Fostering a just peace in Israel and Palestine through education

August 2026

Retaining_Wall_Flyer_3.1_p2.png

We are so close to our goal to build a retaining wall for elementary students - details below

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Hello Friend,


We have been blessed with a very strong response to our effort to raise funds to build a retaining wall to overlook the Mariam Bawardi Elementary School Play Yard. We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of generosity to help with this urgent need!


We received another matching grant of $20,000 — all donations will be doubled to the full $145,000 needed to build the wall.


Can you help reach our goal with your donation today?


You'll find more about that just below in this newsletter. In addition, Archbishop Emeritus Elias Chacour (Abuna) had the opportunity to meet with US Ambassador to Israel Huckabee and he shares his impressions of the man and the meeting in a note to supporters.


If you missed the webinar with Abuna last month, you'll find a link to the recording also below.


Many thanks to you for walking the path of peace and justice for all — may our efforts bring a ray of light into the darkness.


Many blessings,

Essrea Cherin

Executive Director

KEEP THE CHILDREN SAFE CAMPAIGN

Deteriorating open cliff face overlooking the elementary school children's play yard

Well On Our Way


Thanks to many very generous donors, we have raised just over $110,000 to date. And with an additional $20,000 matching grant - every donation will be matched until we get to our goal.


Can you help us secure the eroding rock cliff-face so that we can ensure that Mariam Bawardi Elementary School students can play freely without fear of harm with your donation today?


All donations are welcome - big and small.

The situation is quite urgent and we aim to raise the necessary funds, $145,000, as soon as possible so that construction can begin before the next school year starts in September.


Help protect the children!


Your gift will be doubled!


We appreciate your generosity as we endeavor to provide an exceptional education to youth striving for a future living in peace in their homeland.

Learn more about the project to build a retaining wall

by clicking this button:

ABUNA MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR HUCKABEE

Abuna discovers the human being behind ambassadors and presidents ...

Father Chacour shared a summary of his recent meeting with United States Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee.


Some excerpts from his summary:

I went there with many prejudices, after one hour meeting with the Ambassador I discovered a real human being who is capable to listen...


I ended with inviting the Ambassador to visit the school and to interact with our staff and students. He immediately replied: "I want to come and visit you."


I came back home relaxed and grateful because the man I discovered was much more open-minded than the image I had about him.

Keep the faith alive and never ... go into despair.

WEBINAR RECORDING: CONVERSATION WITH ABUNA

If you missed the webinar Conversation with Abuna Chacour last month, not to worry, we recorded it and you can watch the recording by clicking the button below or image.


Some of the comments we received during and after the webinar:


"Abuna. It is a privilege to sit with you today"

"Great to see you looking well and still fighting the good fight, spreading love to the world. May we all be as bold as you!"


Indeed, Abuna's message was a balm for the heart and inspired us to keep doing the work for peace and justice for all.

MEEI ALUMNI SUCCESS STORY

Mar Elias Alumna Receives

Prestigious Doctoral Excellence Award

 
 

We are happy to congratulate Wajiha Hammoudi, a graduate of Mar Elias Educational Institutions, on receiving the Shivenzon Award for Excellence in Doctoral Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.


Wajiha's doctoral research seeks to uncover the biological and neurological mechanisms underlying Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her work aims to deepen scientific understanding of autism and contribute to the development of more effective diagnostic tools and future treatments.


We celebrate Wajiha's remarkable achievement and wish her continued success as her research advances knowledge and offers hope to countless individuals and families.


LIVING STONES PILGRIMAGE

March/April Living Stones Pilgrimage

December 18 Early Bird Deadline —

$500 Discount

In case you are considering one of the two Living Stones Pilgrimages — it may not have been clear from previous messages but the March-April trip Early Bird Discount is good until December 18 — so you will have plenty of time to watch as the situation in the region continues to unfold and ponder whether this is your time to visit the holy land.

NOTE CARD FUNDRAISER

Your Donations Will Support the Retaining Wall Campaign

Supporter Honor Heindl is offering this set of four note cards (with a line of Palestinian poetry inside) that she designed for any donation of $50 or more.


From Honor:


"I had the privilege of hearing Abuna Elias Chacour speak in Minneapolis during my undergrad studies and have followed Pilgrims of Ibillin and the work they do to foster peace and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel ever since. Abuna Chacour’s books (Blood Brothers + We Belong to the Land) offer a glimpse into what sparked his hunger for justice and planted the seeds that eventually grew into the interfaith Mar Elias K-12 schools. My mom and I planned to visit their educational institutions and partner NGOs in April, but that was unfortunately postponed. So, in an effort to find a way to remind those students and families that they are precious and loved and not forgotten, I would like to raise funds for the crucial work they do.


Through education, Pilgrims of Ibillin and MEEI are challenging the status quo and empowering young minds and hearts with hope, courage, and skills to build a better world. They remind us that compassion is a form of resistance and understanding is another word for love."


Honor will send you a set of cards and a lino print with your $50 or more donation. She will cover the cost of materials while $10 of each donation will go toward postage, the remaining will go to Pilgrims of Ibillin.


Send an email to Honor (click that link to open an email) with your name and shipping address, and she will mail you four 5x7” folded cards with envelopes and an 8x10” lino print. She can accept a venmo, zelle, and apple pay.


Thank you Honor for this creative fundraising idea and

your beautiful art to support an education steeped in peace, justice, reconciliation, forgiveness, respect and dignity for all God's children.

UP-TO-DATE NOTIFICATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FOLLOW PILGRIMS OF IBILLIN

MAKE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

TO GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM PILGRIMS OF IBILLIN

 

Your donations support the ongoing work of

Pilgrims' Peace Partners in fostering a just peace

through education in Israel and Palestine.



Thank you.

Essrea Cherin

Executive Director, Pilgrims of Ibillin

(303) 928-0923

essrea@pilgrimsofibillin.org

www.pilgrimsofibillin.org

View as Webpage