Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies

Nativity Trail 2012
ImageNow, 2000 years later, the modern-day city of Bethlehem – home of the Millennium – invites you to make a symbolic and historic journey commemorating that event by walking Palestine’s Nativity Trail.
The carefully researched route-a 11-day journey is the first leg of the new Palestine Trail.
Meeting the People Walking the Nativity Trail will be an opportunity to meet a diverse range of people: Franciscan priests on Mount Tabor, Muslim clerics at village mosques, Greek Orthodox monks in desert monasteries, hillside farmers and their families, small-town shopkeepers and craftspeople, Bedouin shepherds watering their flocks at ancient cisterns, and many more interesting people.
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Environment and Occupation Trip 2012
ImageThis important delegation will examine the affects that Israeli occupation has on the Environment of the Palestinian Territories and thus the livelihood of Palestinians. The group will explore the issues of Freedom of Access to water and Sanitation in the West Bank, the impact of the on going occupation on the Eco System in the Jordan valley and the issues of deforestation in relation to Israeli practices and the on going drought that has plagued the Middle East for five years now.   The trip will also delve into the relation between the Israeli settlements, and pollution in the West Bank in addition to the free access of building Sanitation networks.
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Inter-religious and Inter-cultural Explorations of the Holy Land 2012
ImageParticipants in this tour will explore the religious diversity and cultural richness of Israel and Palestine. We will investigate holy sites, listen to devotees, observe religious practices, delve into group beliefs and values, and ponder the religious experiences of the peoples of Israel and Palestine. Special attention will be given to the diversity of Jewish life, the vibrancy of Islam, and a selection of the indigenous Christian communities of Israel and Palestine. How have such lusciously flowered religions survived, adapted, and blossomed in the ‘desert’?
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The Palestinian Summer Celebration 2012
Come and celebrate Palestine! The Palestinian Summer Celebration is a unique annual program that gives people from all over the world the chance to encounter the life, culture, and politics of Palestine. Learn Arabic and study Palestinian history at Bethlehem University, spend time with local families and volunteer with a community organization.
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