In today's wold our view of the Middle East is greatly impacted by media. As we traveled to the Holy Land, we packed our bags knowing about the tragic war in Gaza. As we packed our bags, we did so also knowing, that 44 Bishops representing the ELCA and ELCIC (Canada) along with spouses and ELCA churchwide members were packing their bags. As the Bishops prepared for their trip Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson in a January 1, 2009 news release remarked that the trip is “timelier than ever.” All of us who traveled to the Holy Land during this time were afforded the opportunity to learn firsthand of the struggles facing Palestinians and Israelis and the hope for peace. The realities of occupation were present as we visited the “Security Wall”, passed through military checkpoints, visited a Palestinian refugee camp, and listened to life stories of hardship from Palestinians. The realities of needing security and the struggle for a Jewish home land were present as we visited Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and heard from a young Israeli and Jewish “Settlers”. We listened to life stories of discrimination and racism experienced by Jews.
Interfaith Experiences: In a region that is sacred to three of the world’s largest religious communities as well as inhabited by those religious communities the urgent need to understand and work with peoples of other faith traditions is necessary if any peaceable and just solution is to exist. One of my highlights was learning more about Judaism and Islam. My undergraduate work in cultural anthropology ignited in me a passion for exploring the role of religion in culture…this trip to the Holy Land was no disappointment!Jewish Tradition: We had several experiences of Jewish faith and culture. In the early few days of our trip we stayed at a Jewish Kibbutz in Ein Gev. We learned about life on a kibbutz, a particular form of Jewish communal living in which resources are shared communally…a concept that our group became very in touch with due to a few lost luggage bags…oh, the perils of travel. We were surprised and blessed to join Catholic Theological Union (seminary in Hyde Park, Chicago) and Rabbi Sandmel (professor at CTU and friend of LSTC) for a lecture on Jewish life, Shabbat (Sabbath), and expressions of various Jewish groups and politics. Who could have guessed several thousand miles away from Chicago we would see people we knew! Rabbi Sandmel’s lecture was helpful for understanding our later visits to the Western Wall/Wailing Wall, the most sacred site in Judaism, as a remnant of the Holy Temple that was destroyed by Rome in 70 CE.
When we arrived at the Western Wall there were many praying…praying with scriptures, rocking back and forth in a weeping fashion…calling upon the Lord. In Jewish tradition it is believed that at this place God is most present (standing before the wall one is closest to the Holy of Holies) and whatever is prayed from here shall be granted. Many of us navigated through people to have our moment of prayer at the wall. I observed some praying silently, others aloud, and some left wrote prayers on paper tucked in the walls cracks (In the Holy Land sticking paper in walls is a common form of prayer). While at the Western Wall I could feel the feel the sacredness of that space. It was holy ground. In addition, we observed a Shabbat (Sabbath) celebration at the wall. Many Jewish communities worshiped, prayed, danced, and sang. The area was packed with people. Then later that evening, we experienced a Jewish Shabbat complete with Kosher wine and food which was led by Dalia Landau, an Israeli Jew and interfaith peace worker. We learned about the various elements and meaning of Shabbat ritual. It was a delightful evening and a great learning experience hearing about Dalia’s life and faith.
Christian Tradition: Lutheran Interfaith Ministries: Back to the Mount of Olives we go! Hey, that could be a song. Augusta Victoria Hospital is a ministry of the Lutheran World Federation providing quality healthcare in the West Bank. Augusta Victoria is an excellent example of the Lutheran presence in the Holy Land working for the life and welfare of all people regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, or religion. Like any good hospital…health and wellness are essential. LSTC along with the ELCA have been promoting health and wellness…on this part of the tour in particular we felt “the burn” of health and wellness. That is, the burn of leg muscles working hard. We climbed the bell tower of Augusta Victoria…all 200+ stairs, one way! I am pretty sure I earned at least three days of couch sitting and a bowl of ice cream after that! Though the views from the tower were fantastic!
Because I am from the Southeast Michigan Synod and our partner church is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land it was very exciting to have the privilege of meeting with Bishop Munib Younan and Rev. Mitri Raheb, Christmas Lutheran Church, Pastor. Both shared personal life stories as Palestinians as well as stories representing the realities of an occupied people. For both, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue combined with faith-in-action is a regular part of their ministries. The ELCJHL works very closely with Palestinian Muslims. Their work is a testimony to the possibilities and the need for Christian-Muslim interreligious dialogue. The need for Christian-Jewish dialogue was also emphasized. It was interesting to hear Younan speak of the role of the Church/Christians as helping to balance interreligious conversation. Though Christians account for a small portion of the population in the region the witness of the Church is essential to the interfaith conversation and peace process. When I think of why the church should engage in interreligious dialogue I think of 1 John 4:20-21, how can you love God of whom you cannot see, if you do not love your neighbor of whom you can see? I greatly enjoyed learning about the ministries of the ELCJHL and of Christmas Lutheran Church. This trip really brought to light the world’s great need for building bridges of understanding with persons of other religious/faith traditions for the sake of peace in the world.
Islamic Tradition: In Bethlehem we met with the Mufti of Bethlehem, visited the Omar Mosque and observed evening prayer. This was not my first time attending mosque but for many the group it was. It was exciting for me to see our group look to this experince with great excitment, anticipation and interest. The Mufti (a scholar/overseer of Islamic Law) shared with us various aspects of the Muslim faith, the five pillars of Islam, and most notably that Islam is a religion of peace. He shared with us the meaning of Jihad. Jihad is an Arabic word which literally means “to struggle”…to struggle with one’s faith…to struggle spiritually…to struggle with the realities of oppression, etc. I learned that central to Islam is living the will of God. As the Mufti said, “In Islam we strive in the way of Allah or to live the will of Allah.” I greatly enjoyed observing evening prayer at the mosque. We observed prayer repetitions (like the Catholic use of the Rosary) to God…giving thanks to God/Allah and asking God/Allah to help them live their lives according to God/Allah’s will. We observed the participants prostrate so that their knees and foreheads were touching the floor, in total humility and submission to God. I thought it was interesting to experience how common language can be a bridge for different faiths. For example, in my experience it is often thought that Muslims and Christians worship a different God. The Muslim God is Allah. When we worshiped at Christmas Lutheran Church, an Arabic speaking congregation, God is referred to as Allah. When they pray it is to Allah. That is because the word for God in Arabic is Allah. Whether Muslim, Christian, or Jew we worship the same, one God and we are all part of the same family…the Abrahamic family. It was a great experience to have the opportunity to attend a mosque and learn more about the Muslim faith.
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