Centuries-old art tradition resurrected in Holy Land: Bethlehem institute trains Palestinian Christians to produce fine religious iconography, not mass-produced souvenirs

"We want to push the standing of iconography in the Holy Land to the very highest level so this becomes a world center for [the art]." Ian Knowles, director, Bethlehem Icon Center

A Palestinian student at the Bethlehem Icon Center practices drawing and painting an icon of the face of Christ, also known as a mandylion.

  [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/1/16/religious-iconographyresurrectedinholyland.html

 

January 16, 2015 5:00AM ET

by Dalia Hatuqa

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — In an old stone home on Star Street — believed to be the route taken by Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem — a small group of students are practicing to draw and paint an icon of the face of Christ, also known as a mandylion.

The young amateur artists — four women and a man — work diligently, tracing figures on their easels. First comes a large oval, with a line bisecting it, then some shading depicting a swath of hair, but it is only when the eyes begin to take shape that the face becomes familiar.

The Bethlehem Icon Center, the brainchild of Ian Knowles, a 52-year-old British iconographer, is the first institute of its kind in the Palestinian territories to offer intricate knowledge of this ancient craft.

The center has come a long way from its humble beginnings. What started out as a class at a space provided by Bethlehem University soon became a multiroom institute that would help bring the centuries-old tradition back to the Holy Land, specifically to...READ MORE

 

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(A Christmas poem... in Growing Gardens for Palestine: Star Street Bethlehem Palestine 2014)

My letter to the NYTimes RE An Islamic Reformer, Lashed by Nicholas Kristof

RE An Islamic Reformer, Lashed by Nicholas Kristof
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/15/opinion/nicholas-kristof-an-islamic-reformer-lashed.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

Dear Editor,

It is horrifically tragic that the Saudi blogger, Raif Badawi, is being punitively punished - 10 years in prison, and 1,000 lashes for “insulting Islam.” FYI Badawi was also fined 1 million Saudi riyals (about $315,000 Canadian) and banned from traveling outside Saudi Arabia for 10 years after his release... all for a blog. 

Saudi Arabia is only one of many governments in today's world that legitimize and empower religious fundamentalism and intolerance rather than legitimizing and empowering the rule of fair and just laws- and governments aren't the only problem: If Obama had been in Paris with all the other world leaders in the Anti-Terrorism March, cynics worldwide with many different motives would have found reasons to condemn him for that. 

Our free speech here in the West gives a podium as well as ammunition to petty tyrants and hate mongers here and there, with petty tyrants and hate mongers spinning stories and campaigns aimed at generating hostilities rather than inspiring compassion and empathy for "others", whether that "other" is a leader, or a follower, an individual or a government or a religion.

Focusing in on ending the Israel-Palestine conflict with a fair and just, carefully negotiated fully secular two state solution ASAP would go a long way towards curbing the rise of religious extremism, sectarian strife, tyranny... and terrorism... worldwide. Yes there is a chance that Palestine will become a failed state run by apologists for Hamas and Islamic Jihad (thereby handing Israel an excuse to wage all out war, creating more hostility and despair with an even bigger refugee crisis- or worse the slaughter of countless men, women and children)...  BUT there is also a chance, a very good chance that Palestinians and their supporters worldwide will elect to empower dignity, decency, real freedom and a better future with the time tested idea that religion should be a personal private matter, not a requirement for citizenship rights or a tax payer funded mandate. 

The modern reality of Israel's Netanyahu and Palestine's Abbas walking with other world leaders in the recent anti-terrorism march “of defiance and sorrow” in Paris and the calm wise words of positive role models and heroes such as Lassana Bathily who points out that "We are brothers. It's not a question of Jews, of Christians or of Muslims. We're all in the same boat, we have to help each other to get out of this crisis..."  are obvious proof that there is hope.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

NOTES
To honor a tragic history, we must work for peace : "The only way to honor our tragic histories is to create a future for our children free of man-made tragedy. This means making peace fully, completely and without reservation, between Israel and Palestine." Ziad Asali

Why Islam Does (Not) Ban Images of the Prophet

Tout Est Pardonné: Charlie Hebdo's latest cover isn't objectionable; it's brave and touching

Supporters fear Saudi blogger will not survive weekly public flogging

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were among the leaders attending

Jordan Times: AMMAN/PARIS — Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on Sunday participated in a march “of defiance and sorrow” in Paris to pay tribute to victims of terrorism in France.

Worldwide marches in solidarity with France... "Live Together Free, Equal, and United"

Up to a million flood streets of Paris to defy Islamist terror

"We are brothers. It's not a question of Jews, of Christians or of Muslims. We're all in the same boat, we have to help each other to get out of this crisis." Lassana Bathily

Lassana Bathily, Muslim Employee At Kosher Market, Saved Several People During Paris Hostage Situation

#JeSuixAhmed

#JeSuisCharlie

Hamas confirmed on Sunday that it has banned a visit by Palestinian orphans from the Gaza Strip to Israel because it was in the context of “normalization” with Israelis.

During World War II, the Allies adopted the Four Freedoms—freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from fear, and freedom from want—as their basic war aims.... The United Nations Charter "reaffirmed faith in fundamental human rights, and dignity and worth of the human person" and committed all member states to promote "universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion".

A Christmas poem... in Growing Gardens for Palestine: Star Street Bethlehem Palestine 2014

14 beautiful synagogues that were restored by Muslims

14 beautiful synagogues that were restored by Muslims - See more at: http://www.judaism-islam.com/14-beautiful-synagogues-that-were-restored-by-muslims/#sthash.GLFqhubx.r35jG59P.dpuf

US general rebrands Isis 'Daesh' after requests from regional partners

A Palestinian’s journey from stone-throwing to conflict resolution

“The United States casts its lot with the problem solvers, the healers, and the builders,”  US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman in a September speech, quoted by CSM in their recent editorial

Kerry heads to talks on Palestinian statehood bid: "There are a lot of different folks pushing in different directions out there, and the question is can we all pull in the same direction," Kerry said Friday, when asked about his meeting with Netanyahu."

Jordan's King: World must stand up to radicals

What Will Israel Become?

STAY CONNECTED... Given the U.S. commitment to religious freedom, and to the international covenants that guarantee it as the inalienable right of every human being, the United States seeks to: Promote freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries

"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?

Palestinian Refugees (1948-NOW) refused their right to return... and their right to live in peace free from religious bigotry and injustice.

The Golden Rule... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

... Ibrahim's Estate... The Promised Land: In Celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights & Peace Day

Tala Haikal: Empathy Is Essential to Humanity

Hussein Ibish: Non-violent resistance is Palestine’s most powerful weapon

ATFP Calls for De-Escalation between Israel and the Palestinians

 “Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.” Khalil Gibran (1883-1931), born in Lebanon, immigrated to the United States in 1895 where he grew up to become a beloved poet and respected writer.

"There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies" Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 – 1968) American minister, humanitarian and social activist- a cherished leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, whose inspiring words continue to influence and empower diplomatic efforts to bring more justice, more security, more peace and more jobs to more people, every one and every where.

Jordan Times: AMMAN/PARIS — Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on Sunday participated in a march “of defiance and sorrow” in Paris to pay tribute to victims of terrorism in France.

Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania take part in a rally of defiance and sorrow to honour the 17 victims of three days of bloodshed in Paris that left France on alert for more violence in Paris on Sunday (Reuters photo)

King, Queen take part in Paris ‘defiance and sorrow march’

"... In a Facebook post, Queen Rania wrote that she was joining the King ”to stand in solidarity with the people of France in their darkest hour... To stand in unity against extremism in all its forms and to stand up for our cherished faith, Islam. And so that the lasting image of these terrible events is an unprecedented outpouring of sympathy and support between people of all faiths and cultures.”

As a Muslim, she added, “it pains me when someone derides Islam and my religious beliefs. It also pains me when someone derides other religions and other people’s religious beliefs. But what offends me more, much more, are the actions of the criminals who, this week, dared to use Islam to justify the cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians. This is not about Islam or being offended by Charlie Hebdo magazine. This is about a handful of extremists who wanted to slaughter people for any reason and at any cost”. 

Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and mercy, the Queen wrote. “It is a source of comfort and strength for more than 1.6 billion Muslims — the same people who are shocked, saddened and appalled by the events in Paris this week”..."

Worldwide marches in solidarity with France... "Live Together Free, Equal, and United""

Palestinian security forces wave Palestinian and French flags in solidarity with French people, denouncing terrorism, as they join a rally in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

French residents in Japan, their family and Japanese hold "Je suis Charlie, or I am Charlie" signs as they attend a special memorial gathering under a French national flag tied with a black ribbon at the French Institute in Tokyo Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015 in support of the victims who were shot by terrorists at the Charlie Hebdo satirical journal in Paris last week. More than 200 people gathered to decry the terrorism in which 17 people and three al-Qaida-inspired gunmen were killed over three days of bloodshed at the offices of the newspaper, a kosher supermarket and other sites around Paris. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

In response to the Charlie Hebdo shootings that killed 12 people in Paris on Wednesday, more than a hundred people, many with ties to France, gathered at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. bringing their own artwork and chanting ‘Je Suis Charlie' meaning 'I am Charlie.'

A man holds a giant pencil as he takes part in a Hundreds of thousands of French citizens solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris January 11, 2015. (REUTERS/Stephane Mahe)

A protester holds up a pen as thousands of Montrealers march to the French Consulate, in tribute to the victims of the shootings by gunmen at the offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, in downtown Montreal, January 11, 2015. French citizens will be joined by dozens of foreign leaders, among them Arab and Muslim representatives, in a march on Sunday in an unprecedented tribute to this week's victims, including journalists and policemen, following the shootings by gunmen at the offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the killing of a police woman in Montrouge, and the hostage taking at a kosher supermarket at the Porte de Vincennes. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (CANADA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST CRIME LAW POLITICS)

NAR010. Munich (Germany), 11/01/2015.- A pen with the message 'Je suis Charlie' (I am Charlie) is held in front of a french flag during soft snowfall in Munich, Germany, 11 January 2015. According to police statements, about 3000 people gathered to commemorate the victims of an attack on the French satirical magazine 'Charlie Hebdo'. Three days of terror that ended on 10 January saw 17 people killed in attacks that began with gunmen invading French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and continued with the shooting of a policewoman and the siege of a Jewish supermarket. (Atentado, Francia, Alemania) EFE/EPA/NICOLAS ARMER

A participant holds up a poster reading 'Berlin ist Charlie' during a rally in tribute to the 17 people killed in the terror attacks in France at the Pariser Platz in Berlin on January 11, 2015 (AFP Photo/John MacDougall)

A French-Israeli dual national lights a candle, around the names of French Jews killed in an attack on a supermarket in Paris, during a remembrance ceremony in the coastal city of Netanya on January 11, 2015 (AFP Photo/Jack Guez)

A man holds a placard made using pencils reading "I Am Charlie" during a show of solidarity outside the French Institute in Barcelona on January 11, 2015 (AFP Photo/Josep Lago)

Turkish journalists and French people hold pencils on Istiklal avenue during a rally organised by Turkish journalists for Paris attacks on Istiklal avenue on January 11, 2015, in Istanbul (AFP Photo/Bulent Kilic)

Hundreds of thousands of French citizens take part in a solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris January 11, 2015. French citizens will be joined by dozens of foreign leaders, among them Arab and Muslim representatives, in a march on Sunday in an unprecedented tribute to this week's victims following the shootings by gunmen at the offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the killing of a police woman in Montrouge, and the hostage taking at a kosher supermarket at the Porte de Vincennes. (REUTERS/Charles Platiau)

Two women embrace under a banner that reads, "Not Islamophobia and jihadism" during a rally by members of the Muslim community of Madrid outside Madrid's Atocha train station, January 11, 2015, in solidarity with the victims of a shooting by gunmen at the Paris offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, and against Islamophobia. (REUTERS/Juan Medina)

A girl holds up a sign during a rally by members of the Muslim community of Madrid outside Madrid's Atocha train station, January 11, 2015, in solidarity with the victims of a shooting by gunmen at the Paris offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, and against Islamophobia. The words on the birds read, "Peace, Respect, Love, Tolerance and Coexistence". (REUTERS/Juan Medina)

Israelis, mostly French Jews, hold signs that read, "I am Charlie," "Israel is Charlie" and "I am a Jew of France" during a gathering in the municipality in Jerusalem, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the bodies of French Jews killed in a hostage standoff in a Paris grocery store will be buried in Israel. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

People holding a poster reading "Quick more democracy everywhere against barbarism" take part in a solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris January 11, 2015. French citizens will be joined by dozens of foreign leaders, among them Arab and Muslim representatives, in a march on Sunday in an unprecedented tribute to this week's victims following the shootings by gunmen at the offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the killing of a police woman in Montrouge, and the hostage taking at a kosher supermarket at the Porte de Vincennes. (REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal)

Egyptian journalists hold pens in a show of solidarity with the victims of Wednesday's attack in Paris on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper, at the Press Syndicate in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. The attack on the French satirical newspaper has caused grief and soul-searching around the world, and exposed the risks humorists can run in an era of instant global communications and starkly opposed ideologies. Despite the show of solidarity, some fear the violence will lead to self-censorship by artists and publishers. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi. Image via Facebook....Saudi Arabia is remaining silent in the face of global outrage at the public flogging of the jailed blogger Raif Badawi, who received the first 50 of 1,000 lashes on Friday, part of his punishment for running a liberal website devoted to freedom of speech in the conservative kingdom.
Anger at the flogging – carried out as the world watched the bloody denouement of the Charlie Hebdo and Jewish supermarket jihadi killings in Paris – focused on a country that is a strategic ally, oil supplier and lucrative market for the US, Britain and other western countries but does not tolerate criticism at home.
Badawi was shown on a YouTube video being beaten in a square outside a mosque in Jeddah.

Supporters fear Saudi blogger will not survive weekly public flogging

Terad Badawi holds a picture of his father, Raif Badawi. Raif Badawi, a blogger and activist who has a wife and three children in Sherbrooke, underwent the first round of 50 lashes in public after morning prayers Friday, January 9, 2014, in Saudi Arabia, human rights group Amnesty International said. Badawi was arrested in 2012.
 In addition to his sentence of 1,000 lashes in public and 10 years in prison, Badawi was fined 1 million Saudi riyals (about $315,000 Canadian) and banned from travelling outside Saudi Arabia for 10 years after his release.

 A man holds up a giant pencil during a march for the victims of the shootings by gunmen at the offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, in Brussels January 11, 2015. (REUTERS/Francois Lenoir)

People watch from their roof-top apartment as some thousands of people gather at Republique square in Paris, France, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. Thousands of people began filling Franceâs iconic Republique plaza, and world leaders converged on Paris in a rally of defiance and sorrow on Sunday to honor the 17 victims of three days of bloodshed that left France on alert for more violence. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) 

People gather at Place de la Nation during a rally in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. Hundreds of thousands gathered Sunday throughout Paris and cities around the world, to show unity and defiance in the face of terrorism that killed 17 people in Franceâs bleakest moment in half a century. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

French President Francois Hollande is surrounded by head of states including (first row,LtoR) European Commission President European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as they attend the solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris January 11, 2015. French citizens will be joined by dozens of foreign leaders, among them Arab and Muslim representatives, in a march on Sunday in an unprecedented tribute to this week's victims following the shootings by gunmen at the offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the killing of a police woman in Montrouge, and the hostage taking at a kosher supermarket at the Porte de Vincennes. (REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer)

People gather on the Place de la Republique in Paris for a unity rally in tribute to the 17 victims of a three-day killing spree. (Bertrand Guay / AFP / Getty Images)

Up to a million flood streets of Paris to defy Islamist terror

Dozens of world leaders are converging on Paris to rally with the French against terror

The scale of Paris' unity demonstration poses a mammoth security challenge

 

JANUARY 11, 2015

Up to a million people filled the boulevards and avenues of central Paris Sunday, walking arm-in-arm in a dramatic procession of national unity in the wake of terrorist attacks that killed 17 people last week.

More than 50 world leaders led the procession, walking at the head of a march that was intended to begin at Place de la Republique, but which quickly became so large it nearly paralyzed much of the central city....READ MORE

"We are brothers. It's not a question of Jews, of Christians or of Muslims. We're all in the same boat, we have to help each other to get out of this crisis." Lassana Bathily

Lassana Bathily, Muslim Employee At Kosher Market, Saved Several People During Paris Hostage Situation

In an interview with the French channel BFMTV, Mr. Bathily said he ushered about 15 people into the basement room after the gunman burst into the shop. He then turned off the power and the lights.

“We were locked in there,” he said. “I told them to calm down, not make any noise, or else if he hears that we’re there, he can come down and kill us.”

Muslim Employee of Kosher Market in Paris Praised for Hiding Customers From Gunman

As news of his heroics spread on Saturday, there were numerous calls on social networks to reward him for his bravery with either the Legion of Honor, France’s highest award, or French citizenship.

Some observers also connected his actions to the hashtag used to praise Ahmed Merabet, a Muslim police officer killed on Wednesday by the gunmen who launched the deadly attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical weekly.

#JeSuixAhmed

#JeSuisAhmed: a crucial message that everyone should hear

A memorial to Ahmed Merabet, one of two police officers killed in the Charlie Hebdo massacre ( Marc Piasecki/Getty Images)

 The hashtag is also a reminder that the victims of Islamist terrorists are primarily Muslim

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Terrorist acts not cartoons provoke Islamophobia.... "It is not obnoxious and freewheeling satire but terrorist atrocities that really and devastatingly promote Islamophobia in France and around the world." Hussein Ibish, PhD
Senior Fellow
ATFP
http://www.americantaskforce.org/