Bright Stars of Bethlehem

Bright Stars’ vision is for all people of Palestine to have life in abundance. Its mission is to raise awareness and support for Dar al-Kalima (DAK) University of Arts and Culture. Located in Bethlehem, Palestine, DAK opened in 2006 as the first and only university in all of Palestine dedicated to arts and culture. By advancing the values of democracy, freedom of expression, and critical thinking, the university is dedicated to keeping the Palestinian culture alive while building a freer and more just Palestine. This is accomplished by providing for the health, educational, cultural, and spiritual development needs for Palestinians of all ages through the University and its associated programs of the Diyar Academy for Youth and the Ajyal Senior Care Center.

Bright Stars of Bethlehem began with Christian roots. Today, many of the 60,000 Palestinians served by the programs and services Bright Stars sponsor, indeed much of the population of Palestine is Muslim. Bright Stars believes that helping others, regardless of their religion or worldview, is in the true spirit of Christianity, as Jesus’ own work crossed boundaries of race and beliefs.

To enhance our relationships and as part of the ELCA accompaniment model, 21 Central members and guests took a trip to the Holy Land in January 2023. The trip put in context the beloved stories we know from the Bible and presented the complexities of life in the Middle East. We spent much of one day at DAK and saw the value of our financial support and prayers as we interacted with students, staff, and faculty.