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Middle East Book Study, 2005 In the Spring of 2005, World Peacemaking and Mission sponsored a book study of Healing Israel / Palestine by Rabbi Michael Lerner, founder of the Tikkun Community. The resources on this page are a supplement to this study. If you would like to suggest additional resources which you find helpful, please let us know so we can add them here!

Resources

1. BBC News (Israel & Palestine issues)
   
   
2. Middle East Web - "balanced" news articles and historical summaries.
   
   
3. Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theological Center. Also the Sabeel Document and other position papers.
   
   
4. The Tikkun Community, and information about the Geneva Accord. Includes articles from Tikkun Magazine
   
   
5. The PCUSA Washington Office has a news service. You can subscribe to the Middle East news list.
   
   
6. What You Can Do: Head, Heart, Hands, courtesy of PCUSA International Peacemaker, Hillary Rantisi (Microsoft Word format).
   
   
7. Resources for studying PCUSA divestment policy (please check back for additions to this list):
   
   
   • The book study group is interested in studying issues surrounding divestment policies upon which the General Assembly embarked in 2004. To that end see the dialogue in the February 8, 2005 issue of Christian Century, "Money, Morals & Israel: An exchange". A printed copy is available, or see an on-line version at Christian Century.
     
     
   • See the web site Christians Concerned for Jewish and Christian Relations, an unofficial web site developed by some Presbyterians concerned about the General Assembly decision.
     
     
   • What is meant by Phased Selective Divestment? Update on Phased Selective Divestment of Companies Operating In Israel, Sept. 23-24, by Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI). Resource document for PCUSA World Ministries, PDF Format
     
     
   • Sept. 28, 2004 PCUSA News article High-level Presbyterians and Jews discuss Israel divestment. For another perspective, see: Sept. 28, 2004 Union of Reform Judaism article, Full text of Rabbi Yoffie's remarks.
     
     
   • Feb. 11 PCUSA News article: MRTI still in research phase of divestment process related to Israel, Palestine
     
     
   • Feb. 21 News article: World Council of Churches gives nod to Israeli divestment proposal.
     
     
8. Presentations from the study sessions (full Microsoft Powerpoint presentation)
   • Study Session I. Introduction and brief historical overview.
   • Study Session II. Chapter I
   • Study Session III. Chapter II
   • Study Session IV. Chapter III & IV
   • Study Session V. Chapter V
   • Study Session VI. Chapter VI & VII

Schedule (click on chapter to view the slideshow)

Introduction		Fri. Jan 15	7:30pm
Chapter I	Peoples of the Land	Sat. Jan 29	9:30am
Chapter II	Zionism Comes to the Land	Feb. 11	7:30pm
Chapter III & IV	The Emergence of a Jewish State; After the 1948 War	Fri. Feb. 25	7:30pm
Chapter V	Difficulties Sustaining Peace	Fri. Mar. 11	7:30pm
Good Friday	no meeting	Fri. Mar 28
Chapters VI & VII	Strategies for Healing and Transformation; Answers to the Hard Questions	Fri. Apr. 1	7:30pm
Interfaith Dialogue - initial session	at Temple B'rith Kodesh	Sun. April 10	10:00am (bagels at 9:30am)