Spring 2016 Issue

Volume 23 - Issue No.2, 2015-2016
In this issue:
Celebrating Brother Joe
From Gaza to Hollywood
Jerusalem’s Fascinating History
1
A MESSAGE FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR
Advancing
Bethlehem
University’s
Educational
Mission
05
In November 2015, I had the honor to address Pope Francis at the
World Congress on Education at the Vatican. I was able to share with
the Holy Father and the audience the unique mission of Bethlehem
University to develop an environment and provide opportunities for
our students to learn the knowledge and skills, as well as acquire the
attitudes and values that will enable them to live life as fully as they
can in the midst of the difficulties they face. This is the essence of
the mission that accompanies everything our community on campus
works to achieve, with your generous support. This is why we exist!
This Spring Semester marks an exciting time in the the history of
Bethlehem University: the renovated University Library opened
on February 24th . With the help of so many of our friends and
supporters, we have been able to renovate the library that was built in
1977, when fewer than 400 students attended Bethlehem University.
Not only did we need more space for our now more than 3200
students, it was also necessary to bring the physical design into the
21st century and to align with current pedagogical and technological
requirements. With the attendance of many international and local
notables, we inaugurated the renovated library after years of planning
and fundraising.
Bethlehem University has been blessed to have been able to serve the
Palestinian people for more than 40 years, but we do not rest on our
laurels. We work to continually find better ways in which we serve
here in the Holy Land. Education and research are always evolving and
we are focused on the future with the development of new programs,
reviewing our existing academic offerings, finding better ways to
teach these programs, and developing the facilities master plan. We
are looking to improve the facilities Bethlehem University has in
order to offer its students and academics the best opportunities to
learn. The renovation of the Library is a first milestone in that journey
towards an improved campus that facilitates and empowers the
academic process. You – our friends and supporters – are vital to our
mission to serve the Palestinian people through education.
06
Shukran, thank you!
Brother Peter Bray, FSC, EdD
Vice Chancellor
2
07
Published by
the Advancement Office
11
12
14
Editorial Committee
Mr. Alexander Musleh
Mr. George N. Rishmawi
Mr. Isaac Sahhar
Bro. Stephen Tuohy, FSC
Ms. Annerieke Willemze
Contributors
Dr. Omar Abed Rabbo
Mr. Demitri Awwad
Ms. Jenny Baboun
Mr. Eric Crossley
Ms. Rania Hazboun ‘96
Dr. Irene Hazou
Ms. Shahinda Nassar ‘05
Br. Dominic Smith, FSC
Design and Printing
HMC Printing & Labeling
[email protected]
13
Bethlehem University
Electronic address
www.bethlehem.edu
[email protected]
Mailing address
Bethlehem University
Communications Office
PO Box 11407
92248 Jerusalem
Location address
Frères Street #9
Bethlehem, Palestine
16
17
Table of Contents
News........................................................................... 4
Annual Scholarships..........................................14
Going Abroad.......................................................... 9
Jerusalem’s History.............................................16
University Matters...............................................10
Student Profile ............................................... 17
Graduate Profile...................................................11
Thank you............................................................ 18
Celebrating Brother Joe..................................... 12
Financial Statement........................................... 21
Student Mother.................................................... 13
Visitors.................................................................. 22
Bethlehem University
Foundation USA
Mailing address
Bethlehem University
Foundation
P.O. Box 355
Beltsville, MD 20704-0355
[email protected]
Location address
Bethlehem University
Foundation
6001 Ammendale Road,
Suite 200
Beltsville, MD 20705
[email protected]
Cover Photo by:
George Rishmawi.
(Br. Joseph Loewenstein
at Bethlehem University)
3
NEWS
Celebrating
Christmas Eve
Hereditary Research Lab Acquires
‘Next Generation Sequencing’ Machine
Every year on Christmas
Eve, the Chapel of the
Divine Child at Bethlehem
University is a site of joy
and worship when faculty,
staff, and friends of
Bethlehem University gather
to celebrate Christmas
during the Midnight Mass.
In the Middle East consanguineous
marriages (inbreeding) are quite common.
These marriages increase the chance that
both members of a couple will carry any
recessive variant present in the family, and
transmission by both parents will likely result
in severe recessive disease in their children.
Though the beautiful
Chapel at Bethlehem
University always exudes
a warm atmosphere, this
spirit is particularly alive
on Christmas Eve, when
worshippers give thanks to
the Lord and pray for peace
to prevail on earth.
New genomic technologies are now
enabling the Hereditary Research Lab
(HRL) at Bethlehem University to research
the molecular basis of many genetically
inherited Palestinian abnormalities.
Bethlehem University has received
Paralleled Next Generation Sequencing
(NGS) technology in the form of the NextSeq
500 Platform machine.
This technology has accelerated the base
of genetic research. It allows a systematic
approach towards genetic defects and
thus provides answers for potential risk,
diagnosis, tailored therapy and prognostic
indicator.
Many guests attended this
special Mass, including
members of the Bethlehem
University Board of Trustees
and Vice Chancellor Brother
Peter Bray.
The mass was led by HE
Archbishop Giuseppe
Lazzarotto.
Vice Chancellor Brother Peter Bray
at the Vatican for World Congress on Education
Vice Chancellor Brother Peter Bray spoke at the “World
Congress Educating Today and Tomorrow: A Renewing
Passion” in Rome, where His Holiness, Pope Francis, was
present. This year, the Congregation for Catholic Education
is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican
Council’s Declaration Gravissimum Educationis and the
twenty-fifth anniversary of the Apostolic Constitution Ex
Corde Ecclesiae. The Congregation for Catholic Education
organized the World Congress to re-energize the Church’s
commitment to education.
Bethlehem University was invited to participate in the
Congress and our Vice Chancellor Brother Peter Bray
was one of the main speakers in the final session where
His Holiness Pope Francis was present. Brother Peter
Bray addressed His Holiness: “We are seeking to create
4
an atmosphere, develop an environment, and provide
opportunities for our students to learn the skills, acquire
the attitudes and values that will enable them to live life as
fully as they can in the midst of the difficulties they face.”
Opening Renovated
Bethlehem University Library
On February 24th the renovated University Library yesterday
was festively opened in the presence of the International
Board of Regents and the Board of Trustees as well as
Mr. Thomas Staal, the USAID-ASHA representative. H.E.
Excellency Guiseppe Lazzarotto, the Apostolic Delegate to
Jerusalem and Palestine was also present, as well as His
Beautitude Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch.
The renovated Library is now equipped with study areas both
for groups and individuals, as well as state of the art library
technologies such as a digitized book-loan system, ample
computer areas, and space-saving tools to keep books and
other library resources centralized without taking over too
much space. It also features a cozy café for relaxation and
lively group discussions, as well as a garden. Both café and
garden are intended to encourage interactive learning and to
allow students and faculty members to spend as much time
as needed within the Library’s premises.The renovation of the
library started in May 2015 and Dr. Mellie Brodeth, Library
Director, and her team have worked tirelessly to continue to
provide library services to students and faculty members in
the temporary library in Sansour Hall.
The festive ceremony was opened by Dr. Michel Sansour,
Executive Vice President of Bethlehem University, with
the National Anthem. Vice Chancellor Brother Peter Bray
addressed the attendees, expressing his gratitude to all
everyone who helped enable the renovation of the Library.
He especially thanked the architect, Mr. Graham Ormsby,
as well as the Capital Projects Committee for leading the
renovation process. He also addressed the library staff
and said they have an important and indispensable role
in the educational process. Brother Peter Bray stressed the
importance of bringing the library into the 21st century,
after the library’s addition to Bethlehem University in 1977.
It was the first building built by Bethlehem University in
addition to the existing De La Salle Building.
Mr. Thomas Staal, the USAID-ASHA representative also
addressed the attendees saying it was a special privilege
for him to be able to attend the ceremony. He emphasized
the global need for good quality education is taken very
seriously by USAID-ASHA. The renovation of Bethlehem
University’s library allows for higher educational quality at
Bethlehem University as it is fully equiped to fulfill its 21st
century role as information and intellectual hub on campus.
He also said USAID-ASHA is grateful to have been part of
the building and renovation of every building on Bethlehem
University’s campus. USAID-ASHA has been the biggest
funder of the library renovation project with a contribution
of 1,575,000 USD.
H.E. Guiseppe Lazzarotto spoke about the characteristics of
a Catholic University. Mr. Fuad Kattan, Chair of the Board of
Trustees, shared his views on characteristics of a Lasallian
university. Prof. Bart McGettrick, Chair of the International
Board of Regents spoke of what this state of the art library
provides the Bethlehem University Community. His
Beatitude Fouad Twal gave a blessing on the Library, praying
for protection and a growth in knowledge and wisdom.
