HCEF Welcomes First Presbyterian Church of Boulder, Co. to the Holy Land
May 8, 2018 – HCEF was proud to host 32 pilgrims from the First Presbyterian Church of Boulder, Colorado who completed 12 days of our Living Stones Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Under the leadership of the church’s Pastor of Congregational Care, Dr. Carl Hofmann, the pilgrims traveled to Bethlehem,
Easter Message from HCEF
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Once again it is that glorious Eastertide when hearts and minds of all Christians return to Jerusalem and the Holy Land. It is the time of resurrection when Christian hope marks us all. The terrible events of Good Friday turn miraculously to the triumphant happenings of
HCEF and Wafaa Work Together to Support Women, Youth and Elders
Birzeit, Palestine – On Monday, March 12th, 2018, HCEF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wafaa, a capacity-building and microfinance organization that supports populations facing poverty and injustice. The partnership between HCEF and Wafaa will help HCEF’s Birzeit Social Development and Cultural Center (BSCC) to meet the demand for services
HCEF Poised for a Successful Year of Partnerships in the Holy Land During the visit of HCEF President, Rateb Rabie, KCHS
Bethlehem, Palestine—HCEF President, Rateb Rabie, KCHS, recently completed a two week visit to Palestine, meeting with long-time partners, dignitaries, and local supporters to put in place a plan for bolstering HCEF programming in Bethlehem, Birzeit, and beyond. The plan outlines ways in which HCEF can work collaboratively with local partners
The Christmas that Almost Wasn’t: HCEF Distributes over 450 Christmas Gifts to Children Around Palestine
Read this article in English - lea este artículo en español - إقرأ هذه المقالة باللغة العربية Bethlehem, Palestine—On Saturday, December 23rd, just a day before Christmas Eve, children around Palestine got the thrill of the season, after receiving an extra special visit from Santa with gifts, treats and festivities to
HCEF and BDF/AFBDF Galvanize Support for the City of Bethlehem
Washington, DC – On December 5, 2017, the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) held an event in Washington, DC to help launch a new initiative championed by the Bethlehem Development Foundation (BDF) called the American Friends of Bethlehem Development Foundation (AFBDF). AFBDF is a 501c3 charitable organization that will
Jerusalem: When will the Holy City witness Peace?
President Donald J. Trump’s declaration recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is problematic, to say the least. It is more pragmatic than principled, more political than ideological or religious, and more of a reward to his supporters at home than a wise decision based on a deep appreciation of the history
HCEF Statement on U.S. President Trump’s Unjust Decision on Jerusalem by Rateb Y Rabie, President/CEO
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS CRUCIFYING JERUSALEM, THE HOLY CITY OF PEACE U.S. President Donald J. Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the political capital of the State of Israel. With a stroke of his pen – in one fell swoop of political posturing – he betrayed centuries-old international commitments to a shared
Heads of Local Churches send letter to President Donald Trump regarding status of Jerusalem
JERUSALEM – Please find below the statement that the Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches sent to Mr. Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, in which they talked about the status of the Holy City of Jerusalem.
BSCC Celebrates Local Dheisheh Author, Osama Alayasa
Birzeit, Palestine — On Saturday, November 18th, 2017, BSCC hosted a book release celebration for Mr. Osama Alayasa’s latest novels entitled, The Cat of Bir Sabe and The Flower of Jericho. Mr. Alayasa is a beloved local author from Dheisheh Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, Palestine, who has won many awards
New Art Course at BSCC
Birzeit, Palestine—The Birzeit Social Development and Cultural Center (BSCC), a project of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF), recently launched a new art course for women that seeks to help community members engage their creative spirit while enhancing environmental awareness. The course, which will be offered every Monday, uses
Birzeit Senior Citizens Advocate for Palestinian Heritage
Birzeit, Palestine – On Saturday, November 11th, a group of American pilgrims from Boston, Massachusetts, led by Father John Predmore, visited Birzeit Social Development and Cultural Center (BSCC) as part of their HCEF-organized pilgrimage to the Holy Land. BSCC Elders warmly welcomed the 23 pilgrims, captivating them with their life
Birzeit Social Development and Cultural Center (BSCC): Where the Young at Heart meet the young from Friends School
Birzeit, Palestine – On Monday, September 13th, fourth grade students from the Friends School in Ramallah visited BSCC elders, where the students were treated to an afternoon of singing, dancing, and listening to oral histories of Palestine. With the eldest member of BSCC aged 96, our community elders have a
Palestinian Christians welcomed Boston Pilgrims and Broke Bread with them
Bethlehem, Palestine – On Tuesday November 7th, a group of American pilgrims from Boston, Massachusetts, led by Father John Predmore S. J.,, Chaplain of Boston College High School, arrived in Bethlehem to commence their HCEF-organized pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The 23 pilgrims representing parishes throughout the Boston metropolitan area
HCEF holds another successful educational international symposium, “Jerusalem: The city of Peace for All”
Symposium Report by Carole Monica C. Burnett and Saliba Sarsar The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) held its International Symposium on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at the Jerusalem Fund for Education & Community Development. With the theme of “Jerusalem: The City of Peace for All,” the symposium was emceed