‘Come to the Holy Land’

Tourism Sustains Faithful in Jesus’ Homeland

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When Diana von Glahn, co-producer and host of EWTN’s The Faithful Traveler was filming in the Holy Land in May 2014, it was life as usual for the residents.

The only difference was the excitement and pride brewing for the Pope’s visit there, which took place May 24-26.

For that reason alone, there was extra security. There was no hint of disturbance and no clue of the conflict between Hamas and Israel that would rise in June.

“As part of our production, we met people everywhere we went and spoke to them about what life is like in the Holy Land, and they all had wonderful things to say,” she said. “But the most prevalent message we heard was this: ‘Come to the Holy Land!’”

Not only do the people of the Holy Land want to share their land with the rest of the world, but they depend on tourism as their main source of livelihood, von Glahn explained. “When tourism dries up, income dries up, too,” she said.

Von Glahn’s impression of the Holy Land hasn’t changed since the recent conflicts. “People in the Holy Land are nothing if not resilient and brave,” she said. “They are a people of faith, after all, and they believe that God has blessed their land, and they are proud to live there. So, while I am sure there are many who continue to suffer from the recent fighting, and there is much rebuilding that must take place, the people who live there still need our help, financially, and they will be glad to see our tourists and pilgrims return.”

Nelly Salman lives in Bethlehem with her husband, Mike. Her three children are grown and living on their own. Mike works in construction, and Nelly has a home business that is dependent on tourism. She prepares meals in her home for pilgrims. During the meals, they share not only their cuisine, but also their culture and way of life with others from around the world. She also makes homemade pastries and jams, which she sells online. The last thing Salman wants is for pilgrims to stop coming to the Holy Land, not only because it would impact her livelihood, but also because they would be unable to appreciate the region’s unequivocal value.

“I would like to encourage pilgrims to visit the Holy Land, especially Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, and to stay among friendly Arab-Palestinian Christian families,” she said, “so that they can learn better about us, our traditions and our circumstances as a Christian minority who lives in the Holy Land and tries always to remain a good witness to the message of Jesus Christ. Also, they should pass through the steps of Jesus’ life — his birth, crucifixion and resurrection — and in this way, they can live his message and understand it better for themselves.”

Elisa Moed, CEO of Travelujah Holy Land Tours and co-founder of Breaking Bread Journeys, led a pilgrimage through the Holy Land in September, and she’ll return with another group in December. She believes that there’s no better time to travel to the Holy Land than now.

“The Holy Land remains an extremely safe destination,” she said. “The reality on the ground is quite different from what you might see in the media. Sites are open and fully accessible. The streets are full of pedestrians, people are dining in restaurants, relaxing at the beaches, going to concerts and museums, hiking and touring. The Holy Land is an extraordinary and life-changing destination, rich in historical, cultural and religious assets that are unique to this world.”

Tour guide Dennis Gaetano, of Mater Dei Tours, points out that the violence in the Holy Land is contained and not scattered, as many are prone to think. He led a 45-person Holy Land pilgrimage beginning Oct. 21. He doesn’t deny the conflict that took place in Gaza over the summer and admits that we must pray for those who were affected. But the situation must be viewed realistically.

“Gaza is quite contained, and nothing has spilled out into areas frequented by pilgrims,” he said. “That’s not always obvious, from the way it is reported. The reality doesn’t sell as well. The local bishops have even asked that people not be afraid, since every pilgrimage site remains open, and no itineraries have had to be changed or redirected as a result of any of the trouble in Gaza.”

Habib Karam and his family feel completely safe and at home in Nazareth, where they live. Karam and his wife, Gosayna, had both lived in the United States for more than two decades before returning to their Nazareth birthplace with three of their children. Their fourth child was born in Nazareth. The Karams feel far safer in the Holy Land than they did when they lived in California, in spite of the Hamas-Israeli conflicts.

“All things are calm now,” Karam said. “And we don’t expect any more problems. All holy sites and institutions are well preserved and safe. Many people in Nazareth live on tourism, so they need to keep things ‘well,’ as it’s the best interest of all.”

For example, Karam told of the Oct. 8 celebration at the Basilica of the Annunciation. The church was lit in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month for a special ceremony. It was a beautiful, meaningful event that was attended by the entire town. Another example is a celebration that took place last year at the basilica, in which the parish priest consecrated Nazareth to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

“So we have nothing to fear,” he remarked.

The need to help the people of the Holy Land support themselves is exactly what drove Edita Krunic, president of Select International Tours, to found Select to Give. The foundation assists Holy Land families to find means of livelihood. Most recently, the foundation has been arranging micro loans for a group of women in Gaza. The end goal is to facilitate their income as well as their ability to hire other Christians. Krunic points out that the needs of Holy Land families is greater than ever.

She emphasizes that Christians must not underestimate the importance of traveling to the Holy Land, for the sake of the Christians living there, but also for the spiritual benefits to the pilgrim.

“A Holy Land pilgrimage shapes and strengthens our Christian faith like nothing else,” she said. “We need to support the Christians of the Holy Land by going on a pilgrimage, using Christian service providers and meeting Christian families who live there. We must commit to living our faith and supporting our Christian brothers and sisters through direct deeds, which impact their existence in a positive way, giving them hope by walking on holy ground in union with Christ and the living stones of the Holy Land.”

Marge Fenelon writes from Cudahy, Wisconsin. She visited the Holy Land last spring.