Bonnie McRae, June 16, 2017

2017 is a Significant Year for Palestinians

• 100 years since the Balfour Declaration (1917)—the first official document stating a national home for the Jewish people would be made in the Holy Land
• 70 years since the UN Partition of Palestine (1947)—when the United Nations divided up Palestine to make the state of Israel
• 69 years since the Nakba—“the catastrophe” (1948)—when Palestinians were forcibly removed from their homeland
• 50 years since Al-Naksa/Six Days War (1967)—the beginning of the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights (“Occupied Palestinian territories”)
• 30 years since 1st Intifada (1987)—a movement of Palestinian resistance, for peace and justice
• 10 years since Israel blockade on Gaza (2007)—the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territories has included a complete seal of the Gaza border, keeping over 2 million Palestinians trapped in 141 square miles of land

The list above contains years marked by pain and suffering for Palestinian people. We could dwell solely on this, or we could change the conversation, and recognize all of the ways in which courageous, committed Palestinians in the community have taken responsibility to act for justice over these past years. There is much tragedy in our past, but there are also achievements for peace and justice that deserve celebration.

Changing the Conversation

Bet Lahem Live 2017, To the Roots, will take us back to the roots of the local Palestinian community’s resilience and bravery in the face of oppression. The festival will commemorate the anniversary of these painful years by highlighting the community’s past achievements towards a better future. Stories of local Palestinian determination and resilience give us courage. From these powerful roots, we can receive nourishment to blossom into a better future

“Bet Lahem Live is a place to cultivate the roots of the community’s past achievements, and [from there], to bloom social justice, innovation, acceptance, respect & love.” — Dani Abilas, Festival Communications Manager

Keep Going, Keep Growing

Pain is a powerful teacher. Much of the time, when we let it, our pain teaches us to despair. It teaches our hearts to harden. Often, pain teaches our souls to become bitter consumed with anger—anger at people for how they have hurt us, and anger at God, or at the universe, for the hand we’ve been dealt in life. From our pain, we can learn to hate.

However, if we so choose, we can learn something different from our pain. If we allow our pain to teach us to become stronger, wiser, and more compassionate, we can learn resilience. Our pain can actually teach us how to love, how to persevere and endure through adversity, and how to have hope despite overwhelming obstacles.

The goal of Bet Lahem Live 2017, To the Roots, is to recognize those in the local community who have chosen to learn these lessons of resilience as they work towards peace. The festival will highlight Palestinians who have rejected to despair; they have believed in a better future, and made courageous efforts in the name of peace and justice.

Their courageous efforts are the roots from which the local Palestinian community can grow. From these powerful roots, they receive nourishment to blossom into a better future.

When “Me” Becomes “We”

The more I learn about the complex layers of oppression in this land, the more I believe that the community can only blossom towards change when every single individual takes responsibility to work towards justice. We are each responsible to play a unique role in this path towards peace. Resistance is not the job of a lone-ranger, or great heroic individuals like superheroes of the movies. When unique individuals work together in diverse community, we are capable of affecting change on a greater scale. When we raise one voice, composed of thousands, we become too loud to ignore.

During Bet Lahem Live 2017, people from all over the world will come together, celebrate the past achievements of those in the local community, the roots — and inspire one another to keep growing.