight, and it isn't built by one person alone. It is woven together through education, creativit...
08/18/2026

Hope doesn't appear overnight, and it isn't built by one person alone. It is woven together through education, creativity, community, and the courage to keep moving forward.

Over the next several weeks, we'll be sharing the stories that make up the fabric of Dar al-Kalima University through Bright Stars of Bethlehem. Each student, graduate, educator, and supporter represents another thread in a much larger story.

Welcome to Threads of Hope.
https://www.brightstarsbethlehem.org/threads-of-hope

Last Friday, we had the privilege of partnering with Midvale Community Lutheran Church for an evening of film, storytell...
08/17/2026

Last Friday, we had the privilege of partnering with Midvale Community Lutheran Church for an evening of film, storytelling, and dialogue centered on the lived experiences of Palestinians. Through the award-winning films Vibrations from Gaza and Ambience, guests were invited to see resilience, creativity, and hope through the eyes of students, faculty, and graduates of Dar al-Kalima University.

We are deeply grateful to Midvale Community Lutheran Church for their warm hospitality, thoughtful partnership, and commitment to creating space for these important conversations. Thank you to everyone who joined us, asked questions, shared reflections, and spent the evening learning alongside us.

“I think we need to bring more people to Palestine, if that's what opens their eyes.”— Rev. Dr. Mitri RahebThere is so m...
08/14/2026

“I think we need to bring more people to Palestine, if that's what opens their eyes.”— Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb

There is so much about Palestine that cannot be understood through headlines, photographs, or stories told from thousands of miles away. To truly begin to know this place, you have to experience it through the people who call it home, spending time in their communities, sharing meals and conversations, learning their history, and seeing for yourself the culture, creativity, hospitality, and hope that are woven into everyday Palestinian life.

Come see for yourself from November 2–11, 2026: brightstarsbethlehem.org/travel-to-palestine

08/14/2026

Experience Palestine Through Food

In Palestine, food is so much more than sustenance. It is a celebration of sights, smells, and tastes that carry the stories of generations. Each meal is an invitation to gather, to share laughter and memories, and to experience the warmth of Palestinian hospitality. For many families, preparing and sharing food is a way of nurturing both loved ones and community, weaving together tradition, creativity, and hope for the future.

Join us in Bethlehem this November 2-11 for a journey that invites you into the heart of Palestinian life. You will learn to cook beloved dishes alongside local chefs, wander through Bethlehem’s vibrant markets, share coffee and stories with families in a nearby refugee camp, and take part in the olive harvest, a tradition that brings communities together each year. Through these experiences, you will see why people come back saying, “Expect to come back a different person than who you were before visiting.”

We invite you to experience it for yourself: brightstarsbethlehem.org/travel-to-palestine

What does it really mean to experience Palestine?It means sharing meals made from recipes handed down over generations. ...
08/13/2026

What does it really mean to experience Palestine?

It means sharing meals made from recipes handed down over generations. It’s walking through Bethlehem on a food tour, learning to cook authentic Palestinian dishes, and picking olives with people who have tended the land for centuries.

It’s having coffee with families in a refugee camp and hearing stories you rarely find in the news. It’s learning the traditional debka dance, hiking through the beautiful Battir Valley, watching films by students at Dar al-Kalima University, and discovering a culture that is vibrant, creative, and deeply rooted in community through visiting the sacred sites that have shaped this land’s history.

Palestine is not just a place to see. It’s a place to truly experience.

Join Linda Edens, Vice Chair and Travel Liaison for Bright Stars of Bethlehem, from November 2 to 11 and see what happens when you go beyond being a visitor and become part of the story.

Find out more and reserve your spot: https://www.brightstarsbethlehem.org/travel-to-palestine

There are some things about Palestine you simply cannot understand from a distance."Hello, my name is Chris. I remember ...
08/12/2026

There are some things about Palestine you simply cannot understand from a distance.

