Scraps from the Table
Water tanks on rooftops in occupied territory
When we were in Israel, we stayed in East Jerusalem and traveled predominantly in what was called the Occupied West Bank, and what is called the area under Palestinian Authority.
Most tourists don't go where we went, so most tourists don't see what we saw, and that's a shame, because it is hard for us to understand what all the conflict is about if we don't hear the whole story, or at least some of the story from all sides.
What one does learn, if you ask questions, is that there is an "Us and Them" attitude that intrudes in any conversation about the Separation Barrier, settlements, and simple things like water and food.
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." - Matthew 15:24-27
It is ironic that as Christians, we have a simple story from Matthew that guides us away from adopting a sense of superiority in our relationship with God, and yet, without this example of Jesus expending God's grace to someone outside the fold, all Gentiles, including those of us who were not Jews, would not know Christ.
We are the dogs Jesus talks about.
So, it is painful to learn that Christian Arabs are being pushed out of their homeland, and that Non-Jewish residents have no passports, no rights, no voice and at times, no water to drink.
In an article published May 27, 2014, B'Tselem, an organization supporting human rights in the occupied territory, reported that since March, residents have been without regular water.
Some homes in these neighborhoods have been completely cut off from the water supply; others receive water intermittently; and as for the rest, the water pressure in the pipes is so low that the water does not reach the faucets. As a result, an estimated 60,000-80,000 Palestinians – mostly permanent residents of Israel – have been left without a regular water supply. [More]
It is difficult to understand a policy of separation and denial, especially since, as Americans, we have repeatedly fought for individual freedoms. Unfortunately, this is a story we don't hear.
The Canaanite woman pleaded with Jesus to do something to heal her sick daughter, even though he was not sent by God to heal the lost souls outside the Jewish population. He listened.
Why don't we hear Christian voices shouting loudly against the apartheid policies of Israel?
Perhaps if we did cry out, people might listen as Jesus did.
But here is something else we could do. We could contact the Christian churches struggling to survive in the Holy Lands and pray for them. (See listing below)
We visited one of these churches, St. Matthew's in Zababdeh, and we have found a way to keep in contact. It means everything to them to know that the Christians of the Holy Land, the ones the builders of a new Israel have rejected, are loved and prayed for. It may just be the scraps from the table, but it can keep them alive.
The following list is from the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem
The Cathedral Church of St. George the Martyr, P.O. Box 19122, Jerusalem 91191—20 Nablus Rd, East Jerusalem; +972 2 627 1670 Fax + 972 2 627 3847.
The Right Reverend Suheil Dawani, Bishop. The Reverend Canon Hosam Naoum, Pastor to the Arabic Speaking Congregation
Palestine (West Bank)
St. Andrew’s Church, Ramallah/ St. Peter’s Church, Birzeit, P.O Box 112, Ramallah, West Bank; +972 2 298 1003 Fax +972 2 296 1488. The Rev. Hanna Dally.dally@hotmail.com
Good Shepherd, Rafidia, St. Phillips, Nablus, P.O Box 47, Nablus, West Bank; +972 9 238 1777. The Rev Ibrahim Nairouz.
St. Matthew’s Church, Zababdeh, P.O. Box 7, Zababdeh, Jenin, West Bank; +972 4 251 0127, Fax +972 4 252 0484. The Rev. Nael Abu Rahmoun.
Israel
St. Paul’s Church, Shefa’amr, P.O. Box172, Shefa’Amr, Israel; +972 4 986 9308. The Rev. Fuad Dagher, stpaulch@hotmail.com.
Church of the Holy Family, Raineh, Box520, Raineh, Israel 16940; +972 4 656 6177. Fax +972 4 657 5741. Ven. Samuel Barhoum,barhoums@hotmail.com.
Emmanuel Church, Ramleh, 67 Herzel St., P.O. Box 442, Ramleh, Israel 72100; + 972 8 921 1467. The Rev. Canon Samuel Fanous, samfan15@hotmail.com.
St. John’s and St. Luke’s, Haifa, P.O. Box 9574, Haifa, Israel 31095; +972 4 852 3370/+972 4 608 0735. The Rev. Canon Hatem Shehadeh, engel2@netvision.net.il.
Jordan
For a complete listing of parishes in Jordan contact the Diocesan offices in Amman or visit their websitewww.j-diocese.org.
Redeemer Church, Amman, P.O. Box 598,Amman 11118; +962 6 462 4811, Fax +962 6 461 6639. The Reverend Fadi Diab, Pastor to the Arabic speaking congregation, fatherfadi@gmail.com,
The Reverend Lex Macqueen, Pastor to the English speaking congregation, lexmacqueen@bigpond.com.