Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Despite closures throughout Palestine, we are trying hard to continue our work and we are using social media platforms to ensure that our important meetings are not interrupted.
On March 1st, I spoke with clergy from the Islamic, Christian and Samaritan religions in Palestine, about our duty to continue meetings under these circumstances.
They were very enthusiastic and told me, “Let us do it tomorrow, Mohammed!”
I did not want to minimize their resolve or enthusiasm by postponing. So, after speaking to brother Ihab Youssef Al-Sameri from the Samaritan, Father Firas Diab, and Sheikh Ghaleb Awatleh, I started calling friends and peacemakers from various Palestinian cities to invite them to a meeting.
Everyone was so enthusiastic. They wanted the meeting to start now!
I stayed up until dawn inviting 27 people to the meeting then I went to sleep for a few hours.
At five o’clock on March 2nd I picked up Sheikh Ghalib Awlahleh and brought him to my house so he could use Zoom.
And an hour later these participants began joining the meeting:
1- Ihab Youssef Al-Sameri: from the Samaritan community
2- Sheikh Ghalib Awatl the Imam of Jericho
3- Father Firas Diab: The Greek Orthodox Catholic Priest from of Zababdeh
Fifteen additional people were also able to join, and the rest were unable to join due to technical difficulties. Here I should explain that many people in Palestine do not have access to internet or computers, and they must rely on cell phones to communicate. And most people do not know how to use social networking programs like Zoom, so, this meeting for the Abrahamic Reunion was their first opportunity to use this technology.
Since this first Zoom meeting was technically complicated for many participants, everyone decided to have another meeting next week, and we are sure that next meeting will be a huge and successful meeting!
We started by welcoming everyone and introducing ourselves. Then I invited Ihab Al-Samri, Sheikh Ghalib Awatleh, and Father Firas Diab to give speeches.*
After their speeches some of the participants, including “Abdel-Maghribi”, a university student from the city of Jericho, who is currently studying in Italy, prayed for the end of this epidemic, and the achievement of peace on earth.
Then Jeries Awwad, the patron of the Latin Church in Bethlehem, read a small prayer to end the current crisis.
Finally, I invited Lina Giraldoa from the State of Colombia to speak. I met Lina when I was working in the Dead Sea region a year ago. And I had I told her about my work as a peace maker and about the meetings that I do monthly for the Abrahamic Reunion.
I promised her that I one day would invite her to share her voice with us.
And today, Lina got her beautiful opportunity, and she read a short prayer for us to achieve peace on Earth.
After nearly an hour and a half, everyone finished sharing, and I thanked everyone for their time, and invited them to our meeting next week. God willing!!
*To read what each speaker said, please refer to the unedited version, of this report available through the link at the end of this article.
Mohamad Jamous
Programs Director, Abrahamic Reunion Palestine
mohamad@abrahamicreunion.org