Brother Peter Bray, Dr. Mellie Brodeth, Mr. Fuad Kattan, H.E.
Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Prof. Bart McGettrick, Sister Irene
O’Neill (Chair of Bethlehem University Foundation), Mr.
Thomas Staal, and His Beautitude Fouad Twal joined together
in the cutting of the ribbon, officially opening the library.
The ceremony was followed by a tour of the renovated
library and a reception on the rooftop patio.
5
NEWS
Handal House
Purchase
Completed
Early 2013 Bethlehem
University and the
Custody of the
Holy Land jointly
purchased the Mount
David property in
Bethlehem from the
Latin Patriarchate in
Jerusalem.
This property was
the former hospital
owned by the Holy Land
Christian Mission which
included ownership
of 40% of the Handal
House. At that time
the remaining 60% of
Handal House, one of
three parcels on the
Mount David property,
was owned by members
of the Handal family.
The Ecclesiastical Court
of the Latin Patriarchate
had become the trustee
of the Handal House
and represented
the Handal family.
Negotiations between
the Ecclesiastical
Court and Bethlehem
University led to the
completion of the
purchase of Handal
House by the University
and the Custody of the
Holy Land at a signing
on 20 October 2015.
Bethlehem University is
grateful to all who made
this purchase possible
which will contribute to
the implementation of
Bethlehem University’s
strategic plan.
6
Library Digitizes a Rare Manuscript
Jenny Baboun-Hodali, Librarian for IT/
Digital Services has worked with Sister
Rose, the Library’s archivist, to conserve
a rare manuscript long kept in store in
the University Library’s Archives section.
The manuscript contains the epistles of
Senesius, who was bishop of Cyrene circa
370-413 AD, as well as excerpts from
Thucydides’ “History of the Peloponnesian
war”. This manuscript dates back
approximately to the 16th century.
The digitizing of such a rare document is
very delicate work and Jenny and Sr. Rose
have put in a lot of time and dedication to
conserve this valuable manuscript as an
electronic resource.
Scan the code so you can
see the manuscript!
2015 Legacy Dinner Honors Longtime Friends
of Bethlehem University
Many honored guests were in attendance
at the dinner to show their support for the
University and included representatives
from the PLO Delegation, the Embassy of
the State of Qatar, Catholic Charities, the
Foundation’s Board of Directors, and the
Shelton family and friends. The highlights
of the evening included an impassioned
speech by Brother Peter Bray, Vice
Chancellor of Bethlehem University.
organizations honored were: ASHA
(American Schools and Hospitals Abroad);
Christian Brothers Conference; and
The Schmidt Family Foundation. These
organizations have been extraordinarily
generous to University for many years
and have provided critical financial
support. Since 1997 the Schmidt Family
has contributed over $500,000 to the
University for Scholarships. USAID/ASHA
has awarded grants that have contributed
to the construction or renovation of every
building on campus, including the recent
grant to renovate the Library. Christian
Brothers Conference has been the official
sponsor of Bethlehem University since its
founding in 1973 and has provided financial
support and personnel including seven of
the University’s nine Vice Chancellors.
In addition, the inaugural Bethlehem
University Legacy Awards were
awarded to three outstanding friends
and supporters of the University. The
In addition to the great cuisine, a reception
was held before the dinner to allow our
contributors and friends to get further
acquainted.
The Bethlehem University Foundation
hosted the Third Annual Bethlehem
University Legacy Dinner on November 8th at
St. Francis Hall at the Franciscan Monastery
of the Holy Land in Washington, DC. The
dinner helped raise funds to complete
funding for the Bethlehem University
Library Renovation Project.
Using iPads in Palestinian Education
Two faculty members of the English
department participated in the 8th
International Pixel Conference for ICT in
Language Learning in Florence, Italy on
12/13 November 2015.
Raphaela Fischer-Mourra and Shada
Shahin presented their research paper
titled “Liberated Spaces: The Use of iPads
in Higher Education and the Possibility for
Change” in which they posit that iPads can
be catalysts in the true liberation of young
Palestinian minds. Their study found
that integrating iPads in the curriculum
could enhance creativity, civic engagement
and create committed critical thinkers
who can develop “transnational literacy”
concerning social, economic, and political
realities. Education for liberation involves
any project that requires students to step
out of the metaphorical box to ask critical
questions, think creatively, and consider
innovative solutions to these problems.
at Bethlehem University, in partnership
with Diak University in Finland, in
which iPads were utilized in specific
English language courses to examine the
ubiquitous role iPads can play in the lives
of students, turning them into active
agents responsible for their own learning
and empowering them to share their
own authentic accounts as Palestinians
against the mainstream discourse which
obliterates the Palestinian narrative.
The study Mourra and Shahin conducted
was a result of a year-long pilot project
South African
Ambassador
on Campus
H.E. Ambassador Ashraf
Suliman, Head of the South
African Representative
Office in Ramallah, and Ms.
Sholeen Mooljee, Counselor,
visited Bethlehem
University on Wednesday
the 20th of January to learn
about the University and
its mission to provide first
class education to the
people of Palestine. The
Ambassador said he was
glad to be on campus as
“education is something
dear to me personally”.
Brother Peter Bray Vice
Chancellor received
the guests with
Brother Stephen Tuohy,
Vice President for
Advancement.
Opening of the François
Abu Salem Symposium
Bethlehem University, together with Institut Français
du Proche-Orient (Ifpo), the Institut Français, the
National Palestinian Theatre and the Palestinian
Theatre League, hosted a symposium in the first week
of January that promoted writing, acting, performing,
and stage setting practices in contemporary Palestinian
theatre.
The aim was to provide opportunities for academics
and theater practitioners to consider the past, present
and future of the Palestinian theatre experience and
its specificities, challenges and status. The symposium
also provided a meeting platform for artists, theatre
practitioners and scholars to reflect and discuss on the
current situation of the Palestinian theater.
The successful symposium was organized by the
Faculty of Education and saw scores of actors, theatre
specialists, and local community leaders participate.
7
NEWS
Job Interview Workshop for 4th Year Nursing Students
at Qubeibeh Campus
On Tuesday, 9 February, Sister Mary Yacoub, faculty member
at the Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, organized a
workshop for the 4th year nursing students in Qubeibeh.
professional comportment and attire at a nursing job
interview, and a study of the kinds of questions that could
be asked.
Mr. Jihad Abu Amsha, Assistant Vice President for Human
Resources & Administrative Affairs, and Brother Peter
Iorlano, Coordinator of Institutional Values conducted the
workshop.
The workshop culminated in simulated job interviews
during which Jihad and Brother Peter role played
interviewers and students took turns being interviewed
as well as rating the interviewees. Student participation
was thoughtful and enthusiastic; afterwards students
were grateful for this informative and practical learning
experience.
This interactive workshop addressed topics such as the
importance of the job interview, preparing for the interview,
Obituaries
Dr. Maha Fatho
Cardinal Carlo Furno
Dr. Maha Fatho passed away in Jerusalem on Saturday,
17 October 2015. She was a faculty member of the
Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences.
On 9 December 2015, Cardinal Furno passed away at the
age of 94. Cardinal Furno was Grand Master emeritus of
the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
and in this position, he was a great supporter of
Bethlehem University.
Maha joined Bethlehem University as a faculty member
in 1991. She was the dean of the Faculty of Nursing and
Health Sciences from 2002 – 2006. In 2009 Maha started
a PhD at Glasgow Caledonian University, School of
Nursing, Midwifery and Community Health, in Scotland.
She submitted her dissertation, yet her untimely death
did not allow her to attend the official graduation which
would have been held in December 2015.
To honor her work, the Faculty of Nursing and Health
Sciences at Bethlehem University will publish her
dissertation.
8
Pope John Paul II appointed him Grand Master of the
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
on 16 December 1995. The Order is a member of many
international bodies and has observer status at the United
Nations. Cardinal Furno resigned this office in June 2007
and was succeeded by Archbishop John Patrick Foley.
Maha was the coordinator of the Midwifery program;
the first midwifery program in Palestine. She was
a community activist and greatly contributed to
enhancing midwifery in Palestine.
In 2002, when Bethlehem University inaugurated the
Millennium Hall for the Arts and Business Administration
Faculties, the building’s main hall was dedicated to
Cardinal Furno and named ‘Furno Hall’ in recognition of
his support of Bethlehem University. In addition, endowed
scholarship funds from the Equestrian Order of the Holy
Speulchre - Grand Magisterium that bear Cardinal Furno's
name have supported many students over the past years.
