[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" overlay_color="" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" padding_top="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" padding_right=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" spacing="yes" center_content="no" link="" target="_self" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_image_id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="left top" undefined="" background_repeat="no-repeat" hover_type="none" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" border_radius_top_left="" border_radius_top_right="" border_radius_bottom_left="" border_radius_bottom_right="" box_shadow="no" box_shadow_vertical="" box_shadow_horizontal="" box_shadow_blur="" box_shadow_spread="" box_shadow_color="" box_shadow_style="" padding_top="" padding_right="13%" padding_bottom="" padding_left="13%" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_text columns="" column_min_width="" column_spacing="" rule_style="default" rule_size="" rule_color="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id=""] Update | 4.23.2019 April Updates With the calls for the annexation of the West Bank and the wave of home demolitions across E. Jerusalem and elsewhere, the indigenous communities here are facing an existential crisis. Israel continues to target the South Hebron Hills with demolitions in Susiyah , blocking vital roads between Palestinian communities , and arbitrary imprisonment of human rights workers . Now is the time to enact real campaigns to resist the forces of colonization. The Good Shepherd Collective continues to build a movement to confront the mechanisms of displacement in real ways. While we offer material support for vulnerable communities across the West Bank--most specifically in Um al-Khair with our greenhouse project--we recognize that these projects are but bandaids on the core issues of injustice and violence. While some like to talk about this so-called “conflict” in religious terms, pitting this as a great dispute among religions, or in a nebulous framework of community trauma as a means to explain the cycles of violence, we take an approach much more grounded in reality: The colonization and displacement is rooted in the set of laws and policies which privilege one group over another. Because after all, where there is social stability across the globe--for which there are numerous examples--there is one commonality: equitable enforcement of the law and a fair distribution of resources. While this is self-evident, it always seems necessary to highlight this rather mundane point. As such, our work is more than just educating people on the ways that Israel creates false narratives to perpetuate a system designed to displace the indigenous people, we look at ways this system is upheld in direct ways and layout meaningful solutions to overturn the structures of oppression. This is why for the last two months we’ve embarked on a journey to create a Palestinian grassroots network from the South Hebron Hills to the Northern Jordan Valley to cut the funding mechanisms of Regavim . Regavim is a Zionist organization which works through Israel’s legal system to displace the indigenous communities from their lands. Regavim has filed hundreds of petitions to evict Palestinian communities, most notably in Susiyah, Khan al-Ahmar and numerous Bedouin communities in the Negev. The communities that we are working with are willing to stand on the front lines of this campaign, fully prepared to take on the backlash from the Israeli settlement community because of the havoc and destruction that has been waged on their lives. Regavim, like many other organizations which support Israel’s program of colonization, enjoys a vast amount of support from US taxpayers . We’ve watched the success of the campaign of Independent Jewish Voices Canda to revoke the charitable status of Beth Oloth Charitable Organization --an organization that was financially supporting the Israeli military. We’ve witnessed a turn in the Democratic party to challenge the ways which Israel’s settler enterprise can not only be critiqued publically--but also suggesting ways they can be curtailed . The ground is fertile for this campaign. We have garnered the support of roughly 20 different Palestinian communities, another 40 different Palestinian activists from the South Hebron Hills to the Northern Jordan Valley and are beginning to take our coalition building