On the weekends of December 1st and 2nd and 8th and 9th, we will offer for sale olive wood items hand carved by Palestinian Christians living in Bethlehem or Beit Sahour.
Carving and selling olive wood has been the source of a decent living for many years for Palestinian Christians. The sale of these items took place primarily in Bethlehem since it was a major tourist destination, especially for Christians. This has all changed in recent years. With the recent turmoil, and especially the building of the separation barrier (the WALL) and the many checkpoints, which now physically separate Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and the perceived danger of travel in this part of the world, the number of tourists traveling to Jerusalem and Bethlehem has dropped precipitously.
Last November (2006), we traveled with others (pastors and church members from the New Brunswick Presbytery) to Israel and the West Bank. Through contacts made on this trip with people in Bethlehem, these hand carved items are offered for sale to you.
Your purchase of even a single pendant will help ease the tremendous poverty currently experienced by persons living in Bethlehem and dependent upon the sale of hand carved olive wood.
- Ted and Jane Settle
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