Ms. Reema Ghrayyeb
Student Anas Hassasna
Reema Izz-Eddin Hamed Ghrayyeb passed away on
August 26, 2015 after a long battle with cancer. Reema
worked at Bethlehem University since 2012 as a French
language instructor. She worked hard to make the French
program a stable and strong minor that catered to many
students around campus, especially Hotel Management
and Faculty of Arts students. Reema trained her students
to take official French language tests, such as DELF, which
many students passed with flying colors.
Bethlehem University is deeply saddened by the
unexpected and untimely death of our student Anas
Hassan Hassasna on Thursday, 28 January 2016. We
grieve with the Hassasna family over the loss of Anas,
a thoughtful, sensitive, intelligent young man who
took his studies seriously. Anas was an honor student
each semester and his family was very proud of him.
Many of Bethlehem University’s community attended
his funeral.
INTERNSHIPS ABROAD
Going Abroad
Students from different faculties often study or do internships abroad. This is an important moment in their time as students
and greatly enhances their career prospects. Four students tell about their experiences.
Huda
Soghayyer
& Yara Hadweh
“Within the Nursing Program at Bethlehem University,
we are required to do 400 hours of training at different
hospitals during the summer. Eighteen students were
chosen by the Nursing Faculty to train at ISMETT Hospital
in Palermo, Italy. Two other students were chosen to train in
Germany. This was an amazing opportunity for us; we were
able to train in a state of the art medical facility. We learned
about new ways for treatment, and new ways to make our
job as nurses easier.
The patients were very welcoming and were happy to meet
people from Palestine. A few students met a lady who
recently fled from Syria whose young daughter was very
sick. They helped with translation between the mother and
the nursing team and were able to show her their love and
support and listened to her story. This is what nursing is
about, we learned; listening, caring, loving.”
Rola Al Shomali
“One of the most exciting and life changing times in my
life came when Bethlehem University gave me a chance
to study abroad at Lund University in Sweden. One
semester was enough to give me a different perspective
on life. I learned Swedish, I learned how to cook, how to
be independent, and most importantly, I learned how to
embrace challenges.
Growing up in the Occupied Palestine made me eager
to learn more about other cultures, traditions and
customs. I had the life changing opportunity to do so
in Sweden. I met people all over the world and many
of them are still good friends that I keep in touch
with regularly. Coming back to Bethlehem University,
I pass on my experience and what I’ve learned to other
students, sharing my experience taking chances and
exploring the other side of the world!”
Nancy Konkar
“Going on an exchange program to South Korea was like
travelling to a whole new universe. Studying in Handong
Global University doesn’t only entail learning about the
Korean educational system; it means being a part of a new
culture, having friends from 18 different countries, and
loving their cultures. It means sharing your country’s
pain and listening to theirs. It means that you have to
study hard to represent your country’s strengths but
it also means that you get to party until you can’t feel
your legs, eat things you never thought you would, and
celebrate other people’s cultures and teaching them about
Palestine. People at Handong Global University showed me
love and kindness, but most importantly, their constant
support gave me enough hope to believe that changing the
world is absolutely possible.”
9
UNIVERSITY MATTERS
Building Upon Bethlehem
University’s Foundations
Dr. Irene Hazou, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Bethlehem University’s primary aim is
to actively support the young people of
Palestine with quality higher education
that emphasizes teaching, research, and
service to the Palestinian community.
The Academic office works alongside
the various faculties and departments
to ensure that this agenda is thoroughly
implemented across all levels of
Bethlehem University.
Dr. Irene Hazou is the Vice
President for Academic
Affairs since August
2012. She is the first
Palestinian Woman to
assume this position. Dr.
Hazou graduated from
Bethlehem University
in 1977 and proceeded
to continue her MA and
PhD in Mathematics from
Oregon State University.
She has been engaged with
Bethlehem University in
various capacities from
1980.
10
One of our core principles is to keep
students at the center of our educational
process by ensuring that they receive
rich academic experiences which
are compatible with both local and
international standards. We do this by
fostering programs that instill Bethlehem
University’s students with the skills
and the intellectual prowess they will
need in order to achieve their dreams
and contribute to the sustainability,
development, and wellbeing of their
respective communities and society at
large. To that end, our main goal currently
is to implement the Strategic Plan of 20132017.
The Strategic Plan will ensure that
the quality of education at Bethlehem
University will remain one of the
best in Palestine, as well as work
towards bolstering our international
competitiveness. This program will
feature a full review of all academic
curricula and teaching/research methods
in order to enhance the teaching and
learning process and support the growing
IT infrastructure of Bethlehem University,
in addition to responding to market
and social needs by implementing new
undergraduate and graduate programs.
This is no easy task, especially when one
considers the hardships of operating
an institute as large and important as
Bethlehem University in an atmosphere
of frequent political and socioeconomic
turmoil.
A keen global outlook and understanding
of various cultures goes a long way in
shaping a capable and international
competitive individual. Therefore, we work
tirelessly to help provide students with
opportunities to engage in international
exchange programs during their
undergraduate degrees that help enrich
their academic experience. Moreover, we
also help Palestinian graduate students
secure their education and future by
working alongside international agencies
that award scholarships and financial aid.
It goes without saying that our faculty
and staff play a critical role in helping
us achieve a more vibrant and engaging
atmosphere at Bethlehem University. We
want to make sure that they always excel
in their endeavors in both teaching and
research by supplying them with research
grants and other resources that aid their
progression and permit them to flourish
as creative and innovative teachers and
accomplished researchers.
As chief academic officer at Bethlehem
University, the Vice President for
Academic Affairs is tasked with providing
solid leadership and vision, in addition
to the administration of all academic
matters, recruitment, evaluation and
faculty promotion. This is all done while
emphasizing the fore-mentioned goals
and adhering to Bethlehem University’s
overall mission of promoting teaching
excellence, research and service to the
community. It is my hope that upon
implementing the strategic plan, we
will be able to further examine creative
and new ways in which we can help
improve Bethlehem University by further
enriching its students.
GRADUATE PROFILE
From Gaza to Hollywood
Celebrated Palestinian actor, Iyad Hajjaj, tells about his life as an actor
in Hollywood and his time at Bethlehem University.
The journey from Gaza to Los Angeles was not an easy one
for the now 46 year old Iyad Hajjaj. He grew up in a refugee
camp in Rafah in Gaza, not far from the border between
Israel and Gaza. With 11 brothers and sisters, his family
lived in poverty and the political situation meant life in
Rafah was never easy. His parents encouraged working
hard for a good education, “as a way to escape”, Iyad says.
Iyad attended the United Nations-run school in Rafah and
developed a love for mathematics and painting, something
he still enjoys doing. He also felt enamored by theater and
acting, and started to participate in plays in school and the
mosque. Iyad also used to work on film sets as an extra.
After graduating from the UNRWA school, Iyad enrolled
at Bethlehem University in 1992. He chose a bachelor in
Physiotherapy, a choice, he says, that was motivated by an
interest in medicine and good job prospects. He graduated
in 1996. After his graduation he worked for a while with the
Bethlehem based Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation
as a physiotherapist and later worked with the Red Crescent
where he was in charge of rehabilitation programming. An
important event in his life was receiving a scholarship after
graduation to do an internship in England. It established his
fluency in English and it was the first time Iyad got a taste of
“life outside”.
his friends and family on the phone all the time. Returning
to Gaza is not easy but it remains his dream to go back
and spend time with his loved ones. His mother and father
passed away while he was in the US, and “they were the
reason I wanted to go back most”. Iyad’s father encouraged
him to go to the US, and Iyad knows he was very proud of
his success.
At Bethlehem University, Iyad studied Physiotherapy, a
line of study that did not adhere to his original dream of
wanting to become a doctor. However, when he heard about
the Physiotherapy program at Bethlehem University he
applied and was one of the few people from Gaza able to go.
“Bethlehem University was my first peek into a different
world”, he says. “It was a world of meeting people from
different national backgrounds and different religions.
Bethlehem at the time was a much more open minded place
than Gaza, allowing me to develop myself in a different
ways than I was used to.” Iyad remembers that the Brothers
and teachers serving at the University “truly cared about
us”. “Bethlehem University instilled a sense of possibilities
in me” he says.
Looking for a better life, Iyad moved to the US in 1998 where
he started working odd jobs before moving to California
to work at the Stanford University Medical Center for
eight years before he got his first acting role, marking the
beginning of his Hollywood career. It went so well that he
continued to take jobs as an actor and eventually became a
fulltime actor. Iyad says his challenge is to represent Arab
roles positively, instead of the often negative roles given to
Arab characters in movies. “I always look for films and roles
that contribute to changing the perception of Arabs and I
am often able to contribute to the scenario,” he explains.
Iyad also provides consultancy services to film directors, to
help change incorrect assumptions about culture, language,
and religion. “I make sure that actors say things in Arabic
correctly, and if there are things in the English script that
are offensive, I fix them in the Arabic translation, and/or I
tell them this is inappropriate”.
