Day 3: Learning about conflict with two Eliases

When I said I would write the blog for today I had no idea it would be such a challenging day to write about. We met with Father Elias Chacour today at his office in Haifa. Father Elias Chacour is the Archbishop of Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. He is also a noted author and peace activist who promotes reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis. At the age of eight he was evicted, along with his whole village, by the Israeli authorities and became a deportee and a refugee but remained in the region. This is the first day that we have been able to discuss the conflict here in depth with someone from the region. It was a privilege to be able to discuss it with someone as well spoken and educated as Father Chacour.

The discussion was primarily based around questions asked of us, about our conceptions of this country, the conflicts, and why we have come here. Father Chacour's message of peace. His stories of struggle and persecution, stick out for me as an important part of this trip already. Our conversation with Father Chacour lasted two hours and was packed with enough information and personal experience to write several essays on. I feel that one of the most important messages that he tried to leave us with was something like this excerpt from a commencement address at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he said:

"If you are pro-Israel, on behalf of the Palestinian children I call unto you: give further friendship to Israel. They need your friendship. But stop interpreting that friendship as an automatic antipathy against me, the Palestinian who is paying the bill for what others have done against my beloved Jewish brothers and sisters in the Holocaust and Auschwitz and elsewhere. And if you have been enlightened enough to take the side of the Palestinians -- oh, bless your hearts -- take our sides, because for once you will be on the right side, right? But if taking our side would mean to become one-sided against my Jewish brothers and sisters, back up. We do not need such friendship. We need one more common friend. We do not need one more enemy, for God's sake!"

After meeting with Father Chacour we drove to I'billin and the Mar Elias High School, which builds bridges between the different religious communities in the area. We then heard personal stories and experiences from another Elias: the director of Mar Elias Educational Institutions. We returned to Nazzareth Village for a recap and some discussion about what we had experienced that day, and then Linford led us in some historical and scriptural role playing exercises in the synagogue at Nazareth Village.

Some photos from the day:


Members of the group meeting
with Father Chacour

The Baha'i Gardens in Haifa. Aren't we just classic tourists?















That's us singing in the Church of the Sermon on the Mount in I'billin










View of I'billin

Mar Elias High Schooli I'billin

Photos by: Christine Horst and Mike Turman
Text: Stephen Trepanier