March 18, 2019 – This will be less a Newsletter and more like a short TON update in addition to giving you all a new mailing address (temporary) for donations or other communications. Here is the latest message sent to our Advisory Council Members: March 8, 2019 Dear Friends, It’s been some time since you […]
Dear Friends, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we move on to the coming of Christmas and the ringing in of a New Year 2019. We have much to be thankful for, and among those gifts is the fact that the Tent of Nations still stands as a bright, shining star outside Bethlehem – a […]
On November 16, 2018, Beth (our FOTONNA Tour Coordinator), Daoud and I returned home after an eight-day trip across southern and central Virginia, sharing the story of the Nassar family’s persistent stand in claiming their ancestral lands through a simple message of “refusing to be enemies/loving our neighbor” and doing so through a creative non-violent […]
Friends of Tent of Nations, North America Newsletter – Summer/Fall 2018 – October 3, 2018 Dear Friends, I want to apologize for the long delay in getting news out to you about Tent of Nations. I have been laid up after left hip replacement surgery in mid-July due to the fact that my sciatic nerve […]
Since 1998, undergraduate, graduate and alumni groups from Eastern Mennonite University and Eastern Mennonite Seminary have made the Tent of Nations farm outside of Bethlehem a regular stop on their Middle East trips. Several hundred have visited the Nassar family’s 100 acres in Palestine to plant trees, harvest olives and fruit, and learn about the family’s witness to […]
A Green, Flexible, Temporary Wall Installed on the Land I flew to Palestine on October 3 and returned on October 11 for my regular, annual visit to the Nassar family farm. I was joined by Beth Moore, our Tour Coordinator; we were there to represent Friends of Tent of Nations North America (FOTONNA) at the […]
The Nassar family, Distinguished Guests, Sisters and Brothers, It is a singular honor, joy, and privilege to greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The presence of Archbishop Chacour, a recipient of the World Methodist Peace Award makes this even a more special moment. The Vice-President, Ms Gillian Kingston and […]
FOTONNA/TON Winter 2018 Newsletter Dear Friends, Please check out the following: Daoud will be traveling in Arizona with Beth Moore and Bill Plitt for the Spring 2018 Tour. Here is the schedule of presentations. WE REFUSE TO BE ENEMIES A conversation with Daoud Nassar, Palestinian Christian farmer and Director of Tent of Nations. Located […]
In June, three members of the Franciscan society, a group of related mendicant religious orders within the Catholic Church, founded in 1209 by Saint Francis of Assisi, applied for scholarships to travel to the Holy Land and visit the holy sites there as well to work as volunteers at the Tent of Nations for two-three […]
Tent of Nations Lutheran Palestinian brothers welcome all to family farm Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to shade himself from the early May sun, Daoud Nassar strolls down the dusty path on his family’s 101-year-old hilltop farm. In every direction he looks, he can see the ever-expanding Israeli settlements with their white multistory buildings […]
Suad ________, 49 Where I Am From… I am from the countryside, Close to the manger of Jesus Christ, And the place where Mohammad ascended. I am from the innocent childhood, From the fields of oranges, olives, and za’tar. The birds are singing every morning, From above the olive trees That are holding tight to […]
Dear Friends, VOLUNTEERING: High school students look for gap-year experiences; retired people look for short-term volunteer projects; college students look for international travel experiences for credit or for internships; people between jobs look for something new and different to add to their résumés; many people are searching for meaningful ways to make a difference in […]
Rihab _____, 43 Where I Am From… I am from this big world. From this childhood, deprivation and affection. From a loved, affectionate and faithful family. I am from a warm winter full of heavy rain. From a wonderful summer and shining sun. I am from fear, suppression, anger and fearful voices during the dark […]
Season’s Greetings from the Nassar Family and FOTONNA December 2017 Pine Tree Planted by Beverly Hunter at TON – TON Volunteer; FOTONNA Advisory Council Member In Memoriam – November 2017 December 15, 2017 Dear Friends, Greetings from Bethlehem. It is a very difficult and critical time we are going through these days. Hopelessness and […]
Maitha’ _______, 38 Where I Am From… I am from peace and anxiety, I am from the roar of the waterfall, I am from the tramp of feet on the bridge. On the other side of the bridge, My grandmother was watching; The vineyards, olive trees, hanoun and wildflowers. From where am I? From a deep […]
Tent of Nations People Building Bridges November 15, 2017 Friends – This will be less a Newsletter and more an update on items of importance at this time. I will keep it brief. WEBSITE UPDATE: We have finally updated the FOTONNA website. Our apologies for taking so long to do this! You will find […]