Iyad has not been able to go back to Gaza, but he talks with
11
Celebrating Brother Joe
Brother Joseph Loewenstein is known around
campus as Brother Joe.
He often sits by the
gate at the end of the
day greeting students
and staff. To students,
teachers and staff he is
the face of the university. Brother Joe celebrated his 90th birthday
on October 25th 2015
and here he shares the
story of his life with us.
One thing is for sure,
there was never a dull
moment!
Brother Joe came to Bethlehem University in 1975. In the
years before, he completed his doctorate in Education at
UCLA, specializing in Administration and Supervision.
This topic had garnered his interest while working in
Kenya with the Kikuyu tribe at a teachers training school
and later as headmaster of a secondary school in the
same area. It wasn’t an easy time to be in Kenya, in the
aftermath of the Mau Mau uprising and the subsequent
independence from colonial Britain.
Brother Joe has a lot of compassion for his students and still
works with individual students struggling with English. His
genuine interest in and compassion for students stems from
his time at Lincoln Hall Correctional School for Boys, where
he worked for four years between 1956 and 1960. It wasn’t
easy to get settled in Lincoln Hall. The school housed rough
kids who were incarcerated, sometimes for serious crimes,
but Brother Joe got used to the children and was able to
build relationships with them. “It was a very important time
in my life” Brother Joe says. “Working with delinquent boys
made me more concerned with the person than with the
daily routine of education.” His experiences at the school led
him to volunteer to go to Kenya and later to come to Bethlehem. “I developed an interest in doing new things, experiencing other places” he says. At Bethlehem University, his
experiences at the correctional school and in Kenya helped
him keep his cool during the first Intifada, when students
were regularly arrested and the Israeli army often burst
onto the campus.
Brother Joe was born in Queens, New York, in 1925 where
he grew up alongside two siblings during the depression.
Brother Joe attended St. Bartholomew Elementary school in
Elmhurst, administered by the Dominican Sisters as part of
the Brooklyn Diocese. The diocese offered scholarships for
students of their elementary schools and he was accepted
12
into Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, which was run
by the De La Salle Christian Brothers. “I always wanted to be
a priest” Brother Joe says. “But at school I became interested in joining the Brothers. At 15 years old, Brother Joe left
home to go to a training school for boys interested in joining
the Brothers. “We were encouraged to focus on the vocation, and at that time it was common to leave home for that
purpose” Br. Joe explains. He graduated in 1943 and went
to Novitiate for one year’s training in the Brotherhood, after
which he enrolled in Catholic University in Washington D.C.
When Brother Joe came to Bethlehem University in 1975, he
was ready for a new challenge. First, he taught for a while
without assuming a leadership position, after which he
became the President and passionately took up leading the
new university. Bethlehem University had only opened its
doors in 1973 and not all educational facilities were yet on
track. Brother Joe proceeded to enlist new people to lead the
faculties and established deanships to decentralize leadership. He also added Nursing to the curriculum after requests
from local doctors. Nowadays, the Nursing program is one
of Bethlehem University’s most successful programs.
During the first Intifada from 1987 to 1993, Brother Joe was
faced with severe difficulties. The Israeli military viewed
Palestinian universities as hot beds of political resistance, and
cracked down hard on student resistance. At the time there
was no Palestinian Authority and the Israeli military had full
reign on the West Bank. Brother Joe explains how he often
had to negotiate with Israeli army personnel during that time.
“Once students had been locked in the campus” he remembers.
“The students couldn’t leave as all gates had been blocked by
the army. Eventually it was negotiated that buses would come
to take the students off campus, but the students refused to
go on the buses as they were afraid the army would send these
buses to the military base to carry out a mass arrest. Only after
I negotiated for faculty members to be able to accompany the
students was the crisis solved.” Another time, the military told
Br. Joe to send some students to the military base, but he refused and told them he would not comply. Sending students to
the military base to be interrogated did not sit well with Brother Joe under any circumstance and he wanted to prevent the
framing of the University as a place of collaboration. Such an
image would have damaged the University beyond repair and
most importantly, he felt strongly about Bethlehem University
being a safe haven for its students.
Brother Joe has spent 34 years in Bethlehem and has been
very important in the shaping of the university as it is now.
His passion is making university-level education available to
young Palestinians and he still loves working with individual students to serve as a tutor and mentor. We are grateful
for Brother Joe’s unending commitment to Bethlehem University. Happy 90th birthday, Brother Joe!
GRADUATE MOM
Student mothers
at Bethlehem University
Palestinian Women
in Statistics
The average age for women
marrying is 20.3 years and the
legal age for women to be married
is 18 years, however, marriage
might be allowed from 16 years
depending on the decision of a
religious court. In fact, one out of
five women in the age of 20 – 49
years were married before the age
of 18, although this percentage is
higher in the Gaza Strip compared
to the West Bank. The Palestinian
Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)
has also found a high fertility
rate among Palestinian woman.
In the period 2011 – 2013, the
average was 4.1 births per woman.
The adolescent fertility rate in
the age group 15 – 19 years old
was 48 births per 1000 women.
According the PCBS, 11% of all
currently married women want
to space their births or limit the
number of children they have but
are currently not using any family
planning method. Once women
join the work force, there is an
immediate gap in participation
rate as well as the average daily
wages between men and women.
Female participation in the labor
force was 19.4% compared to a
male labor force participation
of 71.5%; more than three times
higher. Bethlehem University has
an exceptionally high enrollment
of women and is committed
to enabling its students and
graduates to bridge these divides
and support them where possible.
Rana is a sparkling twenty year old Arabic
major. She is from Za’atara, a small village
outside Bethlehem with few amenities. A
typical second year student, except that she
has just had a baby girl called Maryam, right
in the middle of the first semester close to
the exams. Just three weeks after she has
given birth she is back on campus sitting
with some friends. When asked how she is
doing she says she’s feeling well, but misses
her baby. However, she is determined to do
well in the coming exams and says it was
not an option for her to
stay home longer.
Rana is not exceptional.
Professors at Bethlehem
University regularly have
students in class who are
becoming mothers while
at University. Hanan, who
taught English to first
year students, recalls
one particularly devoted
student asking her if it
would be alright if she
wouldn’t attend classes
for a week as she was due
to deliver her baby soon.
Hanan told her to stay at home longer than
one week, and that she would be able to
give her the exam at another point, but she
refused. ‘I am a student’ she said, ‘and I have
to do well’. Shortly after, Hanan’s student
was back in class with blue chocolates to
celebrate the birth of her baby boy and ready
to take on the exams.
Minerva Jarayseh, Chairperson of the
Social Sciences Department, has carried
out a study of married female students at
Bethlehem University. She addresses the
realities of these students at Bethlehem
University and the social, cultural, and
psychological obstacles and challenges
confronting them in their pursuit of their
tertiary education in Palestine. The study
established a link between the level of
challenges and the lack of cooperation and
moral support primarily on the part of the
student’s partner as well as other family
members and friends. She also noted that
the University administration and staff
could offer more opportunities to student
mothers. Bethlehem University has a high
level of female enrollment at 78.3%, and
thus also has quite a large number of
female married students. Minerva Jarayseh
estimates that around
250 female students are
married, and her research
had a sample of 108
students of which 106
were also mothers.
Marrying young and
having children shortly
after is common
across social layers in
Palestine. Women from
more conservative
backgrounds often marry
right before they attend
university and that
might mean that they
will become mothers as well during their
four years at Bethlehem University. Sujood
is a 21 year old Physical Therapy student
from Hebron who has been married for
two years. Shortly before she was due, she
explained that her mother would be taking
care of her baby once she returns to class.
“My husband makes all the difference” she
says. “He’s a lawyer and is very supportive,
I haven’t had to do a thing the past months
except study and take care of myself”. She
says she is worried about leaving her baby
behind, even though he will be with her
mom. “I fear he won’t know me and I won’t
be able to breastfeed him” she says. “But it
is a sacrifice I make for him too, I want him
to have an educated, strong mother”.
13
“You help me to help ot
“My name is
Hotel Manage
University, I a
to develop ne
Bethlehem Un
food services
Association e
students like
“My name is
Nursing at Be
nurse. I chose
the Faculty o
find jobs righ
that commun
nurse. I truly
them medica
received from
Morlino Educ
studies at Bet
“My name is Abeer Bahnan. I’m a third year
student majoring in Lower Primary Education.
I have always wanted to become a teacher and
encourage young children to study because I
believe in the power of knowledge and education.
I was really sad to learn that Mr. Thomas Wolfe,
who has supported my education for the past two
years, passed away a few months ago. His memory
will last through the commitment of education
he has provided to many needy students like me.
I will always keep Mr. Wolfe and his family in my
prayers.”
