Chapter 41
Good Monday Morning to this new week 41 of 2023
As I sit here with an amazing view of the Dead Sea, many thoughts come to my mind this Monday Morning. Through growing up in a christian family the Bible was read to me from very early on, the stories of the Bible shared at Sunday School and the became quite alive. Now I sit here in Israel, moved by all the events of yesterday, in shock with all those suffering, in mourning, taken hostage, and the on-going war that started with such surprise and intensity.
As we came out of the shelter, we made our way down from Jerusalem, down the steep highway, past the many homes of the Beduins, the story of the good Samaritan comes to my mind.
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who. The Jewish traveller was stripped of clothing, beaten and left half dead alongside the road. First a Jewish priest and then a Levite come by, but both avoid the man. Finally a Samaritan happens upon the traveller. Although both Samaritans and Jews despised one another the Samaritan helps the injured man. This all to underline the story and parable Jesus was telling in response to the question; And who is my neighbour? The neighbour in conclusion is the one who shows mercy. Some see it was allegory to Jesus story of coming to save “the other” , others see it as an example of the ethics of Jesus.
So many awful things happened in that surprise attack of the Hammas. So many in Palestine and Israel woke up to the question, who is my neighbour? Is my neighbour still my friend, be he a Jew, a Samaritan, a Muslim or another?
The Samaritan centre of worship is on Mount Gerizim in the present day West Bank, instead of Jerusalem. Yes, this parable challenges social norms and prejudice based on ethnic origin, religious affiliation and where people made their home. Today the Samaritans number only around 1000 people, most in communities outside of Tel Aviv and near the West Bank city of Nablus, where they find themselves situated between Israeli and Palestinian cultures. Most hold Israeli citizenship, and have Israeli health insurance, but many also attend Palestinian schools, speak Arabic and have both Hebrew and Arabic names. The small size of the modern Samaritan makes them easy to overlook.
For those who are willing to listen, the message of the Good Samaritan – a message of kindness, not blinded by nationalistic, religious or ethnic prejudice – resonates as loudly as it ever has.
There are many good Samaritans now in Israel. There are many good Samaritans in Palestine, many in neighbourhoods and many in Christian communities. My prayer as this new week starts that we will hear many stories of good samaritans rising up, daring to do the unexpected, to reach a hand, to go the extra mile and live the deeper meaning of this parable even in the extent of brutal violence, killing and war as we see unfolding here, once again in Israel and Palestine.
I wish you all a good start to this new week, blessed in many ways with compassion and courage to build bridges where there seem to be no more bridges.
Philemon