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Peace Not Walls

Palestinian and US Youth team up at the Wall at the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering

Participants at the ELCA Youth Gathering saw walls in Palestine/Israel, respond with letters to congress

Here Palestinians Sally and MaryAn and wall team leader Lisa Jeffreys greet youth gathering participants in Palestine.

 

 

 

Youth at the ELCA Youth Gathering were guided through a section called The Wall, with exhibits from places in the world where there are actual or metaphorical walls between people. There were examples of how God is helping to tear down the walls between people. The Palestinian exhibit had 12-foot walls, information, maps, history and videos about the situation.  Many were detained in a prison for a short-time due to lack of proper permits and many added graffiti to the walls in paint.

Palestine youth team member Jenna Dwierzma prepares to write a letter to her member of congress to protest Palestinian home demolitions by Israelis, as a recent Action Alert from the ELCA Washington office requested.

All of the youth exited through a section called “Making us Whole,” a chance to act, reflect and pray about what they had seen.  An advocacy station allowed people to write letters to their members of congress. Here Jenna Dwierzma prepares to write a letter about ending Palestinian home demolitions by Israelis, as a recent action alert from the ELCA Washington office requested.