to the western areas of the West Bank and the Bedouin communities in the Negev to expand the call-to-action. We’ve begun construction on the campaign website and have nearly finished 40 interviews from local Palestinian communities to talk about the impact of Regavim, the importance of the campaign, and how the international community can stand in solidarity. We hope to have completed about 70 percent of the coalition-building process in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Negev before Ramadan begins and then move to secure the support of Israeli organizations committed to meaningful justice work. We, of course, have secured the commitment of progressive Israeli organizations like the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions and Ta’ayush, but there is much work left to be done. After we finish developing our network here, we will pivot to the United States to organize with our natural allies in the struggle for justice. As we continue to build this movement, we need financial support to cover the costs of transportation to the various community and communication needs, like printing brochures, and the maintenance of the website. Over the next few months, there will be a lot of heavy lifting putting this all together and your financial support is crucial. You can stand in solidarity with the local communities’ call to action and make a US tax-deductible donation through the Alliance For Global Justice here, or if you are an international, and don’t need a tax-deductible contribution, you can commit financially through this link. We are counting on you. In solidarity, Cody [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" overlay_color="" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" padding_top="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" padding_right=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" spacing="yes" center_content="no" link="" target="_self" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_image_id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="left top" undefined="" background_repeat="no-repeat" hover_type="none" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" border_radius_top_left="" border_radius_top_right="" border_radius_bottom_left="" border_radius_bottom_right="" box_shadow="no" box_shadow_vertical="" box_shadow_horizontal="" box_shadow_blur="" box_shadow_spread="" box_shadow_color="" box_shadow_style="" padding_top="" padding_right="13%" padding_bottom="" padding_left="13%" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_text columns="" column_min_width="" column_spacing="" rule_style="default" rule_size="" rule_color="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id=""] Update | 3.10.2019 March Updates The Good Shepherd Collective finished the first harvest from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdcollective/posts/373964853191477?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDvFpBzgf13MEKCojubTsDkWaeikRXH-rS1zrGzu_V5ukPJtYN4p-tL-SHXDAirVxYv4ib8ipooqWyxKDduCLaiKlaq0EiIlEjEQKPm2z8FhPhhmgwBQz-tSD_vdwmD1J0HYFG_IO3CAS_3zZGrgSZnXyDNjMwT9VOMwecbKBMRcuvrtf-CKKAn9L_X-S1ezZr6xNc63hQwGDYEjo61tYG2x5gSPA_Ji5hxUXxTISv6RH_kyyzc8WCnvIPjeEyzTqiq_RuzdNHn7i9ALIUONboTx3TVsKF7JUmANLRy09LzT9QX4WqhSvGa11jZ1wm-T2Tr8C0f18IO60shp0kynec&__tn__=-R">greenhouse with a healthy yield of cauliflower . It produced enough to distribute to 28 families in Um al-Khair and an additional sum to the surrounding villages in the South Hebron Hills. For a first-time run, there were lessons learned in terms of water consumption, fertilization, and general maintenance. Throughout the growing season, the Good Shepherd Collective held work days for hundreds of individuals, providing a political context while they engaged in joint resistance to the ongoing Israeli settlement expansion. We will be moving onto the next phase of the agricultural project and planting cucumbers and tomatoes during the next growing season. We’ve already had one plowing day and will be having a couple more to prepare the ground for planting. Currently, we are having some dialogue on whether or not canning the vegetable products will be a viable option to create additional economic activity in the community. We have organized meetings with nearly 20 villages and community organizations to develop additional strategies for outreach and advocacy campaigns around the recent onslaught of home demolitions , property destruction and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdcollective/posts/376135632974399?