wfn.org | A Lutheran Mother's Cry from Jerusalem

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

For more information contact:
George Awad
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jerusalem
Muristan Road, Old City, Jerusalem
Tel: 972.2.627-6111
Email: ga_elcj@netvision.net.il

or Suad Younan
Helen Keller School
P.O. Box 55913
Jerusalem 91553
hks@netvision.net

JERUSALEM, April 12,2001--The principal of the Helen Keller School for 
visually impaired, blind and handicapped children of Jerusalem is a prominent 
Lutheran laywoman who has chaired the women's work of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church of Jordan and Palestine.  Suad Younan has written the 
following urgent letter "to mothers of the world":

Salaam and grace from a troubled Jerusalem.  

As a Palestinian mother of three children, I am very worried about the future 
of our children in this region.  I am the director of the Helen Keller School 
for visually impaired, blind and handicapped children in Jerusalem.  

When I watch television and follow the mass media and hear that children are 
killed and mercilessly not spared the shooting and the shelling, I fear for 
the future of my country.

Ten days ago, my 17 year old son was returning from Talitha Kumi Lutheran 
School, in Beit Jala near Bethlehem, when the shelling started.  When he 
arrived at home, I had to thank God that he was all right.   As the school 
busses transport the blind and the visually impaired children from Ramallah, 
Hebron, and Nablus, so that they can have a decent education, I am fearful 
for their safety.   My worry is very intense because  I cannot assure their 
safety to our school.  I am terrified that my students from 3 to 18 years old 
could be shot or harmed.  

As a mother, I call upon all mothers in the world to intervene and stop the 
spiral of violence in the Middle East.  We do not want the children of 
Palestine or Israel killed or to grow up in hatred, revenge and fear.   When 
I see that a child is killed, I see my own children.  

I appeal to the good willed politicians in the U.S.A., Europe, and other 
parts  of the world, to living conscience religious leaders, and to all good 
willed  peace movements, not merely to issue statements but to do the utmost 
possible to bring comprehensive just peace to our country.  

We must stop the massacre in this country.   

Please allow the children of the Holy Land to live as our countryman, Jesus 
taught us.   Please allow us to live our life abundantly.   Allow us to enjoy 
our humanness and humanity with all its rights preserved.  

I beseech you to see to it that the international legitimacy is implemented 
so that Israelis and Palestinians may live in just peace.   We must live as 
equals, with justice and in peace with each other in our own States.

I plea to all the mothers in the world, to help us realize this dream.  As a 
believer in the Living God, the Crucified and Risen Lord, I call upon all the 
Jewish, Christian and Muslim mothers to give our children a chance for 
comprehensive lasting just peace and reconciliation as with their peers in 
the world.  

Yours sincerely,

Suad Younan
Principle
Helen Keller School for the Blind