“Pressing Palms to Stone”: My Experience at the Western Wall Faith Fegley The Western Wall’s courtyard smelled of frying onions, sour red wine and yeastless bread. The sun blazed down on our heads, to the point that it made my pale scalp burn and my hair curl with sweat around the base of my neck. … Keep reading »

“Resilience and Hospitality” Sadie Brenneman On the third day of our trip in Israel and Palestine, we made our way to Aida refugee camp, located just a few miles from our guest house. The Aida camp is one of three refugee camps in Bethlehem with around 5,500 residents in 0.071 square kilometers. Sitting along the … Keep reading »

“Transformation through Discomfort: What Does it Mean to Be a Tourist?” Liam Minielly What does it mean to be a tourist in a setting such as Israel and Palestine? There is no easy answer to this question. I believe a tourist plays two roles: one role in the destination country and one in their home … Keep reading »

In May 2023, Goshen College launched a new course titled Interreligious Peacebuilding in Israel/Palestine. The blogs that follow reflect the joys, struggles, and transformations of our inaugural group: two faculty leaders and sixteen stunningly courageous and compassionate students, pictured below. Read, think, and enjoy! Outside the Dome of the Rock in Old City Jerusalem. Left … Keep reading »