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAxRlsgy-Ogvlp0QB7TNbNJb5f3FkdZ2ik6EK6U_V43ctAT7UNQ2a2_x0tUVwg6CazdU0Lvz8lrXgfh1glUYA0JiM4AKeO6RsyISNFZqfjKlrrdMBlo_JVppgdLxcOtdVDkL2v9CORap5altxelS_qtlFUgK_sE5sOPCkv7x46bdvBqLcPgQlRDu_NwlBQTaWFO4-JJNvObEh8VMiifGo6pFeFb3ffZWH3fghaZko0w0lmGHqHKaOlAtg22P03l4_0aMgAF5uIz4A1LsG_UEYSNKdrmOv9MQzMg7ldZ-L0ofwmeD1F2VS0S6LGHrtJ247I7GgvCCk116DaHZ6zzBazBMPNvyxskc5pMQgn7wTtpo6C-8hbsbIXtMMh0SZoh94k18OXE-nXeSP7ssWkm71jK38P5QKUkcRPMfVkSLdlMjz2HsS2Z7Hm499bKGeNXyS4vbPl27f0Sn40tAtGyhnNtTf4ZduRCySbxHQplnjLr87hOOA4&__tn__=-R">settler attacks across the West Bank. We are focusing on raising the voices of the local communities directly as a means to mobilize human rights advocates and advocates globally. We’ve made substantial progress, having worked now from the South Hebron Hills to the Jordan Valley and the other Bedouin communities in East Jerusalem, most notably Khan al-Ahmar. From Jan 1 to March 11, 106 Palestinian structures have been demolished, displacing some 175 people. Ten of these structures were donor-funded, representing a continued disregard of international humanitarian aid. Eid Hathaleen, one of the core field workers, is currently on a speaking tour across the United States, visiting several universities, affinity organizations, and politicians to highlight the current situation in the West Bank, focusing on the current wave of home demolitions and displacement. Thanks for continuing to stay engaged with the work of the Good Shepherd Collective. We continue to run solely on individual donations. Please consider giving monthly. Small contributions of 5, 10, and 15 dollars a month make a huge impact . If you are a US citizen and want to make a tax-deductible donation, you can do it through our fiscal sponsors, the Alliance for Global Justice through this link here . Also, to ensure that our emails get into your address box rather than spam, please add the following emails to your address book: cody@goodshepherdcollective.org, tariq@goodshepherdcollective.org, awdah@goodshepherdcollective.org, and eid@goodshepherdcollective.org. In solidarity, the Good Shepherd Collective [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Update | 2.10.2019 It has been a busy month for the Good Shepherd Collective. Most importantly, we convened a meeting in South Hebron with a delegation of Palestinian representatives of 12 different villages, associations, and organizations to bring together a coalition to deal with the onslaught of Israeli settler violence and annexation. As the coalition moves forward with tangible advocacy actions for you to take, it will be paramount that you stay engaged. Please make sure you not only Like our Facebook page, but that you Follow it as well. Furthermore, the campaign we are preparing to launch will rely heavily on social media, and as such, we will be spending money on paid advertising to make sure our advocacy initiative goes as far as possible. If you can make a donation this cause, that will help our effectiveness and outreach. We hope to be rolling out the campaign in 2 to 3 weeks. It will be during that time, particularly in the initial phases, that we will most need your help. This week we’re hosting a professional photographer, Steve Pavy , this week for a special project documenting the life in Um al-Khair, which we are very excited about. We are starting a pilot project with a university in the UK to take a look at how local communities resist violence and oppression, as well as the emotional impact of Israel’s ongoing colonization of Palestinian lands. The Good Shepherd Collective hosted representatives of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdcollective/posts/359071038014192?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDQ69HKlIlFTsmD8jxC6eyrUpnjSOCLxDihpeNT_7caZofYM51QSFtN0JDKf09Nq7zqghZRuDtp4CzC-b_mVCkneTzCkXF4dEGOn48fHxKDXXru6-SsTqESiyc4e1UWOvR16MBGgcdlu5ATaUk9-0EuXMWxh4pVvKNHKylKjTU2Facnyi3v7VhsTJm3NooC78b7Tvddv_TnJYpeUKcVBUB36vfpXXS3ltQc13KUotElBVFmaG9N3MJOgtFpVpckM-R0Ov6MnQ6X_r6y4BWn4nGeV2zmVPyP74RzRD5eFDt7G9ji4yvdeT1-h8v-OMIUdYEQDUmuws-P56FQ6Sn7JLg&__tn__=-R">British Council in Um al-Khair for a briefing on the ongoing Israeli settler violence and the annexation of Palestinian lands in the South Hebron Hills. Israel’s ongoing program of displacement and colonization continues essentially unabated with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/goodshepherdcollective/videos/1423640811103793/?__xts__[0]=68.ARD3oFfIjDhDTlBmupNAAUXVPt1mpwLd0yBdErMuwIU-C6iG_g_A4vD24kNlMp9WpLiOTCSMQgIKPuBwvHmXmIl6m-Jpd7vQKIVKummG4HFdfWVOaImouM5Lg1EggB8olF7RRHsmrWsjdfML0VYNdG4h_uZrB6uQ1Z9Y_QR70gEB61CaT47-Pku4WVjSS_IEAGTK59ieyBsWbdSyCUsfIUPOVt533CNZJvlrylOxsBCAcqLck0e3ILlmlHnQ8VnMECGvf2WFyZ-oZjntdfsa1xXHdeJWaEZSWi6qr8PwHUseTUZU6CeasYCUTtuYKlKl5upFdH1U5a5MVhe1voT3LlzGyBwsfTWDECI&__tn__=-R">recent bisection of Masafer Yatta . We’ve made substantial progress in rehabilitating the original caves in Um al-Khair, making improvements on our infrastructure relating to international visitors and their interests in spending significant time in the South Hebron Hills. We’ve continued to have support regarding our work days, cultivating the land in the southern valley of Um al-Khair in the face of ongoing settlement encroachment. The continued investment into the southern area not only represents a project that can generate revenue for the embattled community, but also stands as an act of resistance against the annexation of lands. Also, to ensure that our emails get into your address box rather than spam, please add the following emails to your address book: cody@goodshepherdcollective.org , tariq@goodshepherdcollective.org , awdah@goodshepherdcollective.org and eid@goodshepherdcollective.org . In solidarity, the Good Shepherd Collective

Update | 1.10.2019 Thanks for continuing to support the movement for human rights in the Holy Land and specifically the Good Shepherd Collective and our work in the South Hebron Hills. Here are a few updates and facts. The British Shalom-Salaam Trust accepted our application for fiscal sponsorship. This partnership now means that tax-payers of the UK can make a tax-deductible contribution to the Good Shepherd Collective and request Gift Aid. Israel’s policy of home demolitions continues to pave the way for more settlement expansion. In 2018, the Israeli Civil Administration carried out 213 demolitions, destroying some 460 structures (including 56 donor-funded). The demolitions led to nearly 500 people being displaced from their homes according to OCHA data. In the first two weeks of 2019, the Good Shepherd Collective has hosted over 30 internationals for work days in Um al-Khair . While this great progress, there is still plenty of work to be done to promote on-going advocacy initiatives, and other programs happening in Um al-Khair, like Eid’s art classes. We are looking at the prospects of organizing a speaking tour in the United Kingdom this year, potentially in the fall, to talk about the work of the Good Shepherd Collective and the impact of Israel’s military occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands. Since starting the Facebook page, website, and other social media outlets, we’ve garnered a lot of support, including financial contributions to maintain the work on the ground. We hope that you will follow our social media outlets on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram and help share the realities on the ground and upcoming opportunities to join in on the work. The weather has been cold and rainy for the last few weeks. While the rain is always welcomed, the cold, windy nights make the conditions very harsh in Um al-Khair. As the Israeli Civil Administration doesn’t allow for the construction of adequate housing, the tents and tin houses in the community provide little in the way of keeping the heat in and the cold out. As always, if you are a registered voter in the United States, we ask you to send a letter to representatives on behalf of the community of Um al-Khair. You can do that through this link here . If you are able to contribute financially, even just a few dollars a month, you can do that through our website here , or if you are a US citizen needing to use a US-based charity, you can make monthly contributions through our partners, the Alliance for Global Justice . What has been encouraging is to see people say, “While I don’t have a lot of money, I am able to make a monthly donation of five dollars a month.” In many ways, we find it more encouraging when people with little means to donate, still decide to make a financial investment into the work. The little contributions add up over time and give financial flexibility in ways that grants and larger donors just can’t provide. We hope your holidays and New Year celebrations were meaningful and fulfilling.

