Many have abandoned hope. The House of Hope, however, is working through this dark time with determination not to cave in to the pressures generated by the intense conflict. Children are left in our care with the knowledge that they are protected responsibly and away from the atmosphere of fear and the discussions of their elders about the internal and external war crisis going on. Parents too are being given advice on how to keep home atmosphere as calm as possible while the political realities are sorted. We are in touch with the older leadership in local villages and cities in the Galilee to confer on strategies for maintaining a rational response to the tension and fear that has been so consuming.
Daily costs continue but our income is inadequate for even necessities.
We are doing with what we have and can gather together. Your Peacemaking Offering will be a Godsend in this time of crisis. On a broader level, we are in communication with those here and abroad that we have worked with over the years to build trust and promote understanding and peace. Numerous phone calls, visits, e-mails from Jewish friends have kept us hopeful that the efforts of 22 years were not wasted. We have worked hard to bring leaders, Jewish, Moslem, Druze and Christian, from cities like Haifa and other towns into new dialogue during this crisis.