This excerpt is taken from "Visiting
the Holy Land and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and
the Holy Land,"
a 13-page guide to planning, preparing and communicating about a
trip to the Holy Land. The guide offers the following
ideas on how to share your experiences back home:
Your visit to the Holy Land will leave
you with vivid memories of a place holy to three great religions
-- and with much to ponder and pray about. By sharing your
photos and stories you can help other Americans understand and
appreciate the lives and aspirations of Israelis and
Palestinians. You can become an advocate of peace with
justice for both peoples.
Be prepared to talk about your
experiences in ways that help others grasp both the gravity of
the situation and what things are needed to facilitate positive
changes. Include stories of people you have met and how
the conflict affects their lives. Identify people only by
first name or general description, e.g. a Palestinian mother, a
Jewish father, a man who lives in Bethlehem, an Israeli young
man. Avoid specific references to villages or churches,
for example, that would enable someone to guess the identities
of the persons you've described. This caution also applies
to any blogs posted on the internet by group members.
As you consider individuals, groups, and venues where you may
make helpful contributions through presentations or letters,
remember:
- Members of Congress and their
staffs
- Letters to the Editor of your
local newspapers [usually read by staff members of elected
officials]
- Interfaith dialogue groups
- Staff meetings
- Congregational events and groups
- Preaching assignments
- Discussion groups
Remember that you are not expected
to become an expert on this complicated issue! To prepare
your comments, try focusing on two or three areas of special
interests to you, such as what you learned about the
separation barrier, illegal Israeli settlements in
Palestinian territory, or Christian-Muslim relations.
(Visit the "Educate" pages for
more background information).
When you present, let people know
that your observations come from the experiences you had
while traveling, and that they may seem one-sided to people
who have not experienced the Middle East or heard the
Palestinian perspective on the conflict. Remind your
listeners that the fear of violence, which affects both
Israelis and Palestinians, is very real, and that we all
seek peace, with justice.
You can find photos and resources
to incorporate into your presentations at
www.holyland-lutherans.org/photosandpresentations.html.
You can also find excellent tips on making a presentation
about the Holy Land at
www.holylandalternatives.net/speaker.html.
Remember that we can all
LEARN,
PRAY, and
ACT for peace with
justice in the Holy Land. |
