Spiritual Activism

Over the years, Elias Chacour has gone head-to-head with local politicians, Israeli government officials and even leaders of his church who stood in the way of his vision and his projects to better the lives of his people. He has led marches to Jerusalem protesting treatment of Palestinians, faced down Israeli military, stubbornly continued to re-plant uprooted olive trees and to proceed with construction plans for his school despite government refusals for permits. In February that same priest became the first native Palestinian who is also an Israeli citizen to be named the Melkite Catholic archbishop of Israel.

By Patricia Lynn Morrison

Throughout the U.S., dialogue between American Jews and Muslims is increasing. According to The Jerusalem Report, "Both 9/11 and four years of intifada chilled relations between American Jews and Muslims, which had warmed notably during the Oslo period. Now dialogue is showing new signs of life. 'And as the situation in the Middle East improves-which I think it will do now, please God,' says Rabbi David Rosen, director of Interreligious Affairs for the American Jewish Committee, 'there will be greater willingness on the part of the Jewish community to take more risks.'"

By Allan C. Brownfeld

by Gershon Baskin

Jerusalem - In each generation each [Jewish] person must regard themselves as if they personally were redeemed from Egypt. Abba Eban once said "The redemption of the Jews from Egyptian bondage must be regarded in any serious view of history as one of the authentic points of climax in the progress of mankind. The memory of Israel's first struggle for freedom has inspired and consoled many subsequent movements for national independence. The Exodus is the original and classic episode of national liberation."

That memory and that struggle are retold every year by us to our children so that they will remember that we, too, were slaves in Egypt and today we are free. This Pessah [Passover] season we will once again celebrate our liberation from slavery and our freedom as a nation.

by Peter Ryan
(Photos by Miriam Halsey)

Last year the American comedian Albert Brooks released a movie entitled Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, a title which would seem to suggest that Islamic comedy, at worst, simply doesn't exist and, at best, is extremely difficult to find.

Anyone who shares the belief that "Islamic comedy" is a contradiction in terms obviously missed "A World of Comedy" at the La Mirada Performing Arts Center last Sunday which featured four top-notch stand-up comedians–all Muslim-Americans. Though their job is to make people laugh, all four have also played an important role in diffusing stereotypes about Muslims in front of mostly Christian and secular audiences.

Sunday's event was held to raise money for three Islamic charities: Azeem's Kids, Edhi Foundation and KinderUSA, collecting funds to help children in Palestine, Pakistan and the United States. Hundreds of Muslims gathered to support the charities and devote their afternoon to the enjoyment of family-friendly humor.

"I am officially the most oppressed person in the World," Maysoon Zayid told the crowd, "I'm a Palestinian Muslim with cerebral palsy." Maysoon explained that as an Arab who shakes due to her condition she has trouble at airports–"that chick is nervous!" she says, jokingly quoting airport security. Nor does it help that her Dad, who frequently drops her off, is the splitting image of Saddam Hussein. Racial profiling, particularly at airports, became a theme for all four comedians, helping the audience laugh about what, in reality, must be a source of tremendous frustration: the climate of fear and intolerance facing Arabs and Muslims in the United States.

Azeem Muhammad, an African-American raised in a Christian home, converted to Islam at the age of seventeen. He told the crowd that he continued to keep connections in the Christian community in order to counter stereotypes about Muslims and Islam. Much of his humor centered around his Christian family's inability to understand Islamic customs, including his refusal to eat pork and the Muslim rituals for prayer.

Our hearts are filled with joy today as we heard that Harmeet Singh Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember have been safely released in Baghdad. Christian Peacemaker Teams rejoices with their families and friends at the expectation of their return to their loved ones and community. Together we have endured uncertainty, hope, fear, grief and now joy during the four months since they were abducted in Baghdad.

by Doug Pritchard and Carol Rose (co-directors of Christian Peacemaker Teams)