News from Ramallah
Interchange, Summer 2005
Friends International Committee Consultation In Ramallah
Members of the International Committee (IC) of Ramallah Friends Meeting (RFM) and other Friends met in Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine for a week long consultation (March 4–13, 2005) to discern direction for the recently renovated Ramallah Meetinghouse and annex. The annex will be the home of the Friends International Center in Ramallah (FICIR).
The word “consultation” was used to refer to the activities, meetings, and conversations the International Committee had with members of the Ramallah Friends Meeting, Friends from abroad, Friends and fellow travelers living in the area, and like-minded Palestinian and Israeli groups working for an end to occupation and a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The consultation brought together both local and ex-patriot groups who are now active in the region in community development, peace-building work and other concerns central to Friends.
Through interaction with individuals and groups, we gained better understand of what is being done now across the wider community, and what unmet needs are most pressing. The consultation process also engendered a deeper and wider local sense of ownership and support for the FICIR and prepared the ground for future partnership with those whose values and vision we share.
Ramallah Meeting House
The Vision For The Friends International Center In Ramallah:
The Friends International Center in Ramallah exists to unite in one place:
- a space for sacred worship after the manner of Friends to which all are welcome;
- a safe and supportive environment in which residents of Ramallah can come together to work towards a better future in an atmosphere of faith and hope;
- a vehicle through which friends and other people of goodwill from outside of Ramallah can connect with and provide support to those in the region who are striving to build a better future of peace and justice.
To these ends, the Friends International Center in Ramallah (FICIR) will offer a ministry of hospitality; create an atmosphere of care and respect in which positive civic and civil discourse can be pursued; and be a witness to hope and reconciliation in a region where despair and violence have too often reigned. In all this we seek to express the deepest values and highest aspirations of the Quaker faith.
Lamar Matthew
Interchange, Summer 2005
Ramallah Connections:
A journey of hope and faith
As a convinced Quaker of five years and as Youth Secretary of Baltimore Yearly Meeting you might assume that I am always around Quakers. But that is not so. I realized this most abruptly when I shared with family members and friends that I was going to Israel and Palestine for two weeks to research the possibility of a Youth Workcamp there. They did not want me to go because they feared for my safety. Despite their convincing arguments and pleadings, they realized that I was still going, and then began to question me about “my plan” – “my agenda”. “What is your goal?” they asked. “What are your expectations?” “How will you know if your trip is successful?” How will you measure your work?” they asked. How can I answer those questions or even have an agenda with people I had never met.
On February 18, 2005 Frank Massey, Andrei Israel and I met with Jean Zaru, a 4th generation Palestinian Quaker woman who is also the clerk of Ramallah Friends Meeting. In her home, Jean gave us an informal seven hour cliff notes version of the Palestinian occupation, oppression, and severe lack of human rights in her homeland. She also shared with us her passion and vision to see life affirming youth activities. I was however most moved by her immeasurable endurance and incredible light.
We also met with: Joyce Ajlouny, Director of The Friends High School; Muna Khleifi, Kindergarten Director of the Friends Elementary School; Kathy Bergen, AFSC National Coordinator of the Middle East Programs Peacebuilding Unit; Maia Carter Hallward, in Jerusalem; Jeff Halper, Coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions; Father Chakour of the Mar Elias High School, Elementary School and University; and representatives from the Amari and Jalazone Refugee Camps.
Each encounter helped raise our awareness and compassion for Palestinians and Israeli Arabs who have been horribly underrepresented, overburdened and underserved.
Quickly I realized that those sharing their stories were the ones left - the ones who can still speak. The truth with which people spoke shook me at my roots. I listened with my entire being. And, as the haunting stories poured forth, I realized that they were speaking not only for themselves, but also for the countless Palestinians who can no longer speak. My prayer was to listen with my life. “God uncover the strength in me”, I quietly prayed “the strength to hear this and listen for those who have not yet heard.”
At Jean’s kitchen table we shared the possibility of BYM Young Friends working with Ramallah Friends Meeting in the future. We shared that we did not come with a plan or agenda for Palestinians, but rather our hope that we could create a plan together. We also asked if she would like to work with BYM in this way. Whatever barriers that were between us seemed to fall as a deep and literal sigh of relief came from Jean. She expressed sincere gratitude for our open approach.
I recently read that “behind every political wound is a personal one and personal wounds need to be addressed at a personal level.” It is impossible for me to describe the emotion and love in me that wanted to meet each person while in Palestine and Israel. As much as I want to try, it is impossible for me to share with you the vast possibilities that could come from such work. But it IS possible for us to clear the path so that this kind of friendship, healing, and witness can continue.
A week after I returned home I was sharing my experience with a friend over lunch She said “What do you mean you have no agenda with Palestinians – Isn’t Peace your agenda?” and I’ve found myself asking the same question in quiet, but difficult moments. Perhaps peace will come – perhaps it won’t or maybe it will come generations from now. I’ve returned with more questions than answers. But I have clarity on this – for solutions, aid, even peace to be sustainable, it must be indigenous and involve youth. Otherwise, we’re just the dysfunction big brother in America who thinks he knows what’s best for everyone else, supplying resources that will be wasted because we didn’t listen with our lives before we let them speak.
I was acutely aware of the moments when the people we met with leaned closer to us, over conference tables, kitchen tables and highly caffeinated Arabic coffee saying “can I tell you something off the record?” I felt the distance between us evaporate. And If I could tell you something off the record, it is this. The Youth of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting have the courage, strength, and hunger it takes to participate in a workcamp in Ramallah. May we remember that Americans are often obese with privilege and spiritually emaciated. It is painful to know there is a contribution we can make, and yet not know how to make it. This trip can answer that calling in some of us. And I’m so thrilled that we can offer this possibility to our Youth.
