Our Mission Purposes

1. To promote justice and peace, support open dialogue and encourage peaceful coexistence among diverse cultural and religious groups in Israel/Palestine;

2. To support Christian communities in Israel/Palestine, particularly in the village of Ibillin;

3. To support educational efforts and institutions which accept a diverse population for enrollment and emphasize the values of reconciliation and mutual understanding; and

4. To educate American citizens regarding efforts toward peacemaking and reconciliation of diverse peoples in Israel/Palestine.

Pilgrims of Ibillin is dedicated to supporting organizations and individuals committed to achieving peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities in the Holy Land.

Focusing primarily on education, we support programs and institutions where young people are given outstanding opportunities to study and grow as well-rounded leaders, grounded in a commitment to peacemaking and reconciliation.

We have worked primarily but not exclusively with Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI) in the village of Ibillin, in the Galilee region of northern Israel. MEEI’s founder, Father Elias Chacour, articulated a goal that perfectly embodies the mission of Pilgrims: “We intend to build peace on the desktops of children.”  See our web site section on MEEI for more information about this truly transformative organization.

Our support is through financial contributions, sponsorship of pilgrimages, and interpretation of the vision of MEEI and similar organizations to foster greater understanding of issues related to Christians, Muslims, Jews and the Druze living together in peace in the Holy Land. 

Pilgrims of Ibillin is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Check out our listing on GuideStar.