Steve Kliewer on his recent trip to the “Holy Land”

The conflict between the State of Israel and the Palestinians is complex and confusing. What is happening in what many call the “Holy Land” is heartbreaking. This unique place is an important place for at least three religions and yet is torn apart by struggles and enmity that have deep roots.  The traditional scene of the nativity sits in the shadow of the “wall of separation.”  The temple mount in Jerusalem casts its shadow on the rubble of a house destroyed by Israeli soldiers.  We will look at the history of the strife and the current situation on the ground in the West Bank.

Stephen Kliewer has lived in Wallowa County for the past 20 years. Dr. Kliewer received a BA from Whitman College and went on to receive a Masters in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey and a Doctorate of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He also completed a Masters in Mental Health Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). He has been a Presbyterian minister and continues to provide services to the church in Lostine. As an EMT, Steve worked for Medical Teams International, a nonprofit involved in both disaster relief and medical development projects, and was involved in projects in Somalia and Northern Iraq. He recently visited Jordan and Palestine. Free and open to the public, light refreshments.