ABEER
BAHNAN
14
GEO
“My name is
Therapy. Whe
first choice a
to thank the
to study at Be
Palestinian, I
I am passiona
difference in
the chance to
fullest. I belie
thers!”
In the Fall 2015 Semester of the academic year
2015/2016, more than 800 students received
scholarships and financial aid. 94 of them
For more information
on scholarships, please
visit our website:
received annual scholarships. Here, five of
these students talk about their studies, their
donors, and their passions in life.
Elias Nuaimi. I am a second year student majoring in
ement. Food has always been my passion. At Bethlehem
am combining my talent for art and food and I’m learning
ew dishes. I would like to use the knowledge I get from
niversity to become a famous chef and provide quality
s to tourists who visit Palestine. The generosity of the
en Faveur de la Bethlehem University helps ambitious
e me to get one step closer to our dreams.”
ELIAS NUAIMI
George Ghareeb. I’m a third year student and I’m studying
ethlehem University. I have always wanted to become a
e Bethlehem University because all the graduates from
of Nursing and Health Sciences of Bethlehem University
ht after graduation. I learned from my clinical training
nicating well with patients is what makes you a good
y enjoy it when patients ask for me personally to give
ation or do something to comfort them. The support that I
m the EOHSJ- North Central Lieutenancy through the Bishop
cational Fund has given me the opportunity to continue my
thlehem University and become a better person.”
ORGE GHAREEB
s Issa Jaraysa. I’m a third year student majoring in Physical
en I finished high school, Bethlehem University was my
as it is the only Catholic university in Palestine. I would like
EOHSJ- USA Northern Lieutenancy for giving me the chance
ethlehem University and help me fulfill my dream. As a
I see people suffer every day from the Israeli occupation.
ate about helping reverse the physical pain and make a
n people’s life. By becoming a physical therapist, I will get
o help patients regain their ability to live their life to the
eve that I’m part of God’s plan. You help me to help others.”
ISSA JARAYSA
“My name is Muna Daher and I am from Jerusalem.
I am a second year Nursing student and I attend
classes on the Quibebeh Campus of Bethlehem
University. I’m the only Christian student in the
Quibebeh campus and I’m very honored to be the
recipient of the Dr. Jerome Lejeune Scholarship for
the Study of Science. I believe that everybody in
this world is here for a mission. My mission is to
serve the community by becoming a nurse. On 15
February 2016, I received the extraordinary chance
to meet my donor, Dr. Thomas W. McGovern, MD,
KCHS, and spend some time with him and his 13
year old daughter. I feel lucky and I will always
be grateful to Dr. McGovern for his support and
kindness.”
MUNA
DAHER
15
RESEARCH
Jerusalem’s
Fascinating History
Dr. Omar Abed Rabbo has
been assistant professor
in the Faculty of Arts,
Humanities Department
since 2014. Apart from
teaching several courses on
Arab Islamic civilization, the
Ottomans, and the history
of Palestine, he is also an
avid researcher. His recent
research discussed the gates
of Jerusalem during the
Fāṭimid and Seljūq periods. In
his forthcoming publication, Dr. Abed Rabbo provides new
locations for the gates from the beginning of the Fāṭimid
period until 1033 AD when an earthquake struck Jerusalem.
Dr. Abed Rabbo also worked extensively with the research
and excavation project in Tiberias where Byzantine and
Umayyad remains were uncovered. After completion of
his PhD, he started a post-doctorate program studying the
intellectual life during the Umayyad period in Jerusalem.
Omar Abed Rabbo’s fascination with Jerusalem’s history
has a long history itself. Growing up in Jerusalem, he went
to school in the Old City, after which he started a double
major in history and archaeology at Birzeit University
where he became involved with the Palestinian Archaeology
Institute and started working under the supervision of the
late Professor Albert Glock. After Dr. Abed Rabbo received
his Bachelor’s degree at Birzeit University in 1992, he joined
the Hebrew University for an MA program in archaeology in
1993 and in 1994 he simultaneously enrolled in the Higher
Institute for Islamic Archaeology at Al Quds University. His
MA thesis dealt with the Archaeology of Fāṭimid Jerusalem,
a time period he is still interested in. During his studies, he
supervised and managed a wide range of field projects in
ancient historical cities. In 1998, Dr. Abed Rabbo joined the
Palestinian Institute of Archaeology of Birzeit University
where he held the post of field director of excavations at
Khirbet Birzeit, the ruins close to the present day village of
Birzeit.
In 2014, Omar started working with Professor Basem Ra’ad,
author of Hidden Histories: Palestine and the Eastern
Mediterranean which presents alternative perspectives
on the history of Palestine. Together they formed a group
to initiate work on a new history of Palestine. A founding
committee has been established which hopes to collect
contributions from Palestinians here and in the diaspora
and international researchers on the various periods from
the prehistoric to present time. The committee is currently
preparing the initial guidelines and documents for the
important task of producing an accessible and documented
alternative history of Palestine.
In 2004, Dr. Abed Rabbo rejoined the Hebrew University
as a PhD student at the Institute of Asian and African
studies and again focused on the Fāṭimid but also the Seljūq
period. The Fāṭimid Caliphate was an Ismaili Shia, which
was in power from 909 until 1171 AC. The Seljūq dynasty’s
medieval Turko-Persian empire lasted from around 1037
until 1194 AC and included Jerusalem from 1073 until
1098 when they lost it again to the Fāṭimids just before
Jerusalem’s capture by the Crusaders in 1099.
16
While Dr. Abed Rabbo was working on his PhD, he worked
as a history teacher at the College des Frères in Jerusalem.
He noticed major problems with the history curriculum
and became interested in writing a holistic book about
the history of Palestine as a reference book for students.
He participated in the Danish-Palestinian Founding
Committee’s Palestinian History and Heritage Curriculum
Project which works to re-write the Palestinian history
curriculum. Dr. Abed Rabbo focuses specifically on the
classical and Islamic periods in this project.
At Bethlehem University, Dr. Abed Rabbo was elected as a
member in the Resaerch Council representing the Faculty
of Arts. He received an Internal Research Grant (IRG) for
the academic year of 2014/2015 to finance his research
titled “The gates of Jerusalem during the Fāṭimid and
Seljūq periods” which has now been finalized and will be
published soon. His current major research effort is to
write a book entitled Cultural Life in Jerusalem during the
10th and 12th Centuries. The book focuses on gathering all
the data of learned men who were born, lived or visited
Jerusalem in order to study ḥadīth. The purpose of this
research is to discuss the religious and cultural status and
importance of Jerusalem, particularly in the field of study
and transmission of ḥadīth. Such a study has never before
been conducted. Dr. Abed Rabbo explains that it requires
“meticulous cross-checking of the myriad Arabic sources,
evincing good knowledge of the Arabic language and
familiarity with Islamic technical terminology”.
The comings and goings of different empires and the
attraction Jerusalem has had on people around the world
over the centuries is central to Dr. Abed Rabbo’s work and
has resulted in a fascinating documentation of the history of
Jerusalem and Palestine in general.
STUDENT PROFILE
Joanne Asmari
Joanne Asmari is a 19 year old Accounting – Business Administration sophomore. She works in the Advancement
Office as a student assistant where she helps out in the
Development Office. As a student assistant she works in
exchange for a tuition reduction and of course, she says,
will benefit in the future from having relevant work experience. Joanne receives the Archbishop Antonio Franco
Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship was established by
the International Board of Regents of Bethlehem University with the generous support of Erzbischöfliches Generalvikariat Köln, Mr. Elias and Mrs. Annette Aburdene
and Rev. Kail C. Ellis, OSA, Ph.D. in honor of Archbishop
Antonio Franco for his years of service as Chancellor of
the University.
Joanne loves math but she did not want to become a teacher,
so decided to major in accounting. Her dream is to work in a
big accounting company and maybe start her own business
one day. She loves being at Bethlehem University, which she
says is small and cozy and allows for strong relationships
between students and teachers.
Joanne is planning to do her CPA exams (Uniform Certified
Public Accountant Examination) and get an MA in the field
of finance as well. She not only has ambition but also a
strong work ethic; apart from her studies and work in the
Advancement office, she also works at one of Bethlehem’s
most loved bakeries. The past year she was also a Student
Ambassador, which allowed her to meet with international
groups visiting Bethlehem University’s campus.
Even though Joanne will have to live abroad for a while
if she wants to get an MA in finance, she says she cannot
imagine herself anywhere else but in Bethlehem in the long
run. “I love it here” she says. “Even with the occupation and
how difficult that can be, this is home, these are my people,
and I want to be here, to build my community”.