Chaos at the Check Point at Qandalya
(The Wall Visible in the background)
I set aside my privilege for two weeks. It was difficult to be searched at checkpoints, yet simultaneously powerful to witness the lack of dignity Palestinians deal with constantly. And still, Palestinians often smiled at us, said welcome and helped us navigate through the unfamiliar territory of oppression. I have been deeply altered by this. I hold privilege differently now, not as something that is mine because I am lucky – but rather as an ideal that human rights, privilege, and dignity belong to everyone. May the use of my privilege in this way, our privilege, be a reminder to those who oppress others. May it inspire those who are oppressed. I pray that it be used thoroughly and well.
Phoebe Stern, Frank Massey , Andrei Israel and I look forward to working with Youth Programs Committee and to the possibility of being part of a Youth Workcamp with BYM Youth, Ramallah Friends School Youth and the Ramallah Friends Meeting in the summer of 2006.
Thank you, Hope Braveheart
Interchange,
Dec 2004
News Of Friends Activities In Ramallah
Reconstruction and renovations of the Ramallah Meeting House,
its annex and grounds are nearly completed. A group of Friends
has been meeting at Friends Center, Philadelphia to discern the
direction for the International Center that will be housed in
the Meeting House Annex. John Salzburg, Frank Massey and Lamar
Matthew are Baltimore Yearly Meeting Friends who serve on the
committee. Jean Zaru, Clerk of Ramallah Meeting, has attended
these committee meetings while she was in the U.S. The Friends
International Steering Committee was created and endorsed by a
minute of Ramallah Monthly Meeting. The Committee was asked to
come together to make decisions for the programs and activities
of the Friends Community Center. The Committee is in the service
of Ramallah Monthly Meeting and does not wish to be drawn up into
the particulars of any larger Friends group or organization and
so, a conscious effort is made to have a balance of Quaker voices
on the Committee.
The Steering Committee is united in a desire to have a temporary
consulting Friend in place before the convening of a regional
consultation in Ramallah. Kathy Bergen, National Coordinator for
Middle East Programs, will be able to fill this role while she
is on sabbatical from her duties at AFSC. The consultation will
take place in Ramallah, in early 2005. It will be a time to listen
to local participants and gain knowledge of needs, hopes and dreams.
Some expected findings from these conversations may be: Who is
laboring with similar concerns; The role of peace-building and
nonviolence activities in the area; What positive initiatives
are taking place that we might support, augment or give shelter
to; The ways in which Friends can partner with kindred spirits
through sharing knowledge/information, inspiration, and energies.
The Committee is considering options to support the important
and needed peace work of the Center. It is hoped that Baltimore
and Philadelphia Yearly Meetings, Monthly Meetings and individuals
will be able to contribute/raise funds for the Meeting House maintenance
and hospitality expenses and capital equipment. Further details
will be announced when funding planning is completed.
After Jean's last meeting with the Steering Committee she wrote:
Dear Friends, It has given me great joy to be with some of you
yesterday evening. I cannot find the right words to express to
each and every one of you my great gratitude and admiration for
your commitments to Friends service locally and globally. Often,
I get those moments of feeling alone, in a hard struggle, to continue
to affirm life, beauty, and community, in the midst of so much
uncertainty and hardships. Your friendship and example energizes
me. I felt I really have to share with you what I feel before
I go back home. With all my love and warm best wishes,
Jean Zaru.
We hold Jean and Friends at Ramallah in our thoughts and prayers
through these difficult times in Palestine. We are grateful for
Jean's untiring spirit to further Friends influence and activities
for peace in that troubled part of the world.
Interchange, May 2004
Friends Reach Fund-raising Goal
We have learned from the Ramallah Meeting International Committee
that the funds required to restore both the Meeting House and
annex, $160,000 has been raised! Close to 100 Friends of Baltimore
Yearly Meet-ing contributed to the goal – more than any other
Yearly Meeting. Special thanks to the seven monthly meetings that
contributed to the goal: Bethesda, Charlottesville, Frederick,
Gettysburg, Langley Hill, Sandy Spring, and Warrington.
The Meeting House itself has been completely restored except
for installation of heating and air-conditioning, and work now
is concentrated on the annex (which will have offices and possibly
residence for a Friend in Resi-dence). Waleed Zaru (a Friend and
manager of the Project) described how the community was receiving
restoration of the Meeting House: “Everybody is grateful and happy
that finally the Meeting House is being renovated. The Municipality,
the elders in town, shop keepers in the area all are happy and
excited that in the middle of the surrounding tall buildings this
wonderful historical building will start functioning again…. Dear
Friends, we as Quakers are so grateful. The community is really
grateful for your continuous support on all levels.” Not incidentally,
the project has provided meaningful employment to Palestinians
at a time when un-employment is extremely high.
Once restoration is completed, active work can be-gin so as
Jean Zaru describes “the Meeting House will not only be a place
of worship but a center that will affirm God’s peace, the establishment
of justice, and the resolving of conflict by active non-violence.
It is an investment in hope, affirming life in the midst of death
and destruction, and building for a culture of peace.”
Thanks again, Friends, for your support and we’ll keep you posted
as the Meetinghouse Project begins its program phase.
John Salzberg, Ramallah International Committee
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