The + Friday + Five: 04.04.25

The Friday + Five* is a brief list of things I have found meaningful, challenging, joyful, soothing, or quirky from the week. Some offerings will have themes, while others will feel like info was assembled by a gaze of raccoons fresh off a night of espresso bingeing. You’ve been warned.

Your Friday Five: 04.03.25

First, the border crossing from Jordan to Palestine/Isreal was uneventful. Whew. Now that I am here, it has been wonderful to see the friends I have made over the past 14 months, meaningful to bond with this first delegation, and heartwrenching, inspiring, and thought-provoking to hear first-person stories from so many folks about life in Palestine.

Here are five things we have seen that I would commend to your learning. For ongoing updates throughout the day, follow me on BlueSky.

1) Nabi Samuel is a Palestinian village just outside Jerusalem, known as the traditional burial site of the Prophet Samuel. Despite its rich history, the village faces harsh restrictions under Israeli control, with residents denied basic rights and freedom of movement. This was yet one more example of a Palestinian community having to deal with house demolitions, a lack of resources from the occupying force, and ongoing abuse by the military and police.

2) War Child is an organization that supports children affected by conflict, helping them access education, protection, and psychological support in war zones around the world. This presentation was real and raw about the realities of the plight of Palestinian children. Heartbreaking. www.warchild.net/country-opt

3) The Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue is an interreligious organization based in Jerusalem that promotes an inclusive society for all religious, ethnic, and national groups. Through education, encounter, research, and consulting, the Rossing Center promotes better relations between Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the Holy Land. SO much great information was shared that informed our understanding of the religious landscape, which impacts culture and politics. www.rossingcenter.org

4) Save the ArQ is a grassroots movement supporting the ongoing efforts to preserve and protect Armenian property in Jerusalem. This was an inspiring "occupy" movement that has seen long-term success with great hope for the future. Follow them on Instagram and donate to their Legal Defense Front.

5) Sabeel's Contemporary Way of the Cross was such an amazing experience. While it was mostly in Arabic, it was profound to walk with our Palestinian siblings, carrying a cross and stopping for prayer through the alleyways of The Old City of Jerusalem surrounded by people of various faiths. Learn more about the Way of the Cross.

Here is a quick video from the walk.

It is not too late to support the fundraising efforts of both delegations, here are the links for you to give to the Delegation as a whole or individual members.

• DONATE to "Grassroots Partners in Justice: A Delegation for Organizational Leaders"
• DONATE to "Walking in Faith: A Palestinian Pilgrimage to the Empty Tomb"

From the Camera Roll: Our delegation is not just about hearing stories of struggle but also about seeing the beauty of the land, experiencing the culture of people, and building community amongst ourselves. Here we are on a break, drinking some of THE best coffee we have ever had.

*The Original Friday Five was a weekly-ish post from my 2010s SF Gate’s City Brights blog. If you stumble across anything that you think would fit, please feel free to drop me a note.

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