” Our Strength is Our Knowledge of Our Culture | قوتنا معرفتنا بثقافتنا “

– Slogan of “Monthly Gathering | لمة الشهر”

In Palestine, the olive tree stands as a living symbol of endurance — its roots gripping the soil for centuries, even in the harshest conditions. It embodies sumud (steadfastness), resilience, and connection to the land — values that define Palestinian life and mirror our collective story of transformation from trauma to hope. As the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes, the olive tree represents “the interconnection between people, land, and heritage” across generations.

Just as olive trees continue to bear fruit after adversity, Holy Land Trust continues to nurture transformation through its work in advocacy, empowerment, and community-based action .

This October, under the theme “Rooted Like the Olive Tree,” Holy Land Trust proudly launches “Monthly Gathering | لمة الشهر” — a monthly program designed to strengthen youth awareness, identity, and belonging .

From Trauma to Hope: A Journey of Awareness

Holy Land Trust’s approach is rooted in the belief that true peace and transformation begin within — when individuals and communities understand their pain, reclaim their voice, and act with purpose.

“Monthly Gathering | لمة الشهر” provides a safe space for young people to do exactly that: to gather, reflect, and explore the deeper meaning of being Palestinian today.

Each session focuses on a theme that connects personal experience with collective memory — from storytelling and oral history to art, heritage, and social responsibility. These gatherings invite participants to transform inherited trauma into strength , finding hope through dialogue and shared understanding.

As UNESCO emphasizes, “Preserving intangible cultural heritage strengthens social cohesion and fosters a sense of identity and continuity” . In this spirit, “Monthly Gathering | لمة الشهر” becomes more than a monthly event — it becomes a movement that nurtures the roots of identity while empowering young Palestinians to become advocates for justice, dignity, and nonviolence .

Empowerment Through Knowledge and Belonging

Knowledge is a powerful act of resistance. In an era marked by misinformation, displacement, and fragmentation, knowing one’s story and history becomes essential for survival. The “Monthly Gathering | لمة الشهر” activities offer participants an opportunity to reclaim this knowledge — to learn from community elders, cultural figures, and local activists who embody Palestine’s living memory.

Our Strength is Our Knowledge of Our Culture | قوتنا معرفتنا بثقافتنا

The gatherings also reflect Holy Land Trust’s broader mission: to empower individuals to find strength through awareness , to transform personal and collective trauma into resilience , and to advocate for nonviolent solutions grounded in justice and hope .

Rooted in Hope

Just as each olive tree requires care to bear fruit, our collective future depends on nurturing the next generation . Through this program, Holy Land Trust continues its mission to transform trauma into hope — not by erasing pain, but by creating meaning, connection, and purpose from it.

By being rooted like the olive tree, we learn that resilience is not only about standing firm, but also about growing — reaching toward the light, even from the deepest roots.

Your Inner Stillness Journey – A Space to Return to Yourself

On Saturday and Sunday, October 11–12, 2025, Holy Land Trust hosted a special retreat at its headquarters in Bethlehem, titled “ Inner Stillness Retreat ” with Grand Master Issa Al-Hayek .

Fifteen participants took part in this two-day experience of deep meditation, breathing, and mindful self-reflection — a safe space to explore trauma within the Palestinian context and to learn healthy ways to release stress and fear through conscious breathing and reconnecting the mind, heart, and body.

During the journey, participants discovered the patterns that limit their personal growth in daily life and identified the strengths that help them build a balanced and aware character — one capable of living as the best version of themselves.

This experience is part of Holy Land Trust’s ongoing journey to develop a Trauma-Informed Care methodology tailored to the Palestinian context, aiming to help individuals and communities transform pain into healing, and trauma into hope .

Holy Land Trust, in partnership with Bethlehem University and the support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs , is honored to invite you to the closing event of the project Generation to Generation , titled “From the Grassroots to the World: The Voice of the Community…Reaching the World”.

This special gathering will celebrate the journey of young Palestinian women who participated in the project, sharing their personal stories and creative works that reflect their transformation from trauma to strength. Through storytelling, photography, and dialogue, they have brought their voices from the community to the world — amplifying messages of empowerment, identity, and hope.

The event will also include the presentation of a booklet documenting the stories produced throughout the project and a photo exhibition that highlights the spirit of resilience among the participants.

Join us as we come together to honor their achievements, express gratitude to our partners, and reaffirm our shared commitment to building a future where every young woman can stand strong.

We’re inviting you to the first “Monthly Gathering | لمة الشهر” event — a lecture titled “Settler Colonialism in Palestine: Ethnic Cleansing, Land Confiscation and International Law” with Dr. Hassan Breijieh, activist in the Popular Resistance, director of the International Law Department at the Colonization & Wall Resistance Commission, and Chairman of the board of the International Center for Strategic Studies and Settlements (ICSSS).

Dr. Breijieh will address topics such as the E1 settlement plan , the Gaza blockade , and the annexation of the West Bank .

Come join us for an open discussion on issues that touch our Palestinian reality!

* Like all “Monthly Gathering | لمة الشهر” events, the lecture will be held only in Arabic .

Just as every olive tree needs strong soil to grow, Holy Land Trust needs a stable home from which to continue its mission of transformation, empowerment, and hope.

Over the years, Holy Land Trust has become a space for connection — where individuals come together to learn, share, and transform trauma into strength . It has hosted youth workshops, women’s empowerment circles, advocacy meetings, and international delegations that bridge cultures and hearts.

Today, as we launch new programs like “Monthly Gathering | لمة الشهر”, we also face a new chapter — establishing a permanent and inspiring space for Holy Land Trust’s offices and community gatherings . This new home will serve as:

Your support will help us create this space — a home rooted in the values of belonging, identity, and resilience , where transformation from trauma to hope continues to grow every day.

Every contribution, no matter how small, helps us plant deeper roots for the future of peacebuilding and empowerment in Bethlehem.

To stay rooted is to stay hopeful — and to build a home is to believe in tomorrow.

Elias Deis,

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

We chose “Growth” for October to symbolize resilience — despite ongoing challenges, we continue expanding our impact, nurturing hope, empowering communities, and transforming trauma into hope, strength and renewal.

Holy Land Trust

© 2025 Holy Land Trust