Dear Members and Friends,

We hope you enjoyed The Bethlehem Association Convention 2006.   It was four days filled with friends, family, stimulating discussions, trips, comedians, movies, debka, dinners and dancing to live music.  WOW!  We received great feedback that everyone truly enjoyed themselves.  While all that is important, our main mission is to raise funds to help the less fortunate back home and thanks to all of you that felt the compassion in you heart, we had one of our most successful fund raising events ever.  On behalf of all the people and organizations that we help with those funds, I want to thank all of you who that stepped up and did the right thing.

For those who could not attend, we hope that you plan to join us at our next convention.  We will announce it by email and on our website.  Remember that Bethlehem always needs your help, so for those of you that have not yet had the opportunity to contribute, please visit us online to make your donations on our secure website. “…TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, OF HIM SHALL MUCH BE REQUIRED…” If you have been so blessed please give back to those that need it most at a most desperate time. 100% of your generous donations will be used to aid needy families in the Bethlehem area. 

A report on the convention will be available on our website in September. In the meantime, if you wish to share any photos with us, and would like to have them posted on our website, please follow the instructions below.

An organization is only as successful as its members. Thank God for our members.  May He bless you and your family.
 
We hope to see you all at our future gatherings.

Sincerely,

David Handal
President
The Bethlehem Association

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A sincere thanks to everyone who made our

2006 Convention in New Jersey

a huge success!

 

Once again, people from all over came to reunite with family and old friends, make new ones, and raise money for our beloved Bethlehem. This year was a little different from the rest as the program was changed up a bit and we had surprise performers. Everyone gave great feedback and the consensus was the this year's convention was a "blast"!   Some people came early on in the week to enjoy the sights and sounds of the great city of New York. On Thursday, everyone had a great time at the world-famous South Street Seaport. Thursday night started with an intimate Welcome Buffet and ended in a fun night out on the town in New York City.
On Friday, everyone enjoyed a relaxing cruise around the island of Manhattan on the Circle Line. Friday night we were honored with a poignant speech from the esteemed Mayor Dr. Victor Batarseh, the mayor of Bethlehem. We also enjoyed a touching speech from Brother Jack Curran and a hilarious performance from critically-acclaimed and award-winning Arab-American comedian, Dean Obeidallah.	Dean Obeidallah
Everyone had the chance to relax, shop, spend the day in New York, and catch up with friends on Saturday. Also, throughout the convention, everyone had the opportunity to convene in our registration room and shop at the tables. Joan Hazbun arranged a table for the Association with a display of Bethlehem mother of pearl and olive wood crafts, important books and articles about Bethlehem and a large street map poster of Bethlehem. Matt Horton, (WRMEA) organized a table for the Washington Report on ME Affairs, other ME publications, and a table of beautiful embroidery and handmade ceramics from Palestine. Sam Barry (de L'Atelier Céramique) and Janette Hasbun were proud of their two tables of fine handmade jewelry and dazzling lacquered pieces which were greatly admired and purchased.	Mayor of Bethlehem Dr. Victor Batarseh Watch video
Our member’s board meeting was held on Saturday morning and it was refreshing to see some new faces attending. The important panel discussion on Bethlehem, with Ambassador Afif Safieh, Mayor Victor Batarseh, Professor Waleed Hazbun, and Bro. Jack Curran as speakers, was extremely informative and sparked lively discussions. See article in Washington Report on Middle East Affairs(WRMEA). Brother Jack Curran Watch Video Bethlehem University
Saturday night was a chart topper in monies raised and entertainment! Everyone felt empowered by Ambassador Afif Safieh’s speech. "You (Bethlehemites in the USA) are part of the national fabric of the American society. This gives you an added responsibility, because you are the oxygen for our people abroad". Demand an end to the Israeli occupation ! An extremely moving video presentation of Bethlehem, the current situation, and the charity work of the Bethlehem Association was put together to music and world-renowned poet and writer, Nathalie Handal’s poetry.	Palestinian Ambassador to the USA: Dr. Afif Safieh watch video #1 watch video #2

 

 

The room soon burst into clapping and stomping feet as the Nujoom Folkloric Dance Troupe stormed into the room and bought everyone to their feet in doing the dabkeh.   Just as everyone thought the night was over, they were informed that there was a surprise performance by none other than world-famous, Arab-American comedienne and actress, Maysoon Zayid. Maysoon had everyone in stitches!   The night ended with non-stop dancing until the last hours of the night. But the party didn’t end there, as a group of people grabbed a tableh and tambourine and sang the night away. The convention was concluded at the Sunday gathering with a moving speech from Fr. Jamal Khader.

The Nujoom group

 

We again give a heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and donated.

We couldn’t have succeeded without you.

We urge you to become more involved in your association and convention.

Your input is ALWAYS needed!

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