Bethlehem International School Foundation

11/26/2024

A Thanksgiving Message: Missing Our Shared Tables

This Thanksgiving season, our hearts are heavy as we think of the cherished traditions of Palestinian hospitality that have enriched us for years.

We deeply miss the warmth of being welcomed into homes where "بيتي بيتك" (my home is your home) isn't just a saying, but a way of life. The aroma of fresh coffee served with dates, the generous spreads of homemade dishes, and most importantly, the genuine smiles that make every guest feel like family.

As we prepare our Thanksgiving tables here year, we feel your absence and cherished traditions deeply.

We miss the Palestinian hospitality that taught us that every guest is a blessing.

We miss the spontaneous invitations that turn ordinary afternoons into memorable feasts.

Our shared experiences have shown us that gratitude and generosity transcend all borders. While we cannot gather as we wish to today, we hold onto the hope of future celebrations where we can once again experience the legendary Palestinian hospitality that has become such an integral part of our identity.

We eagerly await the moment when we can return to those welcoming homes where every visitor is treated like family, where the coffee is always hot, and where "تفضل" (welcome/help yourself) fills the air.

Until then, we hold our memories close, grateful for the lessons in hospitality and community that you have shared with us, and remain hopeful for the days when we can gather around the same table once again.

Our bond reminds us that true hospitality, like true friendship, endures through all seasons.

11/18/2023

Who Are the Palestinians?
My last post generated some wonderful responses and great questions. I will attempt to answer some of them and share some thoughts that I mull over on a daily basis. A very engaged friend of mine asked me:

Are the good Palestinian people so terrified by Hamas that they are frozen and accept weapons of war everywhere in their daily lives?

I think a better question might be:

Who are the Palestinians of Gaza? The answer is revealing.

About 40% of Gaza’s population is 14 years old or younger. The median age is just 18. The world average is 28. In most European countries it's about 40. This makes Gaza home to one of the world’s 20 youngest populations, based on figures from the CIA’s World Factbook.

Think about it. Of the two million people in Gaza, roughly half are under the age of eighteen. 70% are under thirty.

Gaza is a small "nation" of children, teenagers, and young people.

11/10/2023

Because people know of our vision, I get asked constantly, “So what do you think of what is going on in Israel?”

My most often reply is, “My heart is broken.”

There are almost always two sides to every story. Unfortunately, social media’s biased algorithms make it likely that most of us only see one side of the current Palestinian/Israeli conflict. The algorithm feeds us more of what we like and suppresses what we don’t. The result is more extremism.

More extremism. OMG

Palestinians in the Middle East and Jews around the world both need our help.

Most articles and posts are only sharing one side of the story, so it’s likely you’re only hearing one side over the other.

So, I hope you will hear my heart.

Hamas is bad

The current Israeli government supports many bad policies

Terrorism, kidnapping, murder, r**e, and bombing are all bad.

Can I go even further?

There are good and bad people on both sides.

Easy solutions don’t exist.

This involves generations of injustice, mistrust, and anger.

In today’s world, social media algorithms are making sure that we only see one side of every story. When this happens the other side becomes the villain. Living in this kind of bubble, only hearing one side of any issue only makes things worse.

This is true, especially in something as complex as this.

There is so much to say. So much to consider. So much to pray about.

What happened to the Israelis on October 7 is reprehensible.

What is happening to the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is reprehensible.

What can we do?

Be aware. Don’t allow yourself to be manipulated by social media algorithms and mainstream narratives. Make the attempt to understand where “the other side” is coming from. At least listen? Seek out someone who thinks differently than you and ask them great questions. AND LISTEN.

Pray for the heart of Jesus to be shown to desperate and hurting Palestinians and Israelis.

Pray for the kind of government that punishes evil and praises that which is good for Palestinians and Israelis.

Come Lord Jesus

David

09/19/2023

This is a story about you! Can you see yourself in it?

we are all put here on earth with special and unique abilities for service. We all have unique gifts to give. Isn’t that the message of the prophets? God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. I wonder what abilities you have?

07/27/2023

Who do you think were the first refugees in history? If you guessed Adam and Eve, you’re right. Following their sin in the Garden of Eden, God drove them out. They did not leave voluntarily and they could not return.

People become refugees due to war, violence, failed states, and persecution in their homes and countries. Most refugees are women and children. The average time of displacement is 17 years.

When you think about it, as Adam and Eve’s descendants, we have all been born far from our intended home. All of us were born into a refugee family. Selah, pause and think about that.

Click below and get better informed about making a difference in the lives of one of the longest and largest refugee groups on earth.

Who do you think were the first refugees in history? If you guessed Adam and Eve, you’re right. Following their sin in the Garden of Eden, God drove them out. They did not leave voluntarily and they could not return.

12/02/2022

Great time with this group on the 2022 Holy Land Discovery Tour. Also, great learning with Banksy at the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem.