"This moment in Jerusalem feels heavy in a way that is hard to fully grasp. The Old City stands closed under the Israeli occupation, its narrow streets unusually silent, and for the first time in modern history, both Al Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre have been shut for such a prolonged period. Places that have always been alive with prayer, footsteps, and quiet devotion now feel distant, almost unreachable. For many, it is not just about restricted access, but about a deeper sense of separation from something sacred and rooted in identity. And still, people hold on, to faith, to memory, to the belief that these doors will open again, and that the life and spirit of Jerusalem will return to what it has always been." Palestinian Artist Sliman Mansour

Jerusalem (القدس), oil on canvas, 2010- Sliman Mansour.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWRYoApDR7R/    

sliman.mansour

This moment in Jerusalem feels heavy in a way that is hard to fully grasp. The Old City stands closed under the Israeli occupation, its narrow streets unusually silent, and for the first time in modern history, both Al Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre have been shut for such a prolonged period. Places that have always been alive with prayer, footsteps, and quiet devotion now feel distant, almost unreachable. For many, it is not just about restricted access, but about a deeper sense of separation from something sacred and rooted in identity. And still, people hold on, to faith, to memory, to the belief that these doors will open again, and that the life and spirit of Jerusalem will return to what it has always been.

 

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO see art or read good articles or quotes  IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]

Saint Valentina was from Caesarea of Palestine... The ancient Latin name “Valentina” means “strong, vigorous and healthy.”

Saint Valentina of Caesarea of Palestine 
Died: c.308
Feast Day: July 25
Saint Valentina from Caesarea of Palestine (her name means strong and healthy) died during the reign of the Emperor Maximian II. 

St. Valentina and her spiritual sister St. Thea, would not worship pagan idols, kicking over the pagan fire sacrifice and incense before the altar in protest. 

They were immediately tortured, beaten and finally bound together and burned to death.  

 

February 10th, is St. Valentina the martyr of Palestine

Saint Valentina was from Caesarea of Palestine. She was small and known for wearing old, worn out clothing.

One day, when she was with her friend Thea, they joined a group of Christians gathered to hear the Holy Scriptures. Local officials broke up the meeting, grabbed Thea and tortured her.

Valentina yelled, “How long will you torment my sister?” When the thugs heard her, they grabbed her, too. Valentina was dragged away to be burned on an altar which had already been prepared by the heathens. Kicking the altar with her feet, she knocked it over. Then, Valentina and Thea were tied together and burnt alive.

Saint Valentina’s Christian bond with Saint Thea was so strong that whether or not they were natural sisters, they were spiritual sisters. And, Saint Valentina was not going to let Saint Thea be martyred without her.

The women died for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in 308.

The ancient Latin name “Valentina” means “strong, vigorous and healthy.”

We honor these Holy Virgin Martyrs on February 10 and July 18.  https://thenunsgarden.org/saint-valentina.php

✝️ Hosh Al-Syrian | Bethlehem, Palestine. 🇵🇸 It says in Arabic: “In the month of July, 1883 God is the guardian and the guide, and the house built by the Lord shall not shelter the wicked.”

Hosh Al-Syrian | Bethlehem, Palestine. It says in Arabic: “In the month of July, 1883 God is the guardian and the guide, and the house built by the Lord shall not shelter the wicked.”

"The Christ child still lies among the rubble, reminding us that God chose not safety, not power, not palaces—but vulnerability and solidarity with the crushed of the earth. And yet now, rising from that rubble, stands a tree - a living tree. For me, this is a profoundly Palestinian image—and a profoundly Christian one. The tree is declaration. It is the tree of life. It is defiance in the face of death. It is hope planted where despair is expected to rule. The tree appears almost as if it grows out of the rubble itself. Not beside it. Not after it is cleared away. But from within it. This is our story." Rev. Munther Isaac

Rev. Munther Isaac منذر اسحق

@MuntherIsaac

 

Today I had the chance to visit Christmas Lutheran Church, where I served for more than ten years—eight of them as the main pastor. 

 

Returning to a place that shaped so much of my life and ministry is never an easy experience. It carries memory, prayer and appreciation. 

 

Under the faithful and courageous leadership of my dear friend Rev. Ashraf Tannous, the church made a deliberate and meaningful decision: to keep Christ in the Rubble—but to place it under the Christmas tree. 

 

This old-new crib spoke to me again. 

 

The rubble remains. 

 

The broken stones are still there. 

 

The Christ child still lies among the rubble, reminding us that God chose not safety, not power, not palaces—but vulnerability and solidarity with the crushed of the earth. 

 

And yet now, rising from that rubble, stands a tree - a living tree. 

 

For me, this is a profoundly Palestinian image—and a profoundly Christian one. 

 

The tree is declaration. 

 

It is the tree of life. 

 

It is defiance in the face of death. 

 

It is hope planted where despair is expected to rule. 

 

The tree appears almost as if it grows out of the rubble itself. 

 

Not beside it. Not after it is cleared away. But from within it. This is our story.

 

A cry from the heart and a call to action from a Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian

In this impassioned and incisive book, Munther Isaac challenges Western Christians’ uncritical embrace of Zionist theology and politics. Speaking from his unique vantage point as a prominent Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian, he proclaims a truth that is rarely acknowledged in Christian circles: Israel’s campaign to eliminate the Palestinian people did not begin after October 7, 2023. Rather, the campaign is a continuation of a colonial project with nineteenth-century roots that has, since 1948, established systems of entrenched discrimination and segregation worse than South Africa’s apartheid regime. 

Writing with close-up knowledge of conditions on the ground, and rooted in a commitment to nonviolence and just peace, Isaac argues that support for the State of Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza reflects a failure to apply a properly Christian theological critique to colonialism, racism, and imperialism. He calls on Christians to repent of their complicity in the destruction of the Palestinian people. And he challenges them to realign their beliefs and actions with Christ―who can be found not among perpetrators of violence, but with victims buried under the rubble of war.

AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]

United Nations Geneva: "The greatest danger to our future is apathy. You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.” Let her words of love & faith inspire you every day. Together, let’s honour Jane Goodall’s legacy by working towards a better world. #ActNow

United Nations Geneva

@UNGeneva

"The greatest danger to our future is apathy. You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.” Let her words of love & faith inspire you every day. Together, let’s honour Jane Goodall’s legacy by working towards a better world. #ActNow

Our Sacred Duty

 

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) As Palestinian Christians face relentless attacks — churches destroyed, worshipers displaced — we witness a people whose faith refuses to die. No nation shows the power of resurrection, the depth of hope, and the endurance of love more than Palestine. This is the true meaning of faith. This is the true message of Easter.

 

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)

esoopnrdtSch5c0i90175i7luacm2010lgghglaul03mm0t8u1m20uh686ii  ·

“He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities… and by his bruises we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:5

 

This verse speaks of a suffering servant — one who bears the wounds of injustice to bring peace and healing.

 

Easter isn’t just about resurrection — it’s about resurrection through suffering. And nowhere is that more alive today than in Palestine — the land of Christ’s birth, life, and death.

 

As Palestinian Christians face relentless attacks — churches destroyed, worshipers displaced — we witness a people whose faith refuses to die.

 

No nation shows the power of resurrection, the depth of hope, and the endurance of love more than Palestine.

 

This is the true meaning of faith.

 

This is the true message of Easter.

 

#EasterInPalestine

"For many Palestinians, especially Palestinian Christians, Maundy Thursday is not just a memory of faith but a reminder of their enduring connection to the land where Jesus walked... "

Sliman Mansour's The last supper (العشاء الأخير), oil on canvas, 1994

 

Daoud Kuttab داود كُتّاب

@daoudkuttab

 

Maundy Thursday, the night of the Last Supper, marks a profound moment when Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples in Jerusalem, breaking bread and offering wine as symbols of his body and blood—a gesture of love, sacrifice, and unity. This sacred event, rooted deeply in the land of Palestine, took place among olive trees, stone streets, and communities that still exist today.

 

For many Palestinians, especially Palestinian Christians, Maundy Thursday is not just a memory of faith but a reminder of their enduring connection to the land where Jesus walked. 

 

In a time when access to holy sites is often restricted and daily life is marked by struggle, the Last Supper becomes a symbol of resilience, hospitality, and hope—a sacred moment echoing through centuries of steadfast faith under occupation.

Faith endures: A scene from church today in Gaza - 2025

Faith endures: a scene from church today in Gaza

Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac of Palestine's 2025 book tour USA 'Christ In The Rubble' ... Now more than ever, we need to talk about the American Church's role in what is happening in your country and ours, as we all are waking up to terrible news day after day.

