Year in Review: 2017

2017 was an incredible year of growth for the Abrahamic Reunion and peace efforts in the Holy Land: 63 events were held around the world, with a total of 2,943 participants. Here is a more detailed breakdown of events by country:

Holy Land: 26 events with 1,539 participants

US:  19 events with 656 participants

UK:  11 events with 524 participants

Germany:  7 events with 224 participants

2017 Highlights

Three new chapters of the Abrahamic Reunion were created in East Jerusalem, Shefar’am, and Palestine. In 2018 another chapter will be established in the Negev. The Abrahamic Reunion continued to meet with both the Palestinian Authority and the Knesset, acting as a bridge for peace.

In March, the Abrahamic Reunion was featured in three viral videos by Nuseir “Nas” Yassin, who makes daily one minute videos his Facebook page, “Nas Daily.” One video features Eliyahu McLean, the AR’s Holy Land Director. Another features Haj Ibrahim Abuelhawa. The third features some of the peacemakers meeting with the Palestinian Government Official Minister Madani (To see the AR’s report on this event, click here). These videos were also included in two compilation videos, which can be found here and here. Altogether, these videos have over 6 million views! (As of 2/1/18) Eliyahu was recently featured in another video in January 2018, which you can watch here.

The 14th annual Abrahamic Reunion multi-faith Ramadan Iftar meal took place on June 8th in Ilut, near Nazareth. With 220 people in attendance, it was one of the AR’s biggest interfaith iftars ever! The Christian Media Center made a 3 minute video on the event, which can be seen here.

2017 was the second year of the Abrahamic Reunion’s monthly Praying Together in Jerusalem event. On the last Thursday of every month, Jews, Christians, and Muslims gathered to pray side by side in the Old City. They would then join together in one united prayer for peace. In February, the Abrahamic Reunion put on a 170 person conference with the allies of Praying Together in Jerusalem for discussion, dialogue, dinner and prayer on the theme of “constructive conflict” – how to have conversations about our differences in ways that build connection and common understanding.

In November, representatives from the Abrahamic Reunion led a workshop at the 15th annual assembly of the United Religions Initiative’s Middle East & North Africa division (URI MENA). The assembly’s theme was “People Against Violence” and was held in Amman, Jordan. The Abrahamic Reunion is a registered Cooperation Circle with the URI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2017 we also held a crowdfunding campaign for our biggest project ever: Healing the Heart of the Holy Land. Thanks to your support, we raised $60,226, about $9,000 more than our goal of $51,000! In April 2018, we move into the next phase of peacebuilding with the Healing the Heart of the Holy Land Tour and our biggest week of events all across the Holy Land that we’ve ever attempted including healing peace journeys through Palestine, Jerusalem, and the South, a young peacemakers’ training day, a women’s peace retreat, a families forum, and so much more.

2017 was a great year for the Abrahamic Reunion, and we’re grateful for all of the support and prayers we’ve received along the way. We couldn’t do it without you. We hope for your continued support as we move into the new year. Peacebuilding is needed in the Holy Land now more than ever, and together we can make 2018 the Abrahamic Reunion’s biggest year yet!

Shalom, Salaam, Peace,

The Abrahamic Reunion