Rejoice in Peace!

Christmas 2007

Dear Friends of Sabeel,

Rejoice in Peace and proclaim the Good News! I send you my greetings of peace in this Christmas season of 2007 with a message of hope for Palestinians, Israelis and God’s world.

Rejoice in Peace!  This was the spirit of our unsurpassed Sabeel conference in October when almost 900 people gathered inside Boston’s historic Old South Church to proclaim peace and to call for an end to military occupation and apartheid in Palestine.  They came to learn about “The Apartheid Paradigm in Palestine-Israel” and the similarities and differences with our experience in South Africa.  Jews, Christians and Muslims shared knowledge and views on theology, history, political analysis and recommendations for positive actions for change.

The Old South Church is itself a reminder of America’s own history of struggle against oppression, a symbol of the founding revolutionary spirit calling for justice and liberty for all. Participants came from 30 U.S. states and five different countries.  They packed the old church to the rafters.  There is a spirit for change in the air, a hunger for justice and peace for the Holy Land and for the whole world.

My address at the Sabeel conference was really a cri de Coeur, a cry of anguish from the heart to the Hebrew children of God who are my spiritual relatives and antecedents, my plea that they  hear the noble call of their scriptures, a plea to not forget what happened to them in Egypt and more recently in Germany, to remember and act appropriately by working to end the Israeli government’s cruel and unjust occupation and policies of apartheid.

Apartheid’s rulers in South Africa bit the dust as all oppressors have done always, for this is a moral universe and right and wrong matter.  It cannot happen that evil, injustice and oppression can have the last word.  No! Ultimately, goodness, justice, freedom and peace—these will prevail. Each one of us who freely give of our talent and our treasure participate in this action.

The enclosed gift to you from Sabeel provides footage of the Boston conference and selected excerpts of the speakers and images of people working for peace.  Use this to educate others in your churches and schools and in your communities.

Your generosity and hard work are helping to change God’s world.  With gratitude for your past support we ask for a generous Christmas donation to Friends of Sabeel so that this important work will continue. 

Rejoice in Peace! And may the Prince of Peace be your light and your guide.

+Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus