Dear JPB Family and Friends, May’s warfare in the Holy Lands left a deep wound. Fought on four fronts, the violence reached a scope not seen since 1948. Today trust between Arabs and Jews nears an all-time low, with majorities in both communities unsure of their future together. Throughout the crisis, the JPB staff worked around the clock to provide support, encouragement, and prayer for our network of 8,000+ students, educators, clergy, alumni, and medical personnel. Time

Agricultural work is, of course, seasonal. JPB’s passion for spreading the ‘blessings of peace,’ however, is not. Peacebuilding requires a comprehensive effort that can never rest. This is the spirit that drives JPB’s In-School Program which recently concluded a successful year despite the relentless challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, JPB reached 20+ schools throughout Israel, with age groups ranging from 14 – 18 years old. JPB’s dedicated teaching talent would s

Building upon the great success of our winter in-school programs at ILM Academy and The Emery/Weiner School (EWS), JPB led more impactful courses at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. In April, after months of planning and preparation, we led an online interfaith program called Building Bridges for 100+ Jewish, Christian, and Muslim 6th-8th graders from ILM, EWS, and St. Cecilia Catholic School. Our Interfaith Youth Houston program also had a final online event focused on

JPB’s faithful friend, Guest Jewish Educator, and current Board Member, Rabbi Steve Gross, recently worked with local rabbis and imams in Houston to publish a Community Statement on the recent violence in the Holy Lands. The Statement, which you can read here, speaks to the importance of interfaith work, advocacy, and dialogue. Rabbi Steve and many others have worked for decades to build interfaith partnerships across the city despite pressure and disagreement around the Isra

In April, JPB was invited to moderate a special interfaith panel focused on the pandemic and our respective faith traditions. The panel was dedicated to the memory of Angie and Stuart Kensinger, and was hosted by our friends and partners at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church as part of their Great Wednesday Webinar Series. Fr. Nicholas moderated the panel, which included Rabbi Amy Small, The Rev. Neil Willard, and Imam Bilal Ansari. To watch the full panel discussion, click her