"Hello, my name is Chris.

I remember the day I had the privilege of meeting Haneen and going to her village with Pastor Mitri Raheb and the Bright Stars of Bethlehem board. Haneen graciously gave us a tour of her village, Jubbet Ahd Dhib. At the time, the village was poor and also experiencing hard times. My husband Arnie and I are happy to be regular donors for Bright Stars of Bethlehem because we can assist students like Haneen, who are finding the support they need to pursue their dreams amid tremendous difficulties. Helping the younger generation of leaders in Palestine gives hope to the entire community.” - Chris Cowan

Haneen welcomed Chris' group into her village, showed them her artwork and introduced them to her family. They heard firsthand about the challenges their small community faced, but they also witnessed the strength of the women who had become a driving force behind improvements in the village.

And then came a moment Chris still remembers. “Someone brought our group some freshly baked bread from the village Taboun, and as we shared this, we knew we were experiencing a holy moment of understanding between cultures.”

This is the heart of authentic tourism. It is one thing to visit Bethlehem, but it is another to sit with a family, listen to their story, share their bread and begin to understand Palestine through the people who call it home.

Chris says the experience left a deep impression on her and her husband, Arnie, and helped deepen their commitment to supporting students like Haneen through Bright Stars of Bethlehem.

Read more of Chris Cowan’s Story of Hope: brightstarsbethlehem.org/stories-of-hope/chriscowan

This November, we invite you to experience Palestine beyond the places you have heard about and through the people, communities and stories that make this land what it is.

Join us November 2–11, 2026, for Authentic Tourism: Returning to Our Roots at brightstarsbethlehem.org/travel-to-palestine

“Five years ago, I graduated from Dar al-Kalima University as a Palestinian Tour Guide. At the time, I said, “My passion...
08/10/2026

“Five years ago, I graduated from Dar al-Kalima University as a Palestinian Tour Guide. At the time, I said, “My passion is showing the beauty of Palestine.”

Five years later, that is still my passion. My time at Dar al-Kalima was very special and exceptional. It shaped my perspective and nurtured my love for sharing the rich heritage of my homeland with the world. My teachers shared their experiences with me and gave me an education that helped me flourish as a tour guide. Dar al-Kalima will always be my happy place.

Since then, I continued my education and earned my bachelor’s degree in Tourism, with a commitment to cultural, sustainable, and alternative tourism. I imagined a future where I could use everything I had learned to welcome people to Palestine and show them the place I know and love. But today, that future is uncertain.

Unfortunately, at the moment there isn’t much tourism in Bethlehem. Many hotels have closed because of the ongoing tensions and the possibility that the war could escalate again at any time. Only a small number of tourists are visiting, and when they do, they usually come as part of organized groups. But on a personal level, I decided not to lose hope.

Instead, I started working on something new. I have been preparing a beautiful traditional Arabic house to welcome guests. It has two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, and the house is now fully prepared and ready to welcome travelers whenever tourism returns.

Right now, I am working on its name, logo, and branding and preparing to publish it on Airbnb. I don't know exactly when tourism will return to what it once was. But I want to be ready when it does.

I am also thinking about applying for a Master’s degree at Dar al-Kalima University so I can continue developing myself while I wait for the tourism sector to recover.

For me, tourism has never been only about showing someone a place on a map. It is an opportunity to share Palestine as we know it. Our homes. Our culture. Our food. Our history. Our traditions. Our stories. And most importantly, our people.

There is so much beauty here that I still want to share with the world. So I will keep learning, building, and preparing. I will not lose hope. When travelers return to Bethlehem, I will be ready to welcome them.” - RaMez Hanna Larach | Dar al-Kalima University Sustainable Tourism Graduate

Address

Chicago, IL
60677

Telephone

+18153150682

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Bright Stars of Bethlehem posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Bright Stars of Bethlehem:

Shortcuts

Share

Category