Tag: Holy Land

Publisher discounts offered on “Arabs of Chicagoland” book

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026 News Editor News Editor No Comments

Publisher discounts offered on “Arabs of Chicagoland” book Celebrate Arab American Heritage history month, April 2026, by learning about the history of Arab American settlement in Chicago. The book “Arabs of Chicagoland,” authored by award-winning Chicagoland journalist Ray Hanania, is available from the publisher at a special discounted rate The publishers of the book “Arabs…

Activism, American Arabs, Arab American History, Book Review, Chaldean, Christian & Muslim, Civil Rights, Culture, Egypt, Gulf States, Iraq, Lebanon, Middle East, News, NewsWire, North Africa, Palestine & Jordan, Photographs, Ray Hanania, refugees, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia

Taybeh’s annual OktoberFest to be held Sept. 16 & 17

August 25, 2017August 25, 2017 rayhanania No Comments

Taybeh’s annual OktoberFest to be held Sept. 16 & 17 OktoberFest is more than about drinking alcohol. It is a part of the Christian heritage. Consumed in moderation and with the spirit of fellowship and Palestinian comradery. This year, OktoberFest will be celebrated on Sept. 16 and 17th in Taybeh, one of the most important…

Arab World, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Palestine & Jordan, religion

HCEF program reconnects diaspora youth with Palestine

May 3, 2016May 3, 2016 rayhanania 1 Comment

Knowing your heritage is the key foundation of successful activism to bring peace and justice to Palestine and restoring Palestinian rights. The Holy Land Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) is hosting its 5th annual summer program to bring Palestinians back to Palestine and understand Palestinian culture, history and aspirations firsthand By Ray Hanania The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Israel, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania, Travel

Middle East Christians get training to reinforce faith

July 22, 2015September 24, 2018 rayhanania No Comments

The Ecumenical Institute for the Middle East will launch a new program to bring Christians from the throughout the Arab World together to strengthen their faith in hopes of reinforcing the vanishing Christian presence in the Middle East and Holy land. Participants will come from Levant countries including Palestine, Jordan, Syrian, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and…

Arab World, Christian & Muslim, Editors Picks, Israel, News, North Africa, Palestine & Jordan, religion

Middle East Orthodox Christians observe Easter

April 5, 2015June 12, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Orthodox Christians, mainly from the Middle East or Mediterranean region, closely follow the same traditions as Catholics and Protestants, but in a fundamental origin that has been preserved over the two millennium. The Orthodox Easter observations and celebrations begin a week after mainstream Christians leading up to this year’s important Easter date, Sunday April 12, 2015 By…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Editors Picks, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania, religion, Spotlight

Celebrating the Baptism of Christ on the Jordan River

January 18, 2015January 18, 2015 Maria Khoury No Comments

By Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D. It was simply a most glorious celebration of the Epiphany on the Jordan River today according to the Old Julian calendar. There were hundreds of priests, nuns and thousands of people from all walks of life coming to the precious site where over 2,000 years ago “…the heavens were…

Arab World, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Features, Israel, Maria Khoury, News, Palestine & Jordan, religion, Spotlight

Winter storm gathers over Occupied Palestine

January 10, 2015 Mohammed Asad 1 Comment

By Mohammed Asad A winter storm brought unusually cold weather and snow and rain to Occupied Palestine this past week. Snow blanketed much of the Holy Land adding a nice touch to the Orthodox Christmas which was celebrated throughout occupied Palestine. Hit hardest were residents of the Gaza Strip which was devastated by Israel’s war…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Features, Mohammed Asad, News, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight

O Little Town of Who Cares?

December 28, 2014September 24, 2018 rayhanania No Comments

By Ray Hanania Every Christmas, I always hear the same conflicting arguments. On the one hand, people tell me, “Stop saying ‘Happy Holidays.’ It’s ‘Merry Christmas’. If you don’t like it, move.” The point being that they presumably are proud of being Christian. And, since Christmas is a Christian holiday, they want people to acknowledge…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Israel, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania, Spotlight

Overview of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation 16th Annual Conference

October 27, 2014September 24, 2018 rayhanania No Comments

Overview of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation 16th Annual Conference Provided by www.HCEF.org By Saliba Sarsar and Christine Hill The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) held its 16th International Conference and Banquet on Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18, 2014. The focus is reflected in its title, “Together in Faith for the…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan

Farouk Shami urges diaspora to build industry and jobs in Palestine

October 19, 2014October 19, 2014 rayhanania 1 Comment

Farouk Shami urges diaspora to build industry and jobs in Palestine By Ray Hanania Palestinian American businessman Farouk Shami, who has used his entrepreneurial success and his high public profile activism to strengthen a more positive image of Palestinians, urged the attendees at the 16th Annual Convention of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation to build…

American Arabs, Business, Features, Israel, News, Palestine & Jordan, Podcast, Ray Hanania, Spotlight

Ashrawi warns Israel destroying Christian presence in the Holy Land at Middle East Christian confab

October 19, 2014October 19, 2014 rayhanania 1 Comment

Ashrawi warns Israel destroying Christian presence in the Holy Land at Middle East Christian confab By Ray Hanania Last September, Middle East Christians were thrust into a spotlight they have long deserved when U.S. Senator Ted Cruz told a questionable Washington D.C. group ostensibly organized to “defend them” that if they didn’t support Israel then…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, News, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania, religion, Spotlight

Christian Arab presence in Bethlehem in Crisis

September 9, 2014November 30, 2020 rayhanania No Comments

Christian Arab presence in Bethlehem in Crisis By Ray Hanania The issue of Christians in the Holy Land continues to be a topic that is twisted and distorted for political purposes with Muslims and Jews both arguing they do more for the increasingly deteriorating presence in traditionally Christian areas like Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour in the Israeli…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania, religion

Taybeh Christian Palestinians celebrate: Receiving the Holy Fire Once Again

April 19, 2014September 24, 2018 Maria Khoury 1 Comment

Taybeh Christian Palestinians celebrate: Receiving the Holy Fire Once Again By Maria C. Khoury, Ed.D. We have just celebrated the Miracle of the Holy Fire in Taybeh in a most magnificent way at the outskirts of our village approximately 5:30 pm local time on this Great and Holy Saturday while waiting all afternoon when this…

Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Features, Maria Khoury, Palestine & Jordan, religion, Spotlight

Cicero Orthodox Church celebrates 20 year anniversary of Miraculous Weeping Icon of the Virgin Mary

April 14, 2014September 24, 2018 rayhanania 2 Comments

Cicero Orthodox Church celebrates 20 year anniversary of Miraculous Weeping Icon of the Virgin Mary Weeping Icon symbolizes the suffering of Christians in the Holy Land, Pastor of Church says By Ray Hanania St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Chicago’s west suburb of Cicero will hold a special service on Tuesday April 22 to honor…