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GSC Program Terms of Service The Good Shepherd Collective (hereinafter referred to as “GSC”), their agents, officials, officers, directors, employees, volunteers, contractors, servants or representatives (hereinafter refer to as “The Releasees”) are not responsible for any death, injury, loss or damage of any kind suffered by any person while participating in GSC events and all related activities of GSC, including injury, loss or damage which might be caused by the negligence of THE RELEASEES. GSC includes in this definition of events and all related activities of GSC transportation to and from events on occasion by bus, taxi, and individual transportation by volunteers, visits to several communities, accommodations, travel on public transportation, and other activities as determined by the GSC organizers. 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These risks include, but are not limited to: Risks associated with travel to and from all venues of the various components including transport by public or private motor vehicle which could include but are not limited to an accident resulting in severe physical injuries or death; • • Food-related illness resulting from any meal arranged for you by GSC organizers and partners; • Muscular injuries and soft tissue injuries, broken bones, bruises, scrapes, cuts, sprains, dislocation, head, facial eye and/or dental injuries which might result from participation in GSC programs; • Injuries resulting from falling or being knocked down or steep steps where a fall may cause injury or death; • Injuries resulting from rough terrain, failure to see an obstacle, failure to negotiate a turn, etc.; • Injuries resulting from walking on a hill, slipping and/or falling; • Injuries resulting from malfunctioning of equipment or misuse of equipment whether owned, designed or operated by myself or the staff of the Releasees; • Changes in weather or temperatures which may result in hypothermia, frostbite, windburn, sunburn, colds or flu; • Death, injuries or illness resulting from failure to follow directions from those in charge of the program and all related activities; • The risks associated with returning to my residence after participating in the program and/or related activities; and • Other risks associated with being a spectator of or being present at a crowded, outdoor or indoor venue. 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YOU freely accept and assume all responsibility to provide YOURSELF with medical/health and travel insurance coverage. INDEMNIFICATION AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY In return for allowing YOU to voluntarily participate in the program and all related activities, YOU agree: 1. TO ASSUME AND ACCEPT ALL RISKS arising out of, associated with or related to YOUR participation in GSC program and all related activities, even though such risks may be caused by the negligence of the Releasees; 2. TO BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURY, LOSS OR DAMAGE which YOU might sustain while participating in GSC program and all related activities, even though such injury, loss or damage may have been caused by the negligence of The Releasees; 3. TO HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY THE RELEASEES from any and all liability for any damage to the personal property of, or personal injury to, any third party resulting from YOUR participation in the GSC program and all related activities; 4. TO HOLD HARMLESS, INDEMNIFY AND RELEASE THE RELEASEES, their officers, directors, agents, volunteers, employees and representatives from liability for any and all claims, demands, actions and costs which might arise out of YOUR participation in GSC program and all related activities, even though such claims, demands, actions and costs may be been caused by the negligence of The Releasees. MEDICAL CONDITIONS YOU agree to advise the organizers of the Event prior to the start of the activity of any existing medical conditions or injury By making a payment or participating, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THIS AGREEMENT, that YOU have executed this agreement voluntarily, and that this agreement is to be binding upon myself, my heirs, executors, administrators and representatives.

Um al-Khair Honey Your purchase of honey goes to more than just supporting the families who work on the beehive farm, it's an investment into peace and justice in the Holy Land. You can fill out this form and purchase 1/2 to 2 kilos of honey and have it shipped to your house. Additional shipping costs apply. To find out how much the costs of shipping are, please check here . Once we receive your payment, we will send a follow-up confirmation, take your payment for shipping and your order will be on the way. [wpforms id="2202" title="false" description="false"]

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Q: Eid's Workshop Registration

Eid's Art Workshop We are excited that you're taking the steps to engage at a deeper level in peacemaking and justice work, not only in the Holy Land, but globally through Good Shepherd Collective programming. Eid's Art Workshops are a great way to get to understand how grassroots resistance takes shape in real time on the ground through the art. We understand that everyone comes into those work with various interests, capacities, and ideological considerations. We are welcome diversity and have a long history of accommodating the various needs of participants. If you already feel comfortable in spending time in Um al-Khair and traveling around the West Bank, then fill out this form, read the disclaimer , and we can make the next steps. If you have additional concerns or questions, or just want to make time to chat on the phone for clarifications, please email us at info@goodshepherdcollective.org. If you are planning a group, two or more people, send us an email so we can organize a group rate for you! Register & Pay [simpay id="2404"]