The Christian Communities of Jerusalem – What Has Changed? 

26/1/2023

jerusalem institute for policy research, Radak St 20, Jerusalem.

Current Situation and Future Prospects | Annual Symposium in Memory of Daniel Rosing, Founding Director of The Rossig Center for Education and Dialogue

In the fast changing reality of the last few years, the Christian communities in Jerusalem have faced both old and new challenges – the changing political climate on both sides of the conflict, the return of Christian pilgrimage and tourism, property management and real estate issues, relationships between religious leaders and local communities, the relationship with the state, and economic challenges after the Covid-19 crisis.

In this conference, we will discuss the recent events that have affected and continue to affect the churches and Christian communities in Jerusalem: the ordination of the first female pastor in Jerusalem and the status of Palestinian women in the church; The impact of the death and funeral of the journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on Palestinian Christian society, burning real estate issues, Israeli policy toward the churches in the past, present, and more.

The conference will be opened by the venerable Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who will share with us how the churches deal with the complex reality in Jerusalem, including inter-religious tensions, violence against church members and property damage (recently, the Protestant cemetery on Mount Zion was desecrated).).

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Report and survey (March '25)
Christian Communities at a Crossroads

The webinar was devoted to presenting and analyzing the findings of the Rossing Center’s recent report and survey. It further examined the growing incidence of violence and offered insights into the underlying factors shaping this reality, with particular emphasis on the complex situation of Christians in the Hole Land, especially in East Jerusalem.

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Survey of Palestinian/Arab Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem

This survey, conducted among Palestinian/Arab Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem, provides insights into their perceptions and attitudes regarding freedom of religion, Israeli Jewish society, state authorities, the role of the churches, emigration, and identity.

Annual report 2024
The 2024 annual report

The Advocacy and Education Initiative project is concluding its second year, during which we continued our efforts to collect data on attacks and harassments against Christians and to take action to address the issue.

וובינר 26 בינואר
Women at the Helm: Reimagining Religious Leadership

In honor of the upcoming International Women’s Day, the latest webinar was dedicated to pioneering women in the field of religion:
Rabbi Naamah Kelman is the first woman ordained as rabbi in Israel.
Rev. Sally Azar is the first woman ordained to the priesthood in the Holy Land.

Led by Dr. Sarah Bernstein, the discussion explored the role of these women in religious society and the resistance they encountered as religious leaders. The conversation led to fascinating insights and connections, both across the different fields and within each community.