Learn Arabic at Bethlehem University, spend time with local families and volunteer with a community organization.
The Palestinian Summer Celebration 2021 will take place in Bethlehem from July 02 to August 31. The program consists of two terms: July 02 to July 27, and July 06 to August 31. Program participants can choose to stay for one or both terms. The celebration is organized by Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies in partnership with Bethlehem University (www.bethlehem.edu). Program participants will have the opportunity to meet and learn with accomplished speakers, experts, activists, and officials.
Read about some of our participants' experiences:
2009
2008
The dates of the program are subject to change due to the dates of the Arabic course at Bethlehem university
Programs are subject to change.
FIRST Month (July 2 - July 27, 2023):
Sunday 02 July 2023: Arrival and orientation
Guests will arrive at their accommodation in Bethlehem.
At evening Orientation for the participants at Siraj Center by Siraj Center staff
Monday 03 July 2023: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Tuesday 04 July- Wednesday 05 July 2023: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Thursday 06 July 2023: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Friday 07 July 2023: Day Tour – Hebron
We will tour the old city of Hebron and meet with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT Palestine) organizations committed to peace and reconciliation in Palestine. We will visit traditional glass and pottery factories, Ibrahimi Mosque, The Tombs of the Patriarchs, and converse with locals. On the way back to Bethlehem we will stop at the Tent of Nations to hear stories about the conflict. Back to Bethlehem
Saturday 08 July 2023: Free Day
Sunday 09 July 2023: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Monday 10 July 2023: Free day
Tuesday 11 July 2023: Day Tour – Jerusalem
We will explore the Mount of Olives and the Old City of Jerusalem, Al Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the afternoon we will meet with the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) for a tour and lecture regarding the geo-political situation in Jerusalem. After that we will go to B’Tselem—an Israeli NGO committed to documenting and educating the Israeli public about human rights abuses in Occupied Territories—and meet leading figures in the fight for human rights.
Wednesday 12 July – Friday 14 July 2023: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Saturday 15 July 2023: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Sunday 16 July 2023:
Monday 17 July 2023: Free Day
Tuesday18 July – Thursday 20 July 2023: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Friday 21 July 2023: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Saturday 22 July 2023: Day Tour – Jericho and the Dead Sea
On this day-trip we will visit the world’s oldest continuously thriving city—Jericho—whose settlements date back to 9000 BCE. In the early morning we will hike Wadi Qelt, the Mount of Temptation, and Tel Jericho. In the afternoon we will float in the famous, salt-dense and mineral rich Dead Sea.
Sunday 23 July 2023: Free Day
Monday 24 July – Wednesday 26 July 2023: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Thursday 27 July 2023: Departure date
SECOND MONTH (August 06th - August 31st 2018):
Sunday 06th August 2023: Arrival, transfer to your accommodation.
At evening Orientation for the participants at Siraj Center by Siraj Center staff
Monday 07th August 2023:
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Tuesday 08th August – Wednesday 09th August 2023: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Thursday 10th August 2023: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Friday 11th August and Saturday 12th August 2023: Day Trip – Nazareth and Galilee
We will travel to Nazareth and Galilee for an overnight excursion, and participants will learn about the current state of Israel and the 1948 catastrophe. Along the way we will meet with Ittijah, a coalition of Arab community organizations, tour destroyed and unrecognized villages, see Haifa, Jaffa, and Akko, and visit a number of holy sites. We will return to Bethlehem late on Sunday night.
Sunday 13th August – Wednesday 16th August 2023: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Thursday 17th August 2023: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Friday 18th August 2023: Day Trip –Jericho
This day we will have a tour to Jericho, hike in the Wadi Qelt or tour Jericho (Hisham’s Palace), Cable car to lunch on Mt. of Temptation and visit monastery and Elisha’s Spring, visit the traditional baptismal site; float in the Dead Sea. Drive back to Bethlehem.
Saturday 19th August 2023: Free Day
Sunday 20th August – Wednesday 23rd August 2023: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Thursday 24th August 2023: volunteer work and maybe cooking class.
Friday 25th August 2023: Day Trip – Northern West Bank
In the Northern West Bank, we will tour the cities of Qalqilieh, Tulkarem and Jenin. In Jenin, we will visit the Arab American University. We will also meet with local organizations and officials, see refugee camps, and learn about regional living conditions.
Saturday 26th August 2023: Free Day
Sunday 27th August –Tuesday 29th August 2023: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Wednesday 30th August 2023: free day
Thursday 31st August 2023 : Departure