WINTER 2005

Dear Friends,

Glory to God in the highest and on earth be peace" was the song of the angels over two thousand years ago. This message is repeated over and over again during the Christmas seasons. We cannot help but pause to think just how much is there left of this peace in the land where it was first announced. We look around us and we see nothing but violence, hatred, greed, and barriers, turning Bethlehem, the birth of Christianity into a large prison. Bethlehem has always been closely connected to Jerusalem, because of what they both mean to the Christian world. They are like twin cities. Now there are borders between them. What is going on in this part of the world is incredibly outrageous. We need to pray for a miracle. 

Christmas at Al-Shurooq School

For our children, the Christmas season is the happiest time of the year. I am always amazed at the excitement and joy it brings to them. They love singing Christmas carols and have memorized quite a few with much pleasure. Their latest carol is "We Three Kings of Orient" which they enjoy acting. Three girls dress as wise men and sing their parts quite well. Two other children dress as Joseph and Mary and are there to receive the gifts. This was first performed at the YMCA's Christmas party, the highlight of all parties.

By the end of the season, they will have had about four more visits from Santa. Most likely this is what makes the season so special for them. 

The Moslem community usually joins the Christians in their celebrations. As a matter-of-fact, the 25^th of December was observed as a national holiday and all government offices were closed.

The school's Christmas party was held on December the 29^th, with the presence of a few friends, whose participation adds a great deal of pleasure to our children. 

Visit to Bahrain

It was towards the middle of November that Samira and Helen traveled to Bahrain to attend a regional conference for Rehabilitation International. The purpose of Helen's visit was to make contact with people in the Arab world, the gulf countries in particular. 

Nevertheless, the visit provided Helen with a marvelous opportunity to meet again two of her old friends, whom she hadn't met since the early seventies of the last century!!! Eva came down to see her from Kuwait, and Nellie, an old school friend married in Bahrain for many years. Helen visited Nellie at her home, for she had been bed ridden for the last fifteen years. Sadly Nellie has passed away since, and Helen is glad to have visited her. 

Hard work

Parallel with the great fun and hilarities, the older children are currently engaged with their mid-year exam. The last day of term is January the 5^th, when hopefully they will all go home for a fortnight including the children from Gaza. Arrangements have already been made for them to go with the help of the International Red Cross. It is always a great deal for those three children to go home to the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza, as they only get the chance to go home twice a year. 

The Moderator's Visit

In early November, Al-Shurooq School for Blind Children was honoured and delighted by the visit of the Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland, Rt. Rev. David Lacy and his wife Joan. Their visit coincided with the feast of Ramadan, when all the children had gone home except for the three from Gaza, who sang and entertained our guests wonderfully. We were very touched by their visit and hope to see them again soon, preferably under better circumstances.

Library and Braille Unit

In the library branch of East Jerusalem, the staff is busily engaged in producing many copies of the Holy Quran for our clients. Throughout 2005, we managed to produce 805 volumes and give out 482 volumes on loan. Also we gave out 23 Perkins Braillers on loan.

Building Fund

The Society has started a building fund to support the construction of the new premises. We thank all of you who have already contributed generously towards it. Hopefully, we will soon start building the water cistern. Due to water shortage problems in the region and especially during summer, it is highly advisable for every household in Palestine to have its own water cistern. The cost estimate for the construction of a water cistern size 7.0x3.0x4.0 metres would be 13,266.00 US Dollars.

The Reallocation of Olive Trees

Although we haven't been successful at finding a donor institute to help with the construction of the new premises, we thought it would be best to start preparing the site towards mid February 2006, especially that eight ancient Roman olive trees are to be uprooted. The trees will be replanted at the same site in a different location, away from the building itself. Once replanted, they will become part of the beautiful landscape again. 

As some of you know we raised funds for the reallocation of the trees and would like to extend our warm and sincere gratitude to all the friends who have responded so generously to the appeal made by the Minister of St. Andrew's Church Jerusalem on our behalf.

According to agricultural experts, reallocating trees has to take place towards mid February, when the soil is fully saturated with water. Well, the whole of November and the first three weeks in December were unusually hot and dry! Let's hope for an extremely wet January.

We are also making arrangements to get water connected to the land from the mains. The replanted trees would require a great deal of watering during springtime

Stay well, and a Happy New Year to you all.

One of the old Roman olive tress to be reallocated

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