Matching Holiday Gift Appeal
Dear Friends,
 
A shining lamp. The Word becoming flesh. Hanukkah and Christmas each speak of God's dream of freedom and peace. This dream is the gift of the season. But in Jerusalem and the Holy Lands, this dream remains elusive. 

With the recent US recognition of Israeli settlements and the West Bank's likely annexation, the Middle East peace-process has stalled. Whatever the outcome, its growing uncertainties only underscore the urgency of advancing interfaith networks and a shared society in the Holy Lands.  This is the mission of Jerusalem Peacebuilders (JPB).
For eight years, JPB has steadily shared the gifts of opportunity, hope, compassion, and engagement. In 2020, JPB will impact the futures of over 1,000 Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Druze educators, adults and young leaders. Here's how we plan to do it:
  • In Jerusalem and the Holy Lands, JPB will expand into 25 schools and teacher-training programs, including the Municipality of Jerusalem's Shared Learning Initiative, Anglican and Armenian schools, the Israeli Ministry of Education and disadvantaged Palestinian programs.
  • In Houston, JPB will set the pace with the city's premier interfaith youth group, a new groundbreaking course linking top religious schools, and facilitation of an interfaith relations seminar involving 100 Jewish and Muslim business owners.
  • In July and August 2020, JPB will shape civic and educational leaders at our five intensive, interfaith Summer Institutes in Connecticut, Texas, Vermont and England, empowering 125 exceptional teachers and teens to implement peaceful change in the United States and the Holy Lands.
To succeed, we need you to stand with us. Right now a charter-donor is generously pledging to match every gift up to $25,000 that JPB receives before 31 December. Won't you give the Gift of Peace this holiday season by investing in the work of Jerusalem Peacebuilders? Invest today and your gift will be doubled.
A shining lamp. The Word becoming flesh. May these Divine gifts inspire yours. 

Thank you and God bless you,
   
(The Rev. Canon) Nicholas and Dorothy Porter
Co-Founders, Jerusalem Peacebuilders
JPB WELCOMES JERUSALEM DIRECTOR TO TEAM
New position supports surging demand for our programs 
In September, JPB welcomed our new Jerusalem Regional Co-Director, Yardena Prawer, to the team. Yardena comes with an extensive background in peacebuilding, education, and group facilitation. She trained as a teacher with Teach First Israel (Hotam חותם)  and has supported  multiple youth movements.  More recently, Yardena taught at the Ziv and Marks School in Jerusalem. She was also instrumental in establishing a pilot conflict resolution program for the Israeli Ministry of Education. 

ALUMNI REUNIONS HELD IN TEL AVIV
Youth come back together from all four summer programs  
Nitzan and Kim reunite!

In October and November, JPB held two alumni reunions for participants from our 2019 Summer Institutes. Held in central Tel Aviv, the reunions featured a picnic where teens brought food and special recipes from home to share with their friends and staff. In addition to eating and reconnecting, the teens engaged in a dialogue recapping the summer and what they are doing with the learning experience back at home. The reunions are an essential part of our year-round program model. They reinforce learning from the summer and offer teens the opportunity to further their friendships.
HOUSTON PROGRAMS SEE STRONG LAUNCH
In-school and after-school programs being offered
Building upon last year's success, JPB's Jack Karn continues to develop our youth programs across the City of Houston. Currently, we are offering in-school programming at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, ILM Academy, and the Helfman Religious School of Congregation Emanu El. A growing network of faith communities and schools are engaging with JPB's Interfaith Youth Houston (IYH) program, which has organized...

CHECKING IN WITH STAFF ALUM DANIEL ALEGRE
After working with JPB, he uses his voice for peace
We recently caught up with JPB veteran Residential Assistant (RA), Daniel Alegre, who has worked with us for the last three years. Daniel has grown tremendously through his consistent participation and engagement with JPB, leading him to take on leadership roles at his university, travel to the Holy Land for an internship, and even organize JPB alumni for meet ups and social events. Please read on to learn how JPB was the key for Daniel:

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I'm currently living in Waltham, MA studying at Bentley University, and I'm Roman Catholic. My interests involve international politics, which I'm super passionate...

"A ll the experiences that we've had made me feel that there 
is  hope, and now I can see the peace in the future.  I will 
never  forget the friendships I've made, and the  things 
I've learned in JPB. "
.
                                                    - Tal, Summer 2019 Participant 

Please donate securely online or make your donation check payable to 
"Jerusalem Peacebuilders" and send it to the following address:

Jerusalem Peacebuilders, Inc. 
3300 Chimney Rock, Suite 301
Houston, TX 77056 USA 

Jerusalem Peacebuilders (JPB) is a tax-exempt organization per section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is further classified as a public charity. Donations may be made directly to JPB and deducted under Section 170 of the Code. JPB's federal tax identification number (EIN) is 45-2233148.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING  YOUTH PEACEBUILDERS!
     
Because the future of Jerusalem is the future of the world