Silence is Complicity: A Palestinian Call to Action (Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac)

Описание: Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), A Christian Voice for Palestine, presents:
Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac - Silence is Complicity: A Palestinian Call to Action

"Empty calls for peace without a ceasefire and end to occupation, and the shallow words of empathy without direct action, are all under the banner of complicity."

Rev. Munther Isaac is on an eight-city speaking tour sponsored by FOSNA. His tour includes Southern California, Chicago, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Northern California, New Jersey, and Atlanta. Tonight, he speaks to us in Claremont, addressing the silence of many U.S. churches in the face of genocide and Christian Zionism's support of apartheid in the West Bank and Gaza.

ABOUT REV. MUNTHER ISAAC: Munther Isaac is a Palestinian pastor and theologian. He now serves the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem and the Lutheran Church in Beit Sahour. He is also the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College and director of the highly acclaimed and influential "Christ at the Checkpoint" conferences.

During the genocide in Gaza, Munther gained global attention for his sermon, "Christ under the Rubble," which was heard by tens of millions of people and subsequently quoted in South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. He has appeared on CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, MSNBC, CBS, TRT, and Democracy Now!

Munther is passionate about issues related to Palestinian theology. He speaks locally and internationally and has published numerous articles on theology of the land, Palestinian Christians, holistic mission, and reconciliation. He is the author of "The Other Side of the Wall," "From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth," "An Introduction to Palestinian Theology" (in Arabic), a commentary on the book of Daniel (in Arabic), and more recently a book on women's ordination, also in Arabic. He is involved in many reconciliation and interfaith forums, and is a Kairos Palestine board member.

Munther originally studied civil engineering in Birzeit University in Palestine. He then obtained a Master in Biblical Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary and then a PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.

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TELL CONGRESS TO RESTORE FUNDING TO UNRWA

After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th, 2023, Israel retaliated with massive bombings that destroyed homes, hospitals and schools, turning Gaza into rubble and creating a humanitarian crisis. Famine is spreading in parts of Gaza. Food, water, medicine, and essential services are needed to mitigate and avert famine.

UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) is the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza, and is irreplaceable. When earlier this year Israel accused 12 UNRWA employees (out of 30,000 staff) of participating in the Oct 7 attack, the U.S. cut off all funding to the agency.

With famine looming, the UNRWA Funding Restoration Act of 2024 will be introduced when Congress returns from recess, and it needs co-sponsors. Please call your elected officials, ask them to become co-sponsors of this bill, and thank them if they have. Here's a sample script:

I am __ from ____. I am calling to ask Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator __ to sign on as the co-sponsor of the UNRWA Funding Restoration Act. Gazans face starvation and famine from Israel's massive bombardment of their towns and cities. They need food, water and essentials to survive. No agency other than UNRWA can provide that massive level of aid. We urgently need Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator ___ to sponsor or support this bill.

Judy Chu
D.C. Office: (202) 225-5464
Pasadena: (626) 304-0110

Senator Alex Padilla
D.C. Office: (202) 224-3553
Los Angeles: (310) 231-4494

Senator Laphonza Butler
D.C. Office: 202-224-3841

If you live in another Congressional District, call 202-224-3121 to find your local Congressperson.

00:00 - Pre-talk music
18:30 - Welcome from Pastor Karen
20:23 - Welcome from Dr. Ahmed Soboh, Board Chair of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California
29:05 - Silence is Complicity: A Palestinian Call to Action | Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac
1:26:48 - Post-talk Q&A Session