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I was introduced to Blest Art at a display of your carvings and other art at Assumption  Church, I was overwhelmed with their beauty and then learned about your mission and the continued challenges to Christianity in the Holy Land, and how Blest Art is helping address these challenges with financial aid as a result of, your sales of these works.

Some of our readers may not realize that for centuries Christians in Bethlehem have earned a living by carving religious art to sell to pilgrims.  The continued violence in Palestine has severely reduced pilgrimage and, as a result, sales of their art,  and we are losing many of the artisans. Blest Art is helping to keep this important tradition and art form alive.

Blest Art  has been profiled by Catholic News Service  and Blest Art has been praised by bishops throughout the United States and other faith leaders in other countries..

Please give our readers some background information on Blest Art

Blest Art is honored to represent Christian families from Bethlehem District of Beit-Sahour  the Shepherd’s field. Most of these families rely on selling their olive wood carvings as the main source of income. However, in the year 2000 violence erupted again in the Holy Land. Consequently, there was a great decline in the number of pilgrims coming to purchase these beautiful works of art resulting in a severe reduction in income for our families. This lack of income has led to miserable living conditions. Therefore, many of our families were forced to flee and go anywhere else were they could afford to feed their children and have a more secure life.

Lead by Jeryes Qumseya, the Deputy Chairman of the Palestinian Traditional and Tourism Industries Association at the time and renowned Christian figure and carver, Blest Art came to the United States in an effort to sell the olive wood carvings and send the money back to the Holy Land. This has now become the main source of income for many Catholic and Christian families in the Bethlehem area. It has also given the Christian communities the opportunity to live and work with dignity in the midst of ongoing conflicts. Mr. Qumseya and his noble cause enjoy the largest support among their people. Since its creation, Blest Art’s has enjoyed the largest support from many of the Christian leaders plus most of the U.S Diocese, and many other Cardinals, Bishops, and Christian leaders around the world who are greatly aware of the Christian society needs and Blest Art’s great contribution to meet those needs and enforce the Christian overall presence in Bethlehem, the Holy Land.

Blest Art does not request or accept any donations. Rather it accomplishes its goal by giving our Catholic and Christian brothers in the U.S the chance to help the Christian families of Bethlehem area through purchasing a unique gift of religious art from the Holy Land. Doing so; it provides a direct tangible support to the Christian families in Bethlehem and help build awareness of their existence and their needs. Blest Art’s noble mission gives Catholics and other Christians in the U.S the opportunity to help the Christian families in the Holy Land. Blest Art’s noble cause, strong Christian faith, and that of the Artisans shine through the beautiful artwork. There are always good causes, but this one is especially important as it gives each of you a way to be in solidarity with the oldest Christian community on earth.

Blest Art’s work brings to you the advantage of being able to reach out beyond your borders with uniquely, real, tangible, and effective help. It is more than a handout, as a collection would be; it is a hand-up for the Christians who want to live in peace; and support their families with a centuries-old trade and way of life. Your support for these craftsmen and hard-working Christian artists helps to ensure a viable Christian presence in the land where the Gospel was first preached.

This call to welcome Blest Art and help us in our efforts is not a petty request, but rather an obligation.

“If we are taking Holy Communion and yet doing Nothing to relive the pain of our brothers and sisters whom we know are suffering, then are we not among those guilty bystanders? Unless we share what we have, our brothers and sisters will be hungry, and their children will have no medical care or access to education.” Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington DC: To the Martyrs, A reflection of the Supreme Christian Witness.

Nearly all countries provide various forms of support to endangered species. However, Christians are rapidly becoming an endangered species in the Holy Land and Blest Art is providing critical assistance to inform others of this challenge and providing assistance. In addition.   your work in providing disabled  people at the Almalath Charitable Society with training  is inspirational

Approximately how many disabled people has Blest Art trained?

About 50 people and we hope to continue and grow. Plus many other needy families, students, hospitals, and many other NGOs

We have also proudly supported and continue to do many social and religious organizations in the Bethlehem area, for example

• Clinics: including the Beit-Sahour Cooperative Society for Health Welfare.
• Schools: including Health Work Committees Nursery and Pre-school Center; Shepherds’ High School of Beit-Sahour; School of Joy; Latin Patriarchate School of Beit-Sahour.
• Other Charitable and Social organizations: including Al Malath Charitable Society; Al Awda Youth Activities Center;, Arab Orthodox Culture Club ; Arab Orthodox Charitable Society Alternative Tourism Group, Palestinian Woman Association for Development; Arab Women’s Union Society; Elderly Care Center-Beit Sahour.

We usually get the diocese approval first, then contact the parish and arrange a visit were we can display our work and sell directly to those who are interested in the wellbeing of Christianity in the Holy Land and worldwide. People have to understand that Christians in the Holy Land and in the Middle East in general are just the very first line of defense of the Christian faith and existence. The dangers and threats that we face their Like ISIS are worldwide threats and it is a matter of time that they target other communities all over. Thus, we should stand united and make sure that we do the least to support those who are giving up everything they have to protect our faith and our heritage. Christian solidarity among all Christian denominations is much more needed than it was ever before.

“The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out to be heard by everyone who can still distinguish between good and evil.  It makes no difference whether the victims are Catholic, Copt, Orthodox or Protestant. Their blood is one and the same in their confession of Christ. Today the church is a church of martyrs: They suffer, they give their life and we receive God’s blessings for their witness”. Pope Frances, Tuesday April 21, 2015.

However, I want to make sure that I am not misunderstood. This is not a call for war, yes it might be easy to be carried away, especially when others use violence, to respond in a like way, but we should not. We always have to remember who we are as followers of Jesus and respond with the speaking the truth in love, as Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington D.C, puts it in his new book: To the Martyrs, A reflection of the Supreme Christian Witness.. This is by the way a wonderful book and I encourage everyone to read it. It is very well written and very enlighten.

Catholic Charities has also been very active in addressing some of the challenges that has resulted from the violence .  In January 2016.  Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the apostolic nuncio heading the Holy See’s permanent observer mission to the U.N.  also spoke our forthe need for peace between Israel and Palestine.  Approximately how many artisans have left Bethlehem in the past twenty years?.    .