Archbishop Chacour shared an Iftar meal with leaders of Acre's Muslim & Jewish communities on October 23 to highlight Israel's diversity of religious celebrations. As they shared this evening meal during Ramadan, the Archbishop said "It's not a command to live together, rather a great privilege." Click here to see the Jerusalem Post article about the event.
Videos of Archbishop Elias Chacour and MEEI Students & Graduates are on YouTube and Vimeo:
Click here to watch or download a podcast of Abuna's lecture, "Unity within Diversity: Myth or Reality?" - part of Calvin College's excellent January Series in Grand Rapids, MI, January 26, 2010.
"Making the Holy Land Holy," a PBS episode of "Inner Compass," features an interview from January 2010 with Archbishop Elias Chacour in Grand Rapids, MI. View it here, or download the podcast through the iTunes Store.
View a 23-minute video about Abuna Chacour and the Schools he founded in Ibillin: "A Man of Galilee" on Vimeo.
STILL WAITING FOR GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS TO MEEI:
As of AUGUST 2010, MEEI Teachers are still owed back pay!
 Please continue to pray for the teachers at Mar Elias Educational Institutions,who have been working without full pay because subsidies used to pay teachers are being withheld by the Ministry of Education. The reason is a dispute over whether MEEI had permission to open a school in the village of Dabourieh in 2007. Even though the Dabourieh students were dropped from Mar Elias Educational Institutions' enrollment, funds are still being withheld.
The total owed by the Ministry of Education to MEEI reached 6 month's pay - more than 9 million shekels, or $2.5 million. In November and December partial payments were received. However, the amount owed is still about $1.33 million.
At Pilgrims of Ibillin's request in April Archbishop Chacour wrote a summary of the history and current status of the situation.  Click here to read his full response.
The case is now before the Israeli High Court of Justice. A hearing was scheduled for May 2010 but has not happened yet (as of August). We will post any changes in the situation on this website and send email updates if friends of MEEI can do new things to support the schools in this critical situation.
The Latest Pilgrims' Post is Here!
May 2010 Pilgrims' Post
February 2010 Pilgrims' Post
October 2009 Pilgrims' Post
Also check out our Pilgrims of Ibillin photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/groups/pilgrimsofibillin/pool/.
For links to back issues of the newsletter and more stories about MEEI, Archbishop Chacour, and our other Peace-Building Partners.
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