Sabeel sponsors a variety of local and international programs. Through these programs Sabeel seeks to encourage people of faith to develop a spirituality of nonviolent liberation which will empower them to work for justice, peace and reconciliation in Palestine - Israel.
Community Building Program
After four decades of occupation, life in the Palestinian community is difficult. Due to ever increasing limitations on movement and freedom, the community is under a great deal of economic and civic stress. Through the Community Building Program Sabeel seeks to educate the community on the political situation, broaden the community‘s knowledge of work that is already being done to end the conflict, foster a sense of solidarity, strengthen the community‘s capacity to grow spiritually and to address collectively the social realities, and together build a better future for all our children.
Community Building Program Activities:
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Open Forum Meetings: monthly interactive sessions of lectures and panel discussions aimed at developing strategies through Biblical reflection, theological investigation and methods for interpreting the current situation.
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Field Trips: direct experience day trips which include study and reflection, visits to local organizations and discussion on specific contemporary topics to help to reconnect residents of different areas separated by political and geographical borders.
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Co-sponsored Community Workshops: half-day and full-day events for the wider Palestinian community held at various venues and developed jointly with church organizations and/or civil institutions.
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Dialogue for Life: Palestinian Christians life in a predominantly Muslim society. Through open and respectful discussion about diversity and commonalities, the Palestinian community can develop a deeper sense of being one people. In proposing to establish such a dialogue, Sabeel seeks to break down barriers of ignorance and prejudice, to achieve higher levels of understanding, respect and acceptance, and to empower all Palestinians to work together for peace in their homeland.
For more information regarding the Community Building Program, please contact: community@sabeel.org .
Youth Program
The youth of Palestine - Israel are eager to see an end to violence and to become contributing citizens of a respectful pluralistic society. Through the Youth Program Sabeel seeks to provide opportunities for young people from different churches meet and get to know each other, to encourage and support youth in serving their churches and communities, and to educate and empower youth to be future civic and spiritual leaders.
Youth Program Activities:
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Young Adults Program: monthly program for single young adults to discuss relevant issues such as employment, Christian identity, and marriage.
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Youth Program: monthly program for teenagers to discuss family and church issues. Social workers facilitate discussions and assist youth in developing communication and leadership skills.
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Teens and Moms: a program for teenagers and their mothers in which they meet together to discover the other‘s needs and desires, bridging the generation gap through honest dialogue.
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Service Projects: volunteer projects for teenagers to share their time and energy with the underprivileged in the community.
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Summer Camp Leadership Training: a three-day program for young adults to prepare them for working with children in church summer camps.
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Youth Festival: annual festival bringing together young people from the West Bank and Israel for Bible study, discussion, friendship and entertainment.
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Holiday Dinners: ecumenical events held in proximity to major holidays which allow youth to dialogue about the meaning of Christian holy days and to share between various traditions.
For more information on the Youth Program, please contact: youth@sabeel.org .
Women‘s Program
In the face of the current difficult situation, there is an ever growing need for women throughout the region to stand together to face the challenges of the day. Concern for future generations is a powerful motivator for involvement. Through education, partnership and mutual support, women can have great impact on society. Through the Women‘s Program Sabeel seeks to encourage networks of women, foster inclusivity, broaden women‘s knowledge of existing support resources, educate women on their spiritual history and their own powerful role as Christian women, and develop the capacity of womento take on leadership roles.
Women‘s Program Activities:
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Together We Build: day-long networking conferences focusing on the value of Palestinian women and their rights and involvement in decision-making in their homeland.
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Joint Field Trips: day trips bringing together Palestinian and Israeli Arab women for Bible study and reflection, visits to local organizations, and discussion of contemporary topics.
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Moms and Teens: a program for teenagers and their mothers in which they meet together to discover the other‘s needs and desires, bridging the generation gap through honest dialogue.
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Women in Ministry: forums for local women to hear the experiences of women who have played active lay-leadership roles in the church and from international women theologians and ordained ministers.
For more information regarding the Women‘s Program, please contact: community@sabeel.org.
Clergy Program
Palestine is the spiritual home of numerous Christian denominations, but historical and theological differences have often made difficult cooperation between denominations. Through the Clergy Program, Sabeel seeks to nurture unity and mutual support among local clergy, encourage ecumenical thought and action, and deepen theological analysis and servanthood in the face of challenges presented by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the occupation.
Clergy Program Activities:
Monthly Meetings: gathering of Jerusalem and West Bank clergy for Bible study, prayer, dialogue, fellowship and discussion of the current situation.
Field Trips: day-long trips to holy sites for Bible study, prayer and ecumenical discussion of differing traditions and interpretations regarding the site.
Visits to Isolated Communities: visits to communities isolated by the occupation to show solidarity with other priests and bear witness to their struggles.
Annual Retreat: a 2 or 3 day event for ecumenical worship and theological discussion with regard to the conflict and other pressing social issues.
For more information on the Clergy Program, please contact: clergy@sabeel.org
International Program
The current political situation makes it difficult for foreigners to receive accurate information about the current Palestinian reality. When visiting, internationals frequently don‘t have access to direct experiences of Palestinian life. Through the International Program Sabeel seeks to educate the Christian community worldwide about the present reality of Palestinian Christians, provide accurate and timely interpretation of events from a Palestinian Christian perspective, and arrange opportunities for foreigners to meet and know Palestinians.
International Program Activities:
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International Friends of Sabeel (IFOS): regional chapters worldwide to educate international communities and motivate them to action and advocacy.
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Ahlan wa Sahlan: educational program welcoming pilgrims with discussion of the current political and theological situation.
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Cornerstone: quarterly English-language publication for the international Christian population with information on the political situation and commentary from a Christian perspective.
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Contemporary Way of the Cross: printed booklet offering pilgrims a better understanding of the situation on the ground. In half-day or full-day format, pilgrims visit sites of present-day Palestinians facing the occupation, and visitors respond to these situations in prayer using a liturgy developed by Sabeel.
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Study Circle: English-language discussion group for locals and internationals.
For more information regarding the International Program, please contact: world@sabeel.org
Annual Events
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Day of Prayer and Fasting: the Sabeel office opens its doors for a day of biblical reflection, prayer and fasting, followed by an ecumenical worship service in a local church.
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Joint Iftar: a fast-breaking dinner during the month of Ramadan bringing Muslim and Christian community leaders together for fellowship and celebration of the unity of the community.
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Christmas Dinner: Ecumenical community feast to celebration the birth of Jesus.
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Ecumenical Worship Service: prayer service joining people of many Christian traditions in response to local and international issues and events (i.e. the Separation Wall in the West Bank, the 2005 Tsunami in East Asia, etc.).
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Seasonal Lenten and Advent Programs: weekly discussion sessions to connect Biblical themes with the current political context.