Abstract The political and economic geography of occupied Palestinian territory presents significant constraints to the livelihoods of Palestinian families. And yet the story of many Palestinian families is one not of resignation but of steadfastness and resistance. This article explores this as an important example of civil resistance. It begins by building a theoretical case […]
Poem from a participant in the Interfaith Peace-Builder’s Fall 2017 Tour: The Reality of a Dream Called Zion | Simi Toledano – Brooklyn, New York The reality of a dream called Zion is standing on the concrete island between east and west Jerusalem, waiting for the light to turn green. I stand and wait and […]
See complete stories at: IFPB.org. – Nov. 2017 Why Are You Here? | Amirah Abu Lughod – Stony Point, New York Over the mountains, over the sea and through Israeli security… “Are you with this group? Please go to the waiting area miss, we need to do another check on your passport. “Why are you […]
Sahar _____, 35 Where I Am From… I am a girl of the mountains, A girl of Palestine, A girl of hope… From my beautiful childhood and successful life From something that is not something, Whenever there is a window that is closed, God opens another window in the sky, From where am I…? From […]
Except for the COVID-19 pandemic time since March 2020, volunteers have always been needed for to help out on the Nassar family farm. As soon as travel is possible again, post-pandemic, international volunteers will be needed and welcomed again. Stay tuned for announcements when travel re-opens! In addition to supporting the actual work carried out […]
Tent of Nations People Building Bridges Summer/Fall 2017 Newsletter Dear Friends, Greetings from the Tent of Nations (TON). It is been a while since you heard from us. We would like to share with you the latest news from the Tent of Nations, the situation on the ground, our concerns, but also to share […]
Tent of Nations People Building Bridges June 22, 2017 – Spring/Summer Newsletter We haven’t been in touch for some time, and I apologize for that. Daoud has been extra busy over the last several months with both travel and many work projects on the farm. He also organized (along with Meta Floor) a Celebration 101 in […]
Fall 2016 Newsletter This will be a short update from FOTONNA since Daoud has provided a very thorough one for Tent of Nations in the next section of this newsletter. From the Director’s Corner: A highlight for me this summer, in serving as an Elder Commissioner to the Presbyterian denomination’s 2016 General Assembly in […]
Bill Plitt, May 2017 I returned home Sunday night, May 21, after what I feel will be my last trip to Bethlehem, even with the wonderful hospitality of friends there. But still, my time there, amongst the people on the land, was truly the best ever. Why so? The experience can be captured in two […]
Daoud and the Nassar family are still waiting for the July 21 deadline for the Military Courts to provide a rationale to the Israeli Supreme Court for two items: 1) the Military Court’s refusal to grant recently filed building permits; and, 2) its refusal to put a stop to the demolition orders already issued. Daoud was […]
The Tent of Nations centenary: “We refuse to be enemies” by the EAPPI Bethlehem team. On the 12th of May 2016, the Nassar family supported by visitors from around the Globe, congregated on a scenic hilltop farm on the outskirts of Nahlin village to celebrate their family’s connection to the land which stretches back in […]
March 14, 2016 – Spring Newsletter 100-Year Anniversary! From May 9-12, 2016, Tent of Nations has plans underway for a four-day celebration of its 100-year anniversary (100 years of the existence of Daher’s Vineyard). Over 50 individuals from around the world have registered to attend the events at one level or another; many have […]
Objectives of the Olive Oil Ministry The objectives of the Olive Oil Ministry are to support the Palestinian people in their search for justice, for economic prosperity and defense of their rights, to help bring about a just peace between Palestinians and Israelis, and to raise awareness about the realities on the ground in the […]
June 16, 2016 Dear Friends, As you know, during the week of May 9-20, 2016, there was an international Centennial Celebration of the purchase of Daher’s Vineyard in 1916; I was fortunate to be able to participate in this joyful event at Tent of Nations. While we celebrated and planted trees on the farm, members […]
St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, Washington planted an olive tree in its Urban Garden on May 22nd in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Daher’s Vineyard. Thanks for the idea in your last newsletter! And yes, there are hearty species of olive trees that survive our Pacific Northwest climate. The garden provides fruits and […]
It’s been four days since I returned home from the centennial celebration of the purchase of Daher’s Orchard, now the home of Tent of Nations, and the Nassar family farm. You can read more about the events of the four-day gathering of 60+volunteers from 8 countries on our website blog here. For me the week’s […]
Dear Friends of Tent of Nations UK, I’m greeting you a week after having returned from Daher’s Vineyard as friends from around the world joined the Nassar family to mark 100 years of existence on that land that is so dear to them and to which they belong. Around 60 people from the Netherlands, the […]
The 4 days of volunteer activities at the Nassar Farm were busy and took on a regular rhythm, starting with early rising and breakfast, then our 9:00 morning gathering of 60-70 volunteers with songs, poems, prayers, and meditation on the daily themes: “Come and See,” “Come and Tell,” “Come and Act,” and “We Refuse to […]
I have been thinking quite a bit about what it means for there to be an international presence at Tent of Nations and in occupied Palestine, and to imaginatively use having visitors here at the farm on a continual basis. Daood Nassar told us that since 2002, when a good number of internationals began showing […]
Today was a great mixture of communal farm work, afternoon workshops, discussions, and optional activities, then a surprise party in the evening. I am getting to know the many different areas of the 100-acre Nassar Farm, which includes lots of interesting little nooks and crannies along the hilltop and in the fields of grapes, olive […]
Good morning dear friends. Here I am at the Tent of Nations with the Nassar family as we begin the celebration of the Centenial event recognizing 100 years since the farm was purchased by family and now enjoyed by many as the place of understanding. 60 people from 8 countries began the week together at […]
It has been a very full Day #1 here at Tent of Nations! First: how I got here, literally, in contrast to my previous journal entry that described how I found myself volunteering at ToN and being a part of its 100th anniversary party. Last evening I came by taxi from Bethlehem with two other […]
I am just waking up in the Bethlehem Hotel, after arriving here last evening from Ben Gurion Airport with 2 Dutch women who are also here for the 100 Year Celebration at Tent of Nations. A group of perhaps 25 of us “pilgrims” had a buffet dinner together at the hotel, with Meta introducing us […]
Daoud and members of the Fotonna team returned last week from the 18th U.S Spring tour where we focused on reaching out to university groups, local churches and with peace and justice groups primarily in the Austin, Texas area. Due to the commitment of the local organizers there for the Interfaith Community for Palestinian […]
Tent of Nations People Building Bridges Fall 2015 Newsletter – Number 20 —————————- UPDATE FROM DAOUD December 2015 Dear Friends, We would like to wish you a blessed Christmas and holiday season with your loved ones. In this deteriorating political situation in Palestine, we find comfort in thoughts of love, hope, faith, and justice. We […]
The excerpt below was extracted from one of three reviews with permission from the Editors of Presbyterian Outlook in its February 1, 2016 edition. There were three reviews of the book in the article. This review is a brief tasting of the one submitted by Bill Plitt, Executive Director/Co-founder of FOTONNA. “With great respect and deep appreciation […]
Dear Friends, Greetings from Bethlehem! It is something special to celebrate Christmas in the place where the word became flesh. More than two thousand years ago, the shepherds who were also living under occupation came to see the newborn King. Hopelessness, frustration, and fear didn’t stop them from making this risky trip to come and see. […]
Summer/Fall 2015 Newsletter September 14, 2015 – Summer/Fall Newsletter NOTE FROM DAOUD: Dear Friends, It has been a while since you’ve last heard from us, but we are still here working hard to achieve justice. We would like to share with you the latest news about the Tent of Nations farm, the legal situation, the challenges […]
Pardon my musings, but I wake some mornings with this awesome feeling, a spiritual call to speak. I share this with you because I feel some measure of selfishness that I get to experience the exhilarating moments of our work in the life of the project that reassures me that we are on the right […]
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Having just returned from another amazing U.S tour with Daoud Nassar, a Palestinian farmer, I am inspired to write a piece that I think captures the many spiritual moments that occurred once again during the spaces of the featured events of the tour. […]
2015 Tree of Life Conference How Can WE Be Agents of Change to Secure Human Rights for Palestinians and Israelis? In this conference, we will hear from Israeli, Palestinian and American voices of conscience who will help us understand that in the long struggle toward justice and peace in the Holy Land, the fulcrum of […]
Spring 2015 Newsletter – Number 19 UPDATE FROM DAOUD – February 20, 2015 Dear Friends, Greetings from all of us at the Tent of Nations.Because of your support, it is always exciting for me to update you about the status of the farm and the work we are doing here. We started this year with new […]
Steve France – August 2015 In July, three of us stopped by Daoud Nassar’s hilltop farm, Tent of Nations, near Bethlehem. Daher Nassar, the eldest brother, found us picking our way through the boulders and broken rocks strewn on the road by the surrounding settlers to block access to the farm. Daher gladdened us with […]
Reflections from Kay Israel/Palestine Trip May 17-21, 2015 Bill is light; I am dark. Bill is up; I am down. Guess which one of us is full of hope and which one is full of despair. This is how we see the world – through very different lenses – and this is why my reflections […]