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):
Tuesday 02 July 2024: Arrival and orientation
Guests will arrive at their accommodation in Bethlehem.
At evening Orientation for the participants at Siraj Center by Siraj Center staff
Wednesday 03 July 2024: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Thursday 04 July- Friday 05 July 2024: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Saturday 06 July 2024: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Sunday 07 July 2024: 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
Monday 08 July 2024: Free Day
Tuesday 09 July 2024: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Wednesday 10 July 2024: Free day
Thursday 11 July 2024: 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.
Friday 12 July – Saturday 14 July 2024: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Monday 15 July 2024: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Tuesday 16 July 2024:
Wednesday 17 July 2024: Free Day
Thursday 18 July – Saturday 20 July 2024: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Monday 21 July 2024: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Sunday 22 July 2024: 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.
Monday 23 July 2024: Free Day
Tuesday 24 July – Thursday 26 July 2024: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Saturday 27 July 2024: Departure date
SECOND MONTH (August 06th - August 31st 2018):
Tuesday 06th August 2024: Arrival, transfer to your accommodation.
At evening Orientation for the participants at Siraj Center by Siraj Center staff
Wednesday 07th August 2024:
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Thursday 08th August – Friday 09th August 2024: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Saturday 10th August 2024: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Sunday 11th August and Monday 12th August 2024: 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.
Tuesday 13th August – Friday 16th August 2024: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Saturday 17th August 2024: volunteer work and maybe cooking class
Sunday 18th August 2024: 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.
Monday 19th August 2024: Free Day
Tuesday 20th August – Friday 23rd August 2024: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Saturday 24th August 2024: volunteer work and maybe cooking class.
Sunday 25th August 2024: 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.
Monday 26th August 2024: Free Day
Tuesday 27th August –Thursday 29th August 2024: Classes and volunteer work.
AM: Class at Bethlehem University.
PM: Volunteer work or free afternoon
Friday 30th August 2024: free day
Saturday 31st August 2024 : Departure