17
Thank You
For Your Generosity
$100,000+
Signum Fidei
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
EOHSJ - Grand Magisterium
Friends of Bethlehem University
in the United Arab Emirates
EOHSJ - USA Middle Atlantic Lieutenancy
Katholische Zentralstelle für
Entwicklungshilfe MISEREOR e.V
OXFAM GB
US Agency for International Development
through Christian Brothers Conference
$50,000+
Founders’ Club
Arab Bank Plc.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Brother Myron Collins, FSC
De La Salle Institute
Erzbischöfliches Generalvikariat Köln
Michigan State University
Murex S.A.
Salvatorian Sisters
$25,000+
Trustees Club
Dr. and Mrs. Samir Abu-Ghazaleh
Mr. and Mrs. Bassam Aburdene
Catholic Community Foundation
Diakonia-Finland
EOHSJ - Canada, Montreal Lieutenancy
EOHSJ - Canada, Toronto Lieutenancy
EOHSJ - USA Northwestern Lieutenancy
Friends of Bethlehem University
in England and UK
German Association of the Holy Land Jerusalem Office
MISSIO
Mr. and Mrs. John Steger, In Memory
Of George Zirnhelt
Vikes
World Bank
$10,000+
Chairman’s Club
Sheikh Khaled Ahmed Abudullah Al Juffali
American Embassy
Bethlehem Association Scholarship Fund
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
Christian Brothers Community Bethlehem University
CNEWA - Pontifical Mission for Palestine
Consulate General of the USA
De La Salle Brothers
De La Salle Solidarieta Internazionale/SECOLI
EOHSJ- German Lieutenancy
18
EOHSJ - USA Northern Lieutenancy
Rev. Adam Forno
Indiana University
Sheikh Bassam Mahmood Khalil
Abdulrehman Jaber
Mrs. Suad Husseini Juffali
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung E.V.
Les Freres des Ecoles Chretiennes
Calleen and Francois Letaconnoux
Middle East Children’s Alliance
Mr. George Nasra
Mr. Tony Saca and Mrs. Ilham Saca
Munib R. Masri Development Foundation
OSIA NYS Grand Lodge Foundation Inc.
Breda Shelton
Sovereign Military Order of the Temple
of Jerusalem
Union of Jerusalem Graduates
University of Washington
Welfare Association
World Vision Jerusalem West Bank Gaza
$5,000+
Chancellor’s Club
Mr. Elias and Mrs. Annette Aburdene
Al-Rowad Culture & Theatre SocietyAida Camp-Bethlehem
Dr. and Mrs. Marcello Bisotti
Mr. J. Henry Butta
R.M. Dreussi
Dr. Walter Eitel
Embassy of the State of Qatar
EOHSJ - USA North Central Lieutenancy
Fundacion Promocion Social
de la Cultura – Madrid
Konsul Dipl.-Kfm. Michael Wirtz
Mr. and Mrs. James F. Leahy
Brother Richard Lemberg, FSC
Col. John Linsenmeyer, KCHS
George O’Brien & Joseph Linberg
Charitable Foundation
Her Excellency Lady Mary C. O’Brien,
LGCHS
Orthodox National Charitable Society
Mr. and Mrs. Mario A. Pasin
Pershing Fieldpoint Private Securities, LLC
Mrs. Mary A. Simon
Bishop Jaime Soto
Mr. and Mrs. Sandor Straus
$1,000+
Vice Chancellor’s Club
Advisors Charitable Gift Fund (ACGFund)
Ahdaf
Mr. Sa-ed J. Al-Budeiri
Sheikh Dr. Is’haq Al Sahsah
Mr. Bashir Anastas and Mrs. Heather
Haxo Phillips
Aramex Company
Mr. and Mrs. William Bean
Belgian Technical Cooperation
Linda and David Bohan
Marianne and John Borelli
Mrs. Jane A. Borst
Mr. and Mrs. Elias Botto
Helen & Frank Brady
Brothers of the Christian Schools,
Turon Community
Caritas Jerusalem
Deacon Jim and Teresa Carper
Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Theological Union
Christian Brothers Community La Salle
Institute
Community Foundation of Acadiana
Congregation of Our Lady of Sion/
Notre Dame de Sion
Consulate General of France
Mr. William D. Corcoran
Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea
De La Salle Brothers of the Christian
Schools, DENA District
Diocese of Arlington
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Kathleen Batato Egan
EOHSJ - England and Wales Lieutenancy
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Tim Fischer, Australia
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Friel
Friends of the Holy Land – Palestine
Mrs. Patricia Garczynski, LCHS
General Delegation of the PLO
Mr. Pierre Guislain and Ms. MarieFrance Mathes
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Hamer
Lois Harr and John M. Reilly
Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Hazboun 1977
Prof. Nicholas S. Hopkins
Manford D. Hotchkiss and Mary Ryan
Hotchkiss
Ms. Rita Houlihan
Ms. Nancy L. Iredale
Ms. Brigitte Jaensch
Diana and Andrew Jezycki
Michelle Jezycki
Brian Katulis
Mr. Eugen Keller
Elias and Carolyn Khoury
Mr. Bernard Kilroy
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Latin Patriarchate School
Mary L. Levin
Karen J. Linder
Rev. John Mayhead
Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Sally McGovern
Daniel Medinger, KHS
Brother Rodolfo Meoli, FSC
Pamela and Robert Mertz
Mrs. Abigail A. Metzger
1 September 2015 – 29 February 2016
Very Rev. John Joseph Murray
Nicholas and Christian Raho Foundation
Diane Allen Nixon
Mr. John B. O’Hagan, In Memory of
Baby Mary O’Hagan
Ms. Sandra O’Neal
PalTel Group Foundation
Project Loving Care Society-Jerusalem
Reach Education Fund
Mr. John Reilly and Ms. Lois Harr
Mr. S. Rainsford Rounder
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Ruck
Fondazione Mago Sales
Deb Sawyer
Dr. Diane Shammas, In Honor of Mazin
Qumsiyeh, Who Gives Much of
Himself to the Palestinian People
SiParadigm Diagnostic Informatics Inc.
The Sorkhabi Family
Mr. Dave Stannard
Mr. Mohannad Suboh
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Van Aalst
John Viste and Elaine Strite
The Laura Jane Musser Fund
The Xerox Foundation
Tree of Life Educational Fund, Inc.
United Church of Christ Wider Church
Ministries
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Van Aalst
Mr. Kenneth G. Willett
$500+
Special Friends
George and Polla Abed
Anonymous
Gerald R. Barnes
Jim and Ginger Biedron, In Honor of the
Selfless Service of Carlos Velazquez
Ms. Barbara Boigergrain
Brother Martin Borg, FSC
Mr. Patrick and Dr. Maggie Burgess
Msgr. Paul A. Byrnes
Ms. Rebecca Calaor
Rev. Joseph P. Callipare
Christian Brothers Community at
Manhattan College
Mr. Alan Cram and Rev. Pamela M. Cram
Mr. Rudy deLeon
Ecce Homo Convent/Notre Dame de Sion
Edward D. Jones & Co. Custodian
A.M. Edwards
Margild & Alexander Ercklentz
Col. Richard Flahavan, KC*HS
Frere Alumni Association
Mr. John William Gardner
Mr. John Joseph Garvey
Prof. Emeritus Mary Grey
Mr. Heinrich Hagenbucher
Huda and T.E. Jackson, In Memory of
Hadiya Bitar
Geraldine Lawhon
Dennis Lester
Brother Dennis Malloy, FSC
Mr. Luca Marmo
Brother William Martin, FSC
Maslamani Company Ltd.
Mr. and Mrs. Marshal I. McMahon
Ms. Doris F. Norrito
Mr. W. Dennis Owen, AFSC
Michael and Mary Partington
Peter K. Phelan
Lady Kristin W. Piknjac
Monika L. & John Q. Rathbone
Ms. Barbara G. Reynolds
Jane and Richard Rodeheffer
Mr. Jamal A. Sa’d
St. James Cathedral
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Schardon, In Honor
of Carlos Velazquez, Selfless Service
Merylann (Mimi) Schuttloffel
Kathleen Sheehan
Dr. Clayton S. Sinyai
The Rt. Rev. John Smylie
Shibley Telhami and Kathryn Hopps
The Domestic & Foreign Missionary
Society
Mrs. Constance van Wesemael
Keith Walters
Wm. Randolph Weber, KM, KGCHS
Patrick White and Pauline Smetka
Women Against Military Madness
(WAMM)
$100+
Century Club
Dr. and Mrs. Odeh Aburdene
Ms. Katherine E. Acuff, In Honor
of John Schlageter
Steve and Miriam Adams
Miss Maha Alami
Dr. Thomas Ambrose
Anonymous (8)
Anonymous, In Honor of Alexandra
Schaumber
Lawrence and Carolyn Arena
Rev. Christopher Armstrong
Victoria and Michael Armstrong
Dr. Robert Ashmore
Sir and Mrs. Ross S. Bacica KC*HS
Drs. John and Rosaline-Cardarelli Ballard
Mary H. Ballard
Rev. Joseph W. Banden
Steve and Paula Baransky
Dr. David E. Bartkus and Dr. Carolyn Y. Woo
Basilica of the National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception
Mrs. Karen L. Batroukh
Brother Dominic Berardelli, FSC
Ms. Wilma C. Berkeley
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Berner, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael M. Berzowski
Mary M. Blanford
Mr. Peter Bouwes and Mrs. Elisabeth
Bouwes Bavinck
Ms. Shary K. Bozied
Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Brennan
Most Rev. Timothy Broglio
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Brown III
John and Christine Brown
Bishop Peter Brown
Dorothy C. Buck
Fr. John R. Burke
Rev. Martin J. Burnham
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce B. Butler
Mr. Guy A. Butterworth, In Honor of Br.
