A Message from Bishop Azar Regarding the UNRWA Decision

Please click here for the full message from Bishop Doctor Sani Ibrahim Azar of the ELCJHL regarding the recent Israeli legislation banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, impacting its work throughout the West Bank, Gaza, and beyond: Full Statement...

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24th Annual Olive Harvest Season in Bethlehem

The ELCJHL, the Environmental Education Center, the Bethlehem Peace Center and the Bethlehem Municipality launched the 24th National Olive Harvest Season and Shopping Days this weekend. The events at the Peace Center were held in cooperation with the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Directorate of Agriculture, and the Rural Women's Development Society. In the midst of extremely difficult circumstances, the continuation of this annual event for 24 years shows the significance of the olive tree in Palestinian life. It is not only an important aspect of the economy, b...

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Reformation Day Service in Jerusalem

Today is Reformation Day, when we commemorate Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses and the beginning of our history as the Lutheran Church. The ELCJHL hosted a multi-lingual service at the Redeemer Church in Jerusalem today in recognition of this important day for our Church. This service has historically been a time of great celebration here in Jerusalem, but this year our hearts are with our congregants in the West Bank who are denied permits to enter Jerusalem, and with all those suffering throughout Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond. Propst Joachim Lenz preached on the text of the Beatitudes,...

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Lutheran Schools Celebrate Reformation Day

Under the patronage of His Excellency Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar, the Evangelical Lutheran Schools commemorated Reformation Day today with activities hosted by Dar Al-Kalima Lutheran School. 8th grade students from Dar Al-Kalima, ELS Beit Sahour, and Talitha Kumi School celebrated the legacy of Martin Luther and the schools’ Lutheran heritage through songs, skits, and activities. Students made their own Lutheran Rose crafts, answered trivia questions about the life of Martin Luther and the Reformation, and discussed how they can participate in the Reformation of modern Palestinian...

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Breast Cancer Awareness Activities from the ELCJHL

The ELCJHL hosted two programs in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.    Last week, the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Jordan in cooperation with the ELCJHL Gender Justice Ministry and the Jordanian Breast Cancer Program of the Hussein Cancer Foundation hosted an educational lecture about the disease and the importance of awareness and early detection. The instructor emphasized the significance of regular screening to prevent the disease. Attendees received a professional screening in addition to the lecture.   Today, the ELCJHL education office...

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Bishop Azar visits Synod of the Nile

Earlier this month Bishop Azar traveled to Egypt, where he visited our partners from the Evangelical Synod of the Nile. Bishop Azar met with Rev. Dr. Sameh Hana and General Secretary Rev. Dr. Rafit Fathi to discuss the important relationship between our churches and the work of the ELCJHL's diaconal, environmental, and women's ministries. They also spoke about possible partnership opportunities for the future, including pastor and youth exchange visits. We are grateful to our partners in the Nile Synod for hosting Bishop Azar and we look forward to many more years of theological exchange and p...

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ELCJHL Staff Meet with SHO About Humanitarian Efforts

Staff from the ELCJHL and the DSPR - Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees, met with a delegation from Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties (SHO) and GIRO555 yesterday to discuss humanitarian aid being provided by ELCJHL and DSPR in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza to those impacted by the current crisis in the region. SHO is a Dutch coalition of humanitarian organizations including the Red Cross, UNICEF, Cordaid, and Kerk in Actie (Church in Action). ELCJHL Director of Operations Bassem Thabet, Education Director Eva Azar, and Diaconal Ministry Director Rana Zeidan sh...

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Lutheran Schools Host Football Tournament

Students from three of the Lutheran schools participated in the annual Football Tournament at the Evangelical Lutheran School of Beit Sahour.   Students from ELS Beit Sahour, Dar al-Kalima Lutheran School, and Talitha Kumi School competed for the top prize. After several exciting matches, the Dar al-Kalima team won first place! The ELS Beit Sahour team were the runners up, and Talitha Kumi took third place.   The tournament was facilitated by ELJCHL Education Director Eva Azar, the principals of the three schools, and the sports teachers. Congratulations to all our st...

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ELCJHL Signs MOU with Palestinian Justice Institute

His Eminence Bishop Dr. Sani Ibrahim Azar visited the Judicial Training Institute in Ramallah, where a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the church and the institute, paving the way for the integration of the church into the Palestinian justice system. The meeting was attended by His Excellency Judge Bilal Abu Hantash, His Excellency Judge Muhammad Al-Ajlouni, Ms. Naila Younis, Director General of Training, Ms. Duaa Al-Khayat, Legal Assistant of the Palestinian Judicial Institute, Ms. Nisreen Al-Barghouthi, Director of the Information Resources Department, and other PJI staff. ...

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ELCJHL Congregations Celebrate Thanksgiving

Today was Thanksgiving Sunday for many of our ELCJHL congregations. Despite the suffering of the last year and the current situation in the Holy Land, congregations came together this weekend to give thanks to God for all he provides. As the season of many important harvests begins we pray that the coming year will be one of abundance and peace.   ...

