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by Mary Smarr, JH for Justice, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta
Growing deep and wide
In April 2011, the Joining Hands for Justice Committee became one of six Partnerships with the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, in keeping with its new organizational structure. We continue to increase in the number of churches represented in the Partnership, as we continue to support our Palestinian Partners in their struggle against hunger and the illegal Israeli occupation.
A three-day festival
On April 1-3, 2011, the American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights (AAPER) sponsored a film festival in Atlanta at the Clara Theatre on the campus of GA Institute of Technology. The Joining Hands for Justice Partnership participated in advertising the festival to the church community.
The event opened on Friday evening with keynote speaker Norman Finkelstein, who addressed an overflow crowd. Finkelstein has written and spoken extensively on Israel/Palestine, and is currently an independent scholar, having taught at Princeton for a number of years. Five films were shown during the three-day festival, including With God on Our Side, which examines the theology of Zionism, and One Family in Gaza, a film that challenges the depiction of Palestinians as violent terrorists or helpless victims. This is an educational activity which we plan to continue to support.
Joining Hands for Justice Training in congregations
The JHFJ Partnership has taken on the challenge of providing opportunities to churches in the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and NE Presbytery to receive 1 to 7 hours of training for their congregations on Israel/Palestine, using the Presbyterian resource, Steadfast Hope.
Joining Hands for Justice Training |
Twenty two individuals were trained for consistency in the use of the document by Reverend Tom Are, who has used the resource with several groups in north GA, and has had very positive results. Trainers will go into churches starting in June 2011, when two churches have schedule their Study sessions, and they will continue through the 2011-2012 church year.
Palestine partners receive support from Pal Craftaid
Founded by the Rev. Elizabeth Knott and rooted in the Peace and Justice work of the PC(USA) since 1993, Pal Craftaid* is an all volunteer, non-profit ministry of compassion, hope and healing for Palestinians. By purchasing skillfully wrought olivewood and embroidered handicrafts you help Pal Craftaid provide much needed income to artisans who carry on the handicraft skills of their people in the face of an oppressive military occupation. Pal Craftaid supports families, schools, elderly groups and community cooperatives in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
Following action at the annual April board meeting of Pal Craftaid, a Jerusalem-based organization that cares for the elderly was targeted for specific Pal Craftaid fund-raising the coming year, and $10,000 in revenue was dispersed among Palestinian partner groups.
ATTA (Aid to the Aging) began in 1990 to support elderly Palestinians in a community-based way. Doctors, nurses, social workers and community workers collaborate to provide not only medical help, but social support and services, such as hot meals, coordinated shopping trips and training for neighbor-care programs.
ATTA is headquartered in Jerusalem and has been a Pal Craftaid partner for a number of years. The acronym is drawn from the Arabic word meaning "to give."
The Pal Craftaid Board |
Annual donations to partners are generated through craft sales and donations. The allocations this year are:
- Arab Orthodox Society, $900 (This is used as support for three families)
- ATTA, $4000
- Sabeel, Women's Program, $500
- Sabeel, Youth Program, $500
- Rawdat School, $700
- Atfaluna, $1000
- YWCA Ramallah, Jericho and Jerusalem, $800 each
*Former Hunger Action Enabler of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, Sarah Humphrey, is a founding member of the Joining Hands for Justice Partnership. As staff she has worked in support of the Partnership and has led numerous trips to Israel/Palestine. She continues her support of Palestinian partners through JHFJ and as board member of Pal Craftaid. Also Alexa Smith, Joining Hands Associate of the Presbyterian Hunger Program, is a Pal Craftaid Boardmember.