It
has been written that 2,000 years ago, a Palestinian Jew named Jesus
began a public social justice ministry which challenged the status quo
of The Temple and Roman Occupying Forces, by turning water into wine to
keep a party going.
In 21st century Palestine the beverage of choice is beer from Taybeh, the last remaining
self-sufficient Christian West Bank village.
In 1947, 20% of the total population of the land we call Holy was Christian, but the Christian Exodus has reduced their numbers to less that 1.3%of the total in 2010.
Researchers predict that unless things change very soon, Holy Land Churches will be nothing more than museums for there will be no Christian community in the Holy Land.
The reasons why the most well educated and consistently
nonviolent members of that society are fleeing in droves include the 42 years of ongoing occupation
and oppression that has resulted in lack of economic opportunities, The Wall
which divides Palestinians from their land, resources, families and holy sites
and the increasing sense of hopelessness that fuels militancy and
fundamentalism within all three branches of Father Abraham's offspring's.
Palestinians have taught me that they laugh at the worst tragedies, or else they would be crying all the time.
Palestinian Christian Maria Khoury, writes from of Taybeh: where they produce Holy
Land olive oil and beer, but 50% of the people of
Taybeh are unemployed. It is Maria Khoury's faith that sustains her
sense of humor and fuels her love for her homeland and people.
Maria is organizing the 6th Annual Taybeh Oktoberfest, as a means to demonstrate peaceful resistance and non-violent actions. She emailed me the following invitation to the world.
Dr. Maria Khoury at St. George Church
God's Humor in Promoting Taybeh
By Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D.
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