News from Ein Haniya, Winter-Spring 2007
For the past five months we have been gathering almost every week on the border of Israel and Palestine, sharing warmth and radiating light during the Jerusalem winter season, gradually growing our All Nations family of Palestinians, Israelis and internationals, and establishing, step by step, a home in the valley where we can all come together, even at stormy times of curfews and war.
Carols, prayers and music bringing Christmas spirit to Ein Haniya in December.
The week before we held the third birthday celebration of the All Nations Cafe and Hanukkah lights festival,
and before that we had a birthday party for our elder Hedwig from Germany and a Storytelling evening.
The week before we held the third birthday celebration of the All Nations Cafe and Hanukkah lights festival,
and before that we had a birthday party for our elder Hedwig from Germany and a Storytelling evening.
Our family members, coming from West and East Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Hebron, and the surrounding villages and refugee camps, have managed to create both an open and an intimate space, where we can begin to know each other, share the depth of our joys and sorrows, and give each other understanding and support.
Chopping, cooking and sharing with Shu’afat refugee camp students from a youth leadership program on Id el-Adha.January was quite rainy, so we invested our time in visiting each other’s homes in Halhul, Nahalin and Dheishe.
As we all know, not everyone is ready for direct and open meetings of Israelis and Palestinians. On the night of the 27th of February, during our gathering, somebody had sneaked and stolen Lisa’s car, which had served us faithfully for several years. Our friends and contacts have been searching and investigating extensively, but have not been able to find it. This was a major set back to our group, both physically and morally, but we have managed to overcome it together, and continue our work with renewed faith.
Planting Olive trees and telling tree stories on Abed’s land on Tu Bishvat Day in February.The week before, while visiting our friends in the border village of Walaja, we were seized by the army and brought to the checkpoint. Daphna’s voice and guitar skills drew a group of female soldiers and convinced the soldiers to set us free. At the end of February we held a healing circle, led by Jeff, who went on to treat Mahmoud’s disabled brother.
Now, that the spring is bursting out with flowers of all colors and hues from every stone terrace around us, and the Ein-Haniya spring is gushing with clear mountain water and filling the pool and the canal, we are ready to have our next Middle East Families Camp on the last week of March.
Starting on Sunday the 25th and running until the first of April, this spring camp will give a chance for many new people to visit our cafe and experience our way of sharing, working, cooking, eating, creating and celebrating together.
You are all welcome to be a part of it.We would like to thank all the individuals, from varied countries and continents, who financially supported our activities in the past months. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Celebration with musicians, families, friends and environmental students from Jordan, Israel, Palestine, USA & Europe in March.
Hajj Ibrahim was in charge of the cooking, and took care of transport on the week before, when we celebrated the birthday of our dear elder David.
Hajj Ibrahim was in charge of the cooking, and took care of transport on the week before, when we celebrated the birthday of our dear elder David.
