Exploring our Shared Humanity in Bethlehem

Don’t just get mad at the news — make a difference. Here’s how: From now through Thursday, for every dollar you spend at ricksteves.com/shop, I’ll give a dollar to help fund hope in Palestine.

Feeling frustrated and impotent because of the news lately? Me too. But rather than just fume, I want to make a difference. With fear trumping compassion in America’s policy toward refugees and our government’s recent change of policy regarding the Holy Land, I’m inspired to raise money for a good cause in Palestine. And I’d like your help. So, from now through Thursday (March 9, 2017), for every dollar spent at ricksteves.com/shop on any guidebooks, travel gear, or luggage, I’ll give a dollar to Bright Stars of Bethlehem. (This is not just our profit. I’ll match everything you spend.) That’s right: if $50,000 is spent at ricksteves.com/shop (and I hope we hit that mark), I’ll send a check for $50,000 to Bright Stars of Bethlehem. I know this sounds crazy, but if you went to Bethlehem (in Palestine), as I did, and saw their work — or watched the following six-minute video — you’d see my logic.

On my last trip to Palestine, perhaps the most inspirational experience I had was meeting the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, pastor at the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, and seeing the work he’s doing for the Palestinian people — both Christians and Muslims. We stayed in their Bethlehem cultural and conference center, and we filmed a basketball game there — bringing together kids from the entire community, both Christian and Muslim. This clip shows part of that game, and my time in Bethlehem with local guide Kamal Mukarker — including a memorable meal we shared in his home. These images help remind me of the humanity behind the policy, and the idea that, if you believe we’re all children of God, then we are all equally precious.

Dr. Raheb is a Palestinian who runs a thriving cultural center ministry in the middle of walls, checkpoints, and hopelessness, offering opportunities and hope for his community “from womb to tomb.” Having dinner with Mitri, staying in his conference and cultural center on two different trips, and seeing the energy and mission in action, his work brought to mind two beautiful quotes: Gandhi said, “Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than the one derived from fear of punishment.” And Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it unto me.”

 Rick Steves and Mitri Raheb

I treasure the memory of meeting Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb in Bethlehem.
(Photo: Bright Stars of Bethlehem)

Reading the recent news, and considering the firsthand experience I had on two recent trips in Palestine, I’m more concerned than ever that this fragile, complex, and very human situation needs a careful and thoughtful policy. All of the talk about who’s the American ambassador to Israel, moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, building more Jewish settlements in the West Bank, and the question of a two-state solution versus a one-state solution is serious business with real consequences — especially to millions of Palestinians, who don’t even have a seat at the table.

After my trips to the Holy Land — and talking to people on both sides of the issue, from Israeli settlers to Palestinian clerics — it’s clear to me that a two-state solution (which President Trump recently backed away from) is best for Israel, and the only viable hope for peace. The alternative — a one-state solution — can only take one of two forms: a modern, pluralistic democracy with equality for all citizens (which would mean the Jewish Israeli population would soon be a minority in their own land, and the Jewish-ness of Israel would fade away); or a state where half the people were Muslim but only Jews would have full citizenship (which sympathizers of the Palestinian cause would call “Apartheid-like”). With a smart two-state solution, however, Israel could be secure and Palestine could be free. I realize that’s a tough challenge. But it’s the only winning option for those who want an Israel that’s both free and Jewish. Further Jewish settlements in Palestine (the West Bank) will make a viable two-state solution even more difficult to reach.

The impact of American policy on people in the Holy Land is not certain. But the impact of this donation is: Again, for every dollar spent at ricksteves.com/shop from now through tomorrow, I’ll give a dollar to Bright Stars of Bethlehem. (By the way, “good causes” come at me all the time. I’m confident this is a powerful way to make a difference: to turn our extra dollars into real hope and joy…and contribute to peace.)

Thanks, shalom, and salaam,

Rick Steves

Comments

5 Replies to “Exploring our Shared Humanity in Bethlehem”

  1. I just (this morning) ordered the 2017 Pocket London (to be released May 31)from Amazon. Please consider

  2. There is no doubt that this is humanitarian, and does help people.
    There were some statements that are troubling. “This is the longest occupation in modern times.” (There are other lands some consider occupied: Tibet, E. Prussia, Northern Irland, Kurdistan, several parts of Spain etc). This is also the longest refugee problem in modern times. Why?
    In the wake of WWII over 30 million refugees were created. 3 million Germans were expelled from their homes which were in their families for 600 years in what is now the Czech Republic. They could not take there personal property with them. To this day Germans can not take it out of the country. There would be no occupation in the West Bank if Israel had expelled all Muslims. any more than the Czech occupation of the German land of Bohemia. (I wrote Muslim rather than Palestinian because before 1948, Jews were called Palestinian).
    Jordan is also an occupied Palestinian state. Of the 5 million citizens about 2 million are Hashemite like the king. 3 million citizens who can vote, self identify as Palestinian. In addition there are 1 million Palestinian “refugees,” who live in camps and as non citizens. By population, Jordan is a Palestinian state.
    When talking about Palestine we should ask about Gaza. The government there and the West Bank are not under one government. So that would make a 3 state solution not 2 states. Why should a state of Palestine have no Jews while Jews should have Muslims. If Israel incorporated the West Bank into the Jewish state, Jews would still be the majority population. Israel might be a Jewish State, but it is secular. The Muslims in Israel, becoming secular, have dropped their birth rate to a number lower than the Jews.
    So why are there still Palestinian refugees. The number of Muslims displaced from Israel is a little less than the Jews displaced from Muslim countries. Sadly they have become pawns, where no Muslim country will give them a home in the fight to exterminate Israel. The international community including The State of Israel provide enough support to to make the refugee status tolerable. There is a saying that being good to the bad is bad for the good.

  3. I just got so so excited when I saw Bright Stars posting this. I met the Rev Dr. Mitri Raheb as well here in the states and loved the work he does. We are regular supporters through United Way to Bright Stars. . I’m an American Palestinian as is my husband. Our parents moved here in the 60’s but I still have many aunts, uncles, and cousins that live in Nazareth and Jerusalem. We are planning a trip to Europe and have been watching Rick’s videos. I’ll order my guidebooks and other fun travel items now. Thank you so much Rick for your support.

  4. Thank you RIck! As a Lutheran and someone who has Palestinian Christian family living in Israel , I appreciate your steadfast efforts to enlarge our world view beyond that which is provided us through the media. The Holy Land is a beautiful and meaningful place to many religions, languages and cultures. The common theme of hospitality makes it the perfect place to visit regardless of your own religious/secular interests. Thank you for fueling hope rather than futility and knowledge instead of bias. For anyone who is interested, here are a couple of excellent websites to further advance your understanding of the ecumenical peacemakers at work in this sacred land.
    http://www.elcjhl.org/ https://jerusalem.lutheranworld.org/
    We will indeed “keep on travelin” this year, and cannot thank you enough for how you have enriched those experiences both in our independent travel and on your tours. The “arc toward justice” bends more surely and faithfully because of your work and commitment.

  5. Just bought 2 rolling travel bags. Thank you for the good cause, Rick, and thank you, Bright Stars, for the work you are doing.

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