Joseph Loewenstein, FSC, God’s work
is Timeless and knows no Boundaries
Ms. Layla Cable
Mr. Robert Cable
Valencia Camp
Brother Robert Carnaghi, FSC
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Caruso
Jack and Gerry Casey
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene J. Cassidy, To Celebrate
Students and the Youth of the Holy Land
Catholic Development Fund
Dr. Frank Cave
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Ceasar
Sister Maria Consuelo Celis, SPC
Chevron Matching Employee Funds
Christian Brothers Investment Services
Christian Brothers of the Midwest, Inc.
Christian Brothers Saint Patrick Community
Drs. Stephen and Cheryl Colecchi
Mr. George Comisso
Contribution to Learning
Donald F. and Mary K. Costello
Carolyn Cox
Mr. Adrian Crook
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Crossey
Rev. Anthony T. Curran
Mr. and Mrs. Robert D’Acquisto
Dannoun Corporation for Industrial
Electricity
Mrs. Deborah Darnes
Jim & Marilyn Day
Brigida M. DeLeon
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel De Matteis
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Di Giacomo
Lady Ann S. Dixon, LCHS
Father Lawrence J. Doyle
Drs. Brian and Gloria Duffy
Sister William Eileen Dunn, D.C.
Cree and Frazer Durrett
Peter and Kathy Eder, In Memory
Of Archbishop Giovanni De Andrea
Dr. and Mrs. Richard J. Ellenbecker
Rev. Kail C. Ellis, OSA, Ph.D.
M. et Mme. Abel Erondel
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Faherty
Mr. Barry and Mrs. Angela Fairweather
Rev. Joseph P. Fallon
Ms. Beth Flaherty
Father Martin Flatman
19
Thank You For Your Generosity
Drs. P.R. and C.M. Fletcher
Gerald Flood
Judith Fogt
Sir Charles H. Foos, KGCHS
Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Froehlich
Mr. Shunichiro Funakawa
Bob & Kay Gareis
Bobby and Kate Giaimo
Sir Patrick A. and Lady Shirley A. Giacomi
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Giannantonio
Christa M. Gorman
Brother Paul Grass, FSC, To Celebrate
Students, the Youth of the Holy Land
Mr. James D. Griffin
Brother John P. Guasconi, FSC
Ms. Anne Bisanz Hannahan
Rev. Lawrence and Ms. Mary Hansen,
In Honor of Fr. Richard Rutherford
for his Contributions to Learning
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Hardie
Mrs. Veronica A. Hertel, In Honor
of Rev. Ronald J. Lewinski
Most Rev. Martin D. Holley
Tom and Peggy Howen
Joan and Bob Hug, In Memory
of Mildred Tonning
ICAHD-UK
Mr. Joseph E. Imbriaco
Deacon Sir & Lady Henry Jacquemet
Salim Jreissaty
Ms. Suzanne Keehn
Mr. Kenneth W. Jones and Ms. Melody Shank
Just Give
Mr. and Mrs. Louis E. Kanavati
Ms. Adele M. Kasinskas
Harry and Ana Katz
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kennedy
Drs. Nabil and Mouna Khoury,
In Memory of Issa Khoury, For a
Great Man who was a Role Model
Rev. James C. Kidder
Walter and Judith A. Kimbrough, Jr.
John and Mary King
Brother Charles M. Kitson, FSC
Ms. Mary Kleczaj
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Klocke
Rev. Msgr. Raymond J. Kupke
Ms. Mary Lane
Latin Parish Beit Sahour
Mrs. Patricia M. Latteri
John Leddy
Liverpool Carting Co., Inc.
Archbishop George J. Lucas
Bishop Vincent Malone
Norma V. Marshburn
John P. Martin, M.M.
Ms. Norma V. Marshburn
Ms. Judith B. Marx
The Honorable and Mrs. Eugene F.
Matthews
Mr. Carl McCann, BBS, MA, FCA
Dr. Angela McCarthy
20
Mr. and Mrs. Walter McCormack
Lucy C. McGuirk
Ms. Teresa McLaughlin
Ms. Lucia Meoli
Msgr. Dennis L. Mikulanis, STD, KCHS
Rev. Thomas J. Millane
Jamie Monk
Ms. Margaret Mooney
Mr. and Mrs. Glennon D. Mueller
David M. Murdoch
Daniel R. Murray
Mr. Gerald J. Najor and Ms. Toni Najor
Ms. Daisy G. Neves
Ms. Asunta Nicolau
Ron and Lorraine Nilson
His Eminence Edwin F. O’Brien
Timothy and Julia O’Keefe
Orthodox University Students’ Fund
Our Lady Queen of All Creation Parish
Sir Peter N. and Lady Maria S. Pang
Dr. Karl G. Pankratz and Dr. Michal
Pankratz
Mr. and Mrs. V. Robert Payant
Most Rev. Joseph A. Pepe
Nancy and John Pielemeier
Rev. Mark R. Pierce
Mr. and Mrs. John Polan
Dr. John D. Poling and Cindy Jokela
Dr. and Mrs. Maher N. Qabar, Ph.D. 1987,
In Memory of Nicola and
Dalal Qabar
Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Quaintance, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Quigley, In Honor
of Catherine Quigley
Ellen Regan
Brother Joseph P. Reilly, FSC
Mattie Renn
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin J. Retzke
Bishop Greg and Marti Rickel
Curt and Marybeth Ries
John Ring
Dr. Patrick Ring
Mr. Robert J. Ring II
Mrs. Margaret Robertson
Mr. and Mrs. David W. Robinson
Brother James J. Roszak, FSC
Beth and Paul Royer
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Sacra
Sacred Heart R.C. Church
St. Peters Catholic Church, Eynsham, UK
Saints Gregory and Augustine Parish
Dr. and Mrs. Peter M. Sanfelippo, M.D.
Pauline M. Scharres
Rev. and Mrs. Gerald A. Scherkenbach
Elizabeth Scheuren
John L. Schlageter
Schwab Charitable Fund
Mr. Richard Schweitzer
Barbara Shanahan
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Shepherd
Brother Dominic Smith, FSC
Robert D. Booth and Lorraine Sostowski
Mr. and Mrs. James Spach
Ana M. Spitzmesser
Mr. Cletus Stein
Rev. Paul W. Steller
Rev. Father Thomas F. Stransky, CSP
Mrs. Margaret Suchan-Pickert
Brother Jerome Sullivan, FSC
Susan S. Sullivan
Rev. William and Mrs. Mary Swing
Father Anton ten Klooster
Fr. Richard Tero
Mrs. Marjorie Thornton
Dr. and Mrs. David Toorawa
Mr. and Mrs. Kamel Totah
Rev. Msgr. F. Charles Troncale
Ms. Gloria J. Truitt
Rev. Peter I. Vaccari
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Vasut
Dr. Julian and Cheryl Verde, To Celebrate
our Anniversary
John and Georgiana Warta and Family
Mr. Edwin T. Weber
Mr. Michael J. Westerfield
J. Michael Whitaker, M.D., In Honor
of Brother Carl Clayton, FSC
Mr. Greg Whitby
Ms. Gwen E. Williams
Maria T. Wilms, LHS
The Honorable Bernard Wolff
Carolyn Woo and David Bartkus
Ms. Johanna L. Worley, To Celebrate
Mr. and Mrs. Mazin Qumsiyeh for their
Wonderful and Loving Spirits!
