This July, a group of 28 young people, joined by staff and guides from the Abraham Path Initiative and Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies, opened the Path in Palestine by walking from Nablus to Beitin/Bethel. The travelers stayed with local families, danced at a wedding, visited holy sites, shopped at the markets, and volunteered to prepare for an upcoming festival in Birzeit.

The group included both Palestinian and international students and youth from six countries and four continents, with both groups developing a new appreciation for the country. One student remarked on the sense of freedom and mobility she got from walking, a feeling she rarely experiences living in Palestine.

The students faced challenges as well: walking in the hot sun across sometimes-difficult terrain and the strict security in Palestine. Throughout it all, the group got to know each other well and formed deep friendships. One student summed up his trip this way: “The Abraham Path is now for me a path of friendship of students from America, Europe, and the Middle East with a physical and spiritual bond with the land and the villages of Palestine."

With this walk, and thanks to a generous donation from Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, a new 50 km walking segment of the Abraham Path is now open!

This spring, fifteen participants became the second group to travel the entire Abraham Path from Sanliurfa, Turkey to Hebron/Al Khalil in the West Bank on a trip sponsored by the Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance. The group had an opportunity to travel to important cultural sites in each country, with local guides and staff sharing stories of Abraham along with the history of the land, its people, and the flora and fauna of the region.

One highlight for the group was the opportunity to "hit the trail" in Jordan, visiting villages and a local business making natural soaps along the way.  Throughout the trip, participants made the personal connections so vital to the vision of the Abraham Path: women talking with women in villages with the aid of translators, spontaneous conversations while exploring cities or wandering through souks, having tea with community elders, and interacting with the children who welcomed them with bright smiles and curiosity.

Participant Sue Okubo remarked, "The trip forced me to think more globally about the world and what makes it run - it is not just economics."

Kellogg Fellow Larry Nyland with schoolchildren in Ajloun, Jordan 

“The expertise provided by the Abraham Path staff and guides along with the powerful experiences of being in the places where Abraham walked, lived and shared his wisdom provided an unforgettable set of memories and learnings that continue to profoundly affect each of us who took this journey”  said Martha Lee, Executive Director of KFLA.

Read a personal account of one participant's experience. 

Join us on an unforgettable 12-day journey on the Abraham Path through Jordan, Israel and Palestine, from October 4th - 15th, 2008. This is our first trip open to the public and an incredible opportunity to experience first-hand the warmth and hospitality of the Middle East.

TURKEY

Building on the momentum of last November’s conference, our Turkish partners have increasingly taken the lead on key strategic decisions. The local committee in Sanliurfa recently hired Lami Hayirli to work with them on report writing and other important field work. They are engaged in a number of activities including the development of a pilot segment of the route, producing written materials, organizing cleaning and infrastructure projects in villages along the route, hosting tourists, and developing a website. 

JORDAN

We are pleased to welcome Ramez Habash as our National Director for Jordan!

Our Jordan team organized a 14-day international youth exchange between Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK and Yarmouk University in Jordan that culminated in a festival in the Al Ayoun municipality. The festival, which was attended by 200 people, included photographs, music, poetry and local food. It was designed to promote the tourism potential of this beautiful but little-known area of rural Jordan.

“We have learnt so much and been overwhelmed by the hospitality of the villagers. We will definitely be taking this message back to the UK with us,” said 19-year-old Farah Aslam, a Leeds Metropolitan student.

Rana Al Baz, who studies tourism at Yarmouk University, told the Jordan Times she enjoyed exploring her own country. “Of course people come from around the world to see Petra (Jordan’s major tourist destination),” she said, “but this group has shown that the ordinary villages are also full of beautiful places, good food and fascinating stories. Even many Jordanians do not know about the beautiful things to do in our country.”

PALESTINE

Our Palestinian partners opened a 50 km pilot segment, beginning in the city of Nablus and ending in Beitin/Bethel. In other developments, Palestinian staff and partners completed their first round of oral histories in the West Bank and are working on a film about this section of the Path. They are also organizing a series of short walks for Palestinian students interested in learning more about their country and cultural heritage. The team is developing a women’s engagement initiative focused on involving Palestinian women in the development of the Path.     
 

ISRAEL

In Israel, our colleagues Avner Goren and Rami Haruvi have begun to create a work plan which will lay the foundation for the initial work of delineating a pilot segment.  We are also working to build the necessary partnerships on the ground to make the path come to life in the Negev.