Notes & Letters

From Glenn Witmer in Jerusalem: 30 Mar 2002

My dear friends,

I wish you all a very special time of celebration and remembrance for this Easter week. Remember us also in Jerusalem and Ramallah, where the "passion and suffering" of Holy Week has taken on a new and terrible application in real life, and almost overshadows any sense of hope and future.

But Easter is tomorrow--metaphorically, and on the calendar. We rejoice in the message of the Resurrection! May it be to you a blessing, and source of strength, joy, and rededication.

Shalom, salaam! Please God!

Glenn Edward Witmer

SHARING THE BREAD - 28 Mar 2002
by Mary Lawrence

This afternoon, Maundy Thursday, I went up to the Abu Sneineh
neighborhood for an Arabic lesson. On my way back down, as I approached the checkpoint near Avraham Avinu settlement two soldiers started walking towards me. One called out something in Hebrew. "Sorry," I said, "I don't speak Hebrew. But I wish you a happy Pesach." "Thank you," he said. "I need to see your ID."

"I have two," I replied and handed him my American passport.
"Where are you from in the USA?" he asked. "Boston," I replied. "And what are you doing here in Hebron?" "I am with the Christian Peacemaker Team," I replied. I handed him my CPT ID card. "I see," he said.

The conversation continued around the fact that this, as Passover,
was a very special time for them. I mentioned that this was a special time for Christians too, the three days leading up to Easter. "Is it the same time as Passover?" asked the other soldier. "Not always exactly the same time," I said, "But this year it coincides. This evening we will have a special service with bread and wine."

"But we don't have bread now," said the first soldier. "We have matzah." "Oh, yes," I replied. "I have eaten matzah at a Seder supper a few times." "Do you want some?" he asked, and turned to go up the steps into his guard post. He emerged with a large square of matzah and handed it to me. "Well, thank you," I said, "Thank you very much." "It's OK," he said, "Have a nice evening."

When I got back to the apartment I shared the story of my conversation with the soldiers and their gift of the matzah. After supper, we gathered as a team in the living room for our Maundy Thursday communion service and foot washing service. In the middle of the table, between two lighted candles, we placed the matzah that the soldier had given me. It became our communion bread. It was one small but gracious blessing in this week of tragedies.