Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Middle East Collaborative

Why DOES Palestine Matter? | 2026

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The following is attributed to the Middle East Collaborative of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

Why DOES Palestine matter? An invitation to a 6 session course with members of the Middle East Collaborative – Members of the Middle East Collaborative work with friends from Christian Jewish Allies for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel to present the 6 session course of Why Palestine Matters beginning today, February 12. See the PYM calendar to register. To download the book, click here Why Palestine Matters – scroll down to “Free Digital Version”.

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Hives of Activity: Collaboratives in PYM

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Collaboratives are hives of activity in the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting community. Friends work and meet together around shared interests or concerns. All Friends are welcome to join an existing collaborative or start a new one. If joining a collaborative isn’t the right fit at the moment, you can still engage with and support their work by attending events or sharing information. [Read more…] about Hives of Activity: Collaboratives in PYM

The Work of PYM Collaboratives

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Last Saturday, June 28, Friends gathered to learn how Friends in our yearly meeting work together through collaboratives. Collaboratives engage individuals across local meetings in the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting  region. Members generally hold a concern for a joy, social justice issues, or perhaps spiritual formation; these ministries can transform and engage our yearly meeting into an interconnected, community organized space.

This gathering was one way to stay connected before Annual Sessions, which will take place July 23 to 27.

Follow this link to register for Annual Sessions.

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Why DOES Palestine Matter? An Invitation to a 6 Session Course with Members of the Middle East Collaborative

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Authorship of this invitation is attributed to Deb Wood and other resources. 

As I thought about writing an invitation to the Why Palestine Matters course, I came across the following quotation, which fits the Palestine/Israel situation so well:

“The purpose of propaganda is to make one set of people forget that other sets of people are human.”

— Aldous Huxley

The Palestine/Israeli relationship and conflict can often appear so complex and intractable that we don’t know how we can ever understand enough to move forward. News coverage often lacks the entire context, leaving us unable to honor the humanity of all involved. When we stop seeing a person or group as human, we much more easily discount and discredit their experiences and humanity, making it far easier to deny their needs and right to exist.

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Work for Peace: A Call from the Middle East Collaborative

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Authorship and thoughts in this story are attributed to the Middle East Collaborative of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting 

On October 7, 2023, the world was awakened to the horror of an armed attack in Israel. For those who were not familiar with the ongoing struggles that Palestinians had been experiencing, it felt unprovoked and antisemitic. Certainly, for some, the work to lift up the issue of Palestinian oppression was going to be much harder. And so it has. 

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Friends Join Pilgrimage for Peace Walk

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From the PYM statement in response to the crisis in Palestine in October:

These are not problems that can be addressed with one approach or with attention to one side or one truth or one thread of history. We are required by our faith to work for justice and peace. We must do this together with our neighbors. Resolution won’t be immediate, but participation in the resolution must start now. [Read more…] about Friends Join Pilgrimage for Peace Walk

Middle East Collaborative Shares Peace Resource

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As we approach the time of remembering Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Middle East Collaborative shares this timely resource from the Fellowship of Reconciliation: “Continuing to Break the Silence: Learning and Reflection on Vietnam, Palestine, and Beyond.” A winter series of programs on Why Palestine Matters is being planned by Middle East Collaborative members Deb Wood, Sandy Rea, and Joan Broadfield; watch the website calendar and the Collaborative’s webpage for details and registration. 

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