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Bird Week at the Environmental Education Center

This week is the 24th National Bird Watching Week in Palestine! The Environmental Education Center has been hosting programming to mark this important week for conservation. On Tuesday, programming kicked off with a visit from Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar to the EEC and Talitha Kumi. The event was attended by the Director of the Office of Environmental Quality in Bethlehem, Talib Hamid, EEC Director Simon Awad, the principals of the Lutheran Schools, and many students and teachers from Dar al Kalima, Talitha Kumi, and ELS Beit Sahour. During his remarks, Bishop Azar said this we...

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ELCJHL Pastors Attend the Ordination of Saleem Kasabreh

Today Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar, Rev. Sally Azar, Rev. Ashraf Tannous, and Rev. Rodny Said participated in the ordination of Saleem Kasabreh to the sacred order of Deacons with our partners at Saint George's Anglican Cathedral. Congratulations to Rev. Saleem!...

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Diaconal Center Renovations Completed

Renovations on the Diaconal Center in Beit Jala were completed this month. These updates have made the center more accessible to elderly and disabled members of our community, and we are excited about the opportunities they give us to expand the mission of the Diaconal Ministry!...

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Education Staff Participate in Empowerment Activities

Today teachers at the Evangelical Lutheran School in Beit Sahour participated in psychological relief and empowerment activities organized by the ELCJHL Education Department. Reflection and self-care activities like these in a group setting play an important role in alleviating the pressures and stresses teachers face, which have been amplified by the difficult situation of the last year. This helps improve the educational environment for teachers and students alike!   Thank you to our wonderful presenters from Wings of Hope in Bethlehem. Teachers from all the Lutheran schools w...

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Diaconal Center Renovations Begin

If you read our summer newsletter, you may have seen exciting changes happening at our Diaconal Center! Renovations are underway in the hallway, bathrooms, and kitchen sections of the center. These updates are primarily to make the center more accessible for elderly and disabled community members. Adapting the building to be more accessible will allow us to offer services and support to more people from the community, and make the Diaconal Center a more welcoming place for all. We hope to complete the project this fall....

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New School Year Begins

Today was the first day of school for the Evangelical Lutheran Schools! Students, teachers, and staff across the West Bank began classes for the 2024-2025 school year this morning. Please join us in our prayers for a safe and fruitful year of learning and growing together. In this difficult time in the Holy Land, access to education is more important than ever for children to build a strong future.    The teachers and students of Gaza are on our minds and in our hearts today as they are unable to start the new school year. We keep up our prayers for a ceasefire and for thei...

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Teachers and Staff at Lutheran Schools Prepare for the New School Year

Teachers and staff are back to work at the Lutheran Schools preparing for students to arrive at the end of August. Last week, staff at Mahaba Nursery and Pre-School participated in a first aid workshop at Augusta Victoria Hospital prior to the first day of operation for the new year. Teachers at the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope in Ramallah had intensive workshop sessions throughout last week, and workshops for Dar Al-Kalima Lutheran School, ELS Beit Sahour and Talitha Kumi began yesterday in Bethlehem. The ELCJHL Education Office organized these strategic trainings to help staff get...

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Gender Justice Team Meets with Sawasya Program

Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar, Rev. Sally Azar, ELCJHL Gender Justice Ministry Director Ranan Issa, and Gender Justice Program Coordinator Shadin Nassar joined Al Hakimat Council representatives Judge Scarlet Bishara and Judge Sumoud Damiri in a meeting with members of the United Nations Development Program’s Sawasya Programme Palestine in Ramallah on Tuesday.   The purpose of the meeting was to discuss current and future partnership opportunities between the Gender Justice Ministry and the Sawasya program as both work to create a more equal and just society for women in Palest...

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ELCJHL Says Goodbye to Aelabouni Family

Today marks the sending of a family very dear to the ELCJHL. Bishop-Elect Dr. Meghan Aelabouni, ELCA MENA Area Director Rev. Gabi Aelabouni, and their three children Ethan, Natalie, and Luke, conclude their five meaningful years of ministry with the ELCJHL today, embarking tomorrow back to the United States where Rev. Dr. Meghan will serve as Bishop of the ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod. Reverends Gabi and Meghan began their time with the ELCJHL as YAGM Co-Coordinators, which was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We were blessed to continue ministry with them as Rev. Gabi stepped into his curre...

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Fourth Annual Gender Justice Conference

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land concluded on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 the activities of its fourth annual conference on “Gender Justice from the Perspective of Citizenship and Religious Perspective” under the slogan “Freedom and Reform,” aimed at promoting discussions on gender justice and equality.The conference was opened by His Eminence Bishop Dr. Sunni Ibrahim Azir, Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, highlights his ongoing support for women's rights and involvement in leadership roles within the chu...

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