 Munther Isaac منذر اسحق

@MuntherIsaac

Now more than ever, we need to talk about the American Church's role in what is happening in your country and ours, as we all are waking up to terrible news day after day. Here's the full list of upcoming events with Munther Isaac STARTING THIS SUNDAY, with registration links: -- March 23, 2025 (Sunday) – Evanston 9:30-10:30 CDT – First Presbyterian Church 1427 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60201 -- March 24, 2025 (Monday) – Wheaton College 19:00-20:30 CST – Lecture at Wheaton: The Theology of Sumud Barrows, Billy Graham Center, Wheaton College 524 South Washington St., Wheaton, IL -- March 25, 2025 (Tuesday) – South Bend, IN (UND) 17:00-18:30 EDT – Book Series Speaking Event Carey Auditorium, Hesburgh Library, University of Notre Dame -- March 26, 2025 (Wednesday) – Chicago 18:00-19:00 CDT – Chapel Service at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) 4th floor, Catholic Theological Union 5416 S Cornell Ave, Chicago, IL 60615 -- March 27, 2025 (Thursday) – Cambridge, MA (Harvard) 17:15-18:30 EDT – Harvard Divinity School James Room East, 120 Swartz Hall 45 Francis Ave, Cambridge, MA FOR MORE INFO: RPL@HDS.HARVARD.EDU -- March 28, 2025 (Friday) – Boston & Yale Morning Event – Downtown Boston TBD -- March 28, 2025 (Friday)18:00-20:30 – Battell Chapel Yale 400 College St, New Haven, CT 06511 Register Here: https://yaleconnect.yale.edu/ycasa/rsvp_boot?id=2292125

-- March 29, 2025 (Saturday) – Princeton, NJ 14:00-16:00 – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 177 Princeton Hightstown Rd, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550 -- March 30, 2025 (Sunday) – Brooklyn, NY 10:30-11:30 – Mass at Redeemer – St. John's Lutheran Church (Speak after service about book) 939 83rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11228 -- March 30, 2025 (Sunday) 15:00-16:30 – The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10027 Register Here (In-person of streaming): https://trcnyc.org/event/faithamidtheruins/ -- March 31, 2025 (Monday) – Philadelphia 19:00-20:30 – Lenten Conversation alongside Noura Erakat, Shane Claiborne, and Lisa Sharon Harper 20:30-21:00 – Book Signing Reception Arch Street Meeting House, West Room 320 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 -- April 1, 2025 (Tuesday) – Washington, DC 18:00-20:00 – Busboys and Poets – Anacostia 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020 Register Here: https://cmep.org/cmep-events/christ-in-the-rubble-busboys/ -- April 2, 2025 (Wednesday) – Washington, DC 15:00-16:30 – Georgetown Event: Intercultural Center at Georgetown's Main Campus 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC 20057 (Georgetown will provide a registration link) -- April 2, 2025 (Wednesday) 18:30-20:00 – The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church 1313 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005 Register Here: https://cmep.org/cmep-events/christ-in-the-rubble-nyapc/ --- April 4, 2025 (Friday) Minneapolis Exiles in Babylon conference. https://theologyintheraw.com/exiles25/

A cry from the heart and a call to action from a Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian

In this impassioned and incisive book, Munther Isaac challenges mainstream Christians’ uncritical embrace of the modern State of Israel. Speaking from his unique vantage point as a prominent Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian, he proclaims a truth that is rarely acknowledged in Christian circles: Israel’s campaign to eliminate the Palestinian people did not begin after October 7, 2023. Rather, the campaign is a continuation of a colonial project with nineteenth-century roots that has, since 1948, established systems of entrenched discrimination and segregation worse than South Africa’s apartheid regime.
 
Writing from Bethlehem with close-up knowledge of conditions on the ground, and rooted in a commitment to nonviolence and just peace, Isaac urges readers to recognize that support for Zionism’s genocidal project entails a failure to bring a properly Christian theological criticism to bear upon colonialism, racism, and empire. He calls on Christians to repent of their complicity in the destruction of the Palestinian people. And he challenges them to realign their beliefs and actions with Christ—who can be found not among perpetrators of violence, but with victims buried under the rubble of war.

United Nations 🇺🇳 Working for peace, rights and wellbeing since 1945. World Interfaith Harmony Week ... Every single soul matters

United Nations Geneva

@UNGeneva

Working for peace, rights and wellbeing since 1945.

@UNGeneva

Tolerance Mutual respect Pluralist tradition Diversity of religions & beliefs More than ever, we must recognize the valuable contribution of people of all religions & beliefs to Humanity  https://buff.ly/40OhAfY #WorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek

U.N. World Interfaith Harmony Week seeks to spread the message of harmony & peace among followers of all faiths. The Gift of Love.

"I don’t think that God sent us prophets and books of light to fight each other over them. They actually tell us how to live together. " Yusuf/Cat Stevens

Yusuf / Cat Stevens

@YusufCatStevens

I don’t think that God sent us prophets and books of light to fight each other over them. They actually tell us how to live together. #Peace #Religion #Faith #Unity