This is my last Stepping Out of the Boat blog post. I am back in Scotland having said a bitter-sweet goodbye to colleagues and friends in Tiberias, Jerusalem and beyond. It is a momentous week for other much bigger reasons too. On 7th October the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on festival goers andContinue reading “Not done yet…”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Running out of words
There hasn’t been a blog here from me for some time. That’s partly because words seem to have had little or no effect on the horror unfolding in Gaza, and in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and I’ve been reluctant to add to the noise. And partly because I ran out of words. I amContinue reading “Running out of words”
Cosmic Collaboration
On Wednesday I attended an extraordinary and sweet event at the Sindyanna of the Galilee Visitors’ Centre. Twelve women who have learned beekeeping from legendry bee keeper and community activist Yossi Aud were meeting for the final session of their beekeeping course. The course was facilitated by Sindyanna of the Galilee and MA’AN Workers Association.Continue reading “Cosmic Collaboration”
Call for Peace
Pope Francis’ last plea for peace Many stories have been told about the piety and pastoral faithfulness of the late Pope Francis, but the story of his almost nightly conversations with Father Romanelli and the people of Holy Family Church in Gaza gives insight not only into Pope Francis and his priorities, but also makesContinue reading “Call for Peace”
Humanitarian Call for Ceasefire Now
‘Protect civilians. Facilitate aid. Release hostages. Renew a ceasefire.’ This is the final line in an unprecedented press release issued by heads of OCHA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNWRA, WFP and WHO on 7th April 2025. The whole press statement makes really grim reading, detailing the urgent and overwhelming humanitarian need in Gaza. ‘For over a month,Continue reading “Humanitarian Call for Ceasefire Now”
Of trees and struggle…
At the beginning of February there is a Jewish holiday called Tu Bi Shvat. It is a tree planting ceremony made popular through the 20th century, and has all sorts of ecological and environmental overtones, and celebrates the goodness of God and the fruitfulness of the earth. In Um al Kheir this year Tu BiContinue reading “Of trees and struggle…”
No Other Way
‘I’m sorry my father is not here to greet you,’ said our seventeen year old guide. And then, after a pause: ‘He’s gone to Hollywood to the Oscars.’ By now we know that ‘No Other Land’ the documentary made jointly by an Israeli and a Palestinian film maker won best picture in the documentary category.Continue reading “No Other Way”
A picture worth a thousand words
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. The image of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, in a clean white coat, walking through the rubble of northern Gaza on December 27th 2024 towards an Israeli tank, is such an image. Dr Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, refused to leave until the lastContinue reading “A picture worth a thousand words”
What’s in a Symbol?
A keffiyeh. The media focussed on a keffiyeh which had been tucked at the last minute around the manger scene from Bethlehem which was blessed at the Vatican by the Pope on the 7th December 2024. And the manger and the keffiyeh and the baby were removed following representation from various lobby groups who claimedContinue reading “What’s in a Symbol?”
Prayers of Lament & Hope
It is a tradition here in St Andrew’s Jerusalem and Tiberias to hold a service of worship on St Andrew’s Day and to invite friends and partners. The Scots House Hotel https://www.simplebooking.it/ibe2/hotel/9441?lang=EN&cur=ILS provides a wonderful buffet. Coming as it does, before Advent and the busy Christmas season, it is a staple of the ecumenical andContinue reading “Prayers of Lament & Hope”
Stepping out of the boat... 