Lest anyone think that I’m spending all my time in quiet contemplation and intense prayer, let me say that Tantur is a place that knows how to throw a party! Likewise pretty much all of Israel and Palestine, and Thanksgiving week brought me the gift of TWO parties — one the annual Thanksgiving celebration at Tantur, and the other a fundraiser for the Nursing School of nearby Bethlehem University.
Since Tantur is sponsored by an American institution, Notre Dame University, they go all out to create a traditional Thanksgiving feast — for staff, for students and other program participants who happen to be here then, and for invited guests who are friends and partners of Tantur. We had around a hundred people here for our Thanksgiving feast.
One of the managers asked me on Wednesday if I could organize some decorations for the lobby to create the festive spirit for arriving guests as well as those of us who live and work here. Soon I had many people enthusiastically offering ideas and contributions — only a little of it was “store-bought” while most decorations were crafted from the natural products of the plants, trees, and other vegetation right here on the property. Here are some pictures:
We began with evening prayers of gratitude, a Taizé service led by Brother Emile of the Taizé community in France, who has been in residence with us this month. Then, just to make sure no one went away hungry, there was a Social Hour first with wine, beer and piles of snacks — nuts, chips, cheese & crackers, salami, dried dates, figs and apricots.
We have a magnificent chef, who made a traditional meal with Palestinian flair. Turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, for sure, but I made the cranberry relish — unknown in the cuisine here, but much appreciated by the Americans in the crowd. Chef Issa especially outdid himself in decorating the dining room with fruit displays, including a giant white pumpkin carved into a bowl for cider (laced with white wine and bits of fresh apple).
On the night after Thanksgiving, I was invited to another party — a gala dinner that was a fundraiser for the Nursing School at Bethlehem University. In many ways it resembled the higher education fundraisers I’ve attended back home in the U.S., but with one big difference: the dance floor was hopping with dancers and LOUD music from the DJ all night long, punctuated just occasionally by a few speeches about the University and the fun-filled drawings for raffle prizes.
The Gala was held at a function hall that mostly hosts weddings, I was told, which made me giggle a little at the huge wall mural behind the dance floor — the three Wise Men on their camels, looking out on the star and the valley where the manger lay! We were in Bethlehem, after all. I’m not sure you can make out the mural in this photo, but if you have a way to zoom in, you’ll see it.
The invitations to the Gala said the affair began at 7:30 but only a few people were there when we arrived right on time. Finally by 8:30 the room began to fill, the food kept coming for hours, and the dancing was still going strong when we left around 11:00 pm. It was a party worthy of the name … and a memorable Thanksgiving weekend for me.
Crossroads 
Happy belated Thanksgiving to you! Loved the pictures and insight into Israel at this time of year. Would have enjoyed Taize – not too many in the south are familiar with this prayer/song style. Hope you continue to write to us. It is a real treat.
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Thanks, Pat. I want to write a piece just on my Taizé experience over this month while Brother Emile has been leading evening prayer almost every day. It’s been a real soul-opener for me. I thought I had too much of a “monkey-mind” to settle into this kind of prayer, but something is moving me into deep appreciation. More on that in the near future. Thanks as always for your comments!
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It’s a real treat to be doing the writing too, Pat! I think I’ll have a “Book of Memories” by the time I come home! I have really been moved by the Taizé we’ve been having almost every day this month — I’m going to try to find some recordings to keep up a daily practice when I get home.
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Kathy, loved your picture with the decorations. You look radiant! You’ll hate to leave.
You’ll never forget this Thanksgiving!
Do keep your postings coming.
Blessed Advent season with great expectations of a memorable Christmas in Bethlehem. I picture you in Shepherds Field and in that little chapel singing Christmas carols.
Natalie
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Thank you Natalie! They had the lighting of the Christmas tree in Manger Square in Bethlehem this past Saturday night, but I didn’t go — I don’t like large crowds, and from the reports of those from Tantur who did go, Manger Square was absolutely packed, literally thousands of people, very difficult to get through the crowd. I’ll go see the tree on another day when it’s not crowded like that!
Kathleen Costello Schatzberg aka GeorgiaBearwell ~ she, her, hers “Until women are fully integrated into this Church, every time I go to the altar, I feel compromised.” ~Fr. Daniel Berrigan, SJ (1921-2016)
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