Dr. Kathleen C. Yosko
Youth of the Holy Land
Mr. Johannes Zang
Up to $99
Silver Anniversary
Pat Abfalder
Mrs. Donna I. Abramov
Anonymous (5)
Anonymous, In Memory of Brother
Vincent Malham
Anonymous, To Celebrate Epiphany
Anonymous, To Celebrate the Great Work
you do with the Students
Mr. Gregory J. Appleton
Anna, Monica, Peter & Robert Barber,
To Celebrate Hope and Light
The Archdiocese of Birmingham Parish
Ms. Ellen E. Barfield
Dr. and Mrs. Gabriel John Batarseh
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Beare
Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Becker
Bethlehem University Foundation
Prof. Emeritus Judith Blau
Rev. Allen J. Bratkowski
Tony and Marie Brear
Bernadette Brownbill
Rev. John E. Burger
1 September 2015 – 29 February 2016
Dr. Miriam G. Burke, Ph.D.
Mr. and Mrs. John Cairns
Susanne M. Cassidy
Dr. and Mrs. John Castle
Juan C. Catapang
Carol Chroninger
Ms. Walda W. Cobain, In Honor of Father
Adam Forno
Henry and Marjorie Conroy
Mrs. Rita Courthold
Mr. William C. Crain IV
Msgr. John R. Dale
Ms. Susan Daly
Ms. Diane D’Ambrosio
David J. Depew
Rev. Charles E. Des Ruisseaux
Ms. Eleanor Dwight
Mr. Walid Elefrangi
Lucy Fallon
Rev. Joseph R. Farrell, KHS
Mr. Robert Fernandes
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Finnegan, Jr.
Ms. Gail Flackett
Ms. Claire A. Fordrung
Craig and Dolores Foster
Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Freeman
Ms. Laurel Freeman
Sister Joan Gannon, RSCJ
Dr. John Garrett
Sister Barbara Gfeller, SNJM
Mr. Anthony S. Graefe
Count Jay Hamburger, To Celebrate
Mazin Qumsiyeh
Mr. and Mrs. David Hart
Dr. Annette Herskovits
Dr. Iman Hilal
Pat Holt
Rev. Stephen E. Hook
Mr. Frank Hughes
Mr. G. Richard Hull
Paul and Mary Hurley
Rev. Bishop Peter Ingham
David and Polly Johnson, In Honor of
Mr. and Mrs. Mazin Qumsiyeh for their
Wonderful and Loving Spirits!
Mr. and Mrs. William R. Jorgensen
Mr. and Mrs. Jerome A. Kapp
Mrs. Elaine Kay
Dr. David H. Kelley
Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Kelley
Robert and Kay Kenney
Rev. James P. Kiesel
Ms. Sally L. King
Sister Sarah Kohles, OSF
Sarah Kohles, OSF
KW Botanicals, Inc.
Mr. David Lacheck
Dr. Maurice Lapierre
Rosemary Lawson
Mr. James D. Linn
Mrs. Sheila M. M. Lupton, In Memory
of Richard Lupton
Mrs. Joan W. Lynch
Maureen Mack
Joseph R. Marco
Vera Masrieh-Homsi
Mrs. Sally E. McClean
Ms. Elizabeth McCombe
Jim and Ann McGill
Joe and Paula McGrath
Brother Joel W. McGraw, FSC, In Memory
of Brother Vincent Malham
John and Vera McMahon
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Michael
Mrs. Phyllis Mooney
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mooney
Mr. Michael Moran
Father John R. Morris, OP
Brother Frederick C. Mueller, FSC
Mrs. Maureen Mullaly-Clarke
Father Issa Musleh
Jack and Honey O’Leary
Sister Irene O’Neill, CSJ, CSJ, Ed.D, In
Honor of Michelle Pohlad, Peace Seekers
Mr. Robert J. Onstine
Grzegorz Otronowski, In Memory of
Lidia
Swierczynska
Prof. Dr. John Durham Peters
Mr. and Mrs. Gary J. Piotrowski
Sir Richard and Lady Katherine Pizzato
Mr. Pippo Ranci
Georgiana Rito
Mary Catherine Ryan
Most Rev. Joseph M. Sartoris
Msgr. Francis X. Schmidt
Mrs. Robert M. Schroder
Ms. Linda Sekiguchi
Rev. Lawrence A. Seyer
Ms. Clare M. Sheridan
Ms. Jeanne Shevlin
Mrs. Margaret Snowden
Sister Florence Steichen, CSJ
Mark E. Syjut
Mr. and Mrs. John Tancabel
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Toso
Ms. Vierka Vasquez, To Celebrate the
Palestinians and their Accomplishments
Father Carlos Velazquez
Ms. Sharon B. Ward
Ms. Lee Whitaker
Ann A. White
Paul and Marianne Williams
Mr. Arthur Wong and Rev. Kathryn
Choy-Wong
Mr. Warren S. Wright
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew W. Wrona
Ms. Joan Wutz
Mr. August Yanke
Ms. Margaret Young
Bethlehem
University
Financial 2014-15
Statement
Income (USD).................................. 12,897,465
Tuition and Fees.................................4,916,452
Subsidy, Donations
& Scholarhips.......................................4,438,188
Projects and Research Grants..........1,487,334
Public Service.......................................1,320,028
Other Student Related Income........397,209
Other Sources......................................... 338,254
3%
12%
3%
10%
38%
34%
Expenses (USD)...................................13,371,839
Instruction ..................................................6,590,816
Institutional Support.............................2,056,104
Public Service.............................................1,270,273
Plant Operation & Maintenance..........1,223,990
Projects and Research Grants..........1,016,929
Depreciation...................................................781,473
Currency Exchange Differential........358,823
Employee Relative Waiver.........................73,431
3%
8%
1%
6%
9%
49%
9%
15%
21
04
01
02
05
March 2015 – August 2015
Visitors
03
22
01
Archdiocese
of Edmonton,
Canada.
02
Bishop Beisner’s group,
U.S.
06
03
Caritas Hospital, European
Bishops.
04
Catholic Charities group, U.S.
05
Sovereign
Military Order
of the Temple
of Jerusalem,
U.S.
06
Catholic group,
New Zealand.
10
07
11
08
March 2015 – August 2015
Visitors
09
07
Catholic
Theological
Union students,
U.S.
08
Catholic
Womens
League
CNEWA, Canada.
12
09
Diocese of
Springfield,
U.S.
10
Eastern
Mennonite
University, U.S.
11
EOHSJEngland, U.K.
12
EOHSJ, Finland
23
13
March 2015 – August 2015
Visitors
16
24
13
EOHSJ-Middle
Atlantic
Lieutenancy,
U.S.
14
14
17
15
18
EOHSJ-North
Central, U.S.
15
EOHSJ-North
Western
Lieutenancy,
U.S.
16
EOHSJNorthern
Lieutenancy,
US.
17
EOHSJ Western
Asutralia
Lieutenancy.
18
First Lutheran
Church, U.S.
19
22
20
23
March 2015 – August 2015
Visitors
21
19
Fr. Alex Kratz’
group, U.S.
20
Fr. Anthony’s
group, Australia.
24
21
Fr. Carlos
Velazquez’
group, U.S.
22
Fr. Mark
Pierce’s group,
U.S.
23
Rev. Ralph
Kleiter’s group,
Canada.
24
Franciscan
group, U.S.
25
March 2015 – August 2015
Visitors
26
25
General Board
of Pension and
Health Benefits,
U.S.
26
25
28
26
29
27
30
Group from
France.
27
Group from
Surrey Hills,
U.K.
28
St. Joseph Seminary, U.S.
29
H.E. Sir Michael
S. Feeley,
KGCHS and
Mrs. Feeley.
30
Houston
Diocese, U.S.
31
34
32
35
March 2015 – August 2015
Visitors
33
31
Johannes
Zang’s group,
Germany
32
Mr. and Mrs.
Marino, U.S.
36
33
Mr. Daniel
and Mr. Jason
Medinger, U.S.
34
Msgr. Ludger
Bornemann’s
group,
Germany.
35
Msgr. Tillman’s
group, U.S.
36
National
Association
for Lay
Ministry, USA
27
Opening of the renovated University Library
Giving to Bethlehem University
Gifts from the local and international communities can be made
via check to ‘Bethlehem University; or by bank transfer. For
more information, please contact:
Advancement Office
PO Box 11407 – 92248 Jerusalem
Tel: +972 2 274 1242
Fax: +972 2 274 4400
[email protected]
Bethlehem University Foundation
Gifts from the United States can be made via check to:
‘Bethlehem University Foundation’ – a tax deductible non-profit
eligible for employer matching gifts. (Tax ID 22-3600739) For
more information, please contact:
Scan the QR codes in
the magazine using
a QR code reader
application on your
smart phone.
28
Bethlehem University Foundation
P.O. Box 355
Beltsville, MD 20704-0355
[email protected]
To keep hope, faith, and the dreams of so many young people in
Palestine alive, please consider making an immediate difference
with an online contribution to Bethlehem University. Visit www.
bethlehem.edu/donate/online to make a convenient and fast
online donation.