Updates from the field
Lifelines of Hope for Bethlehem's Christian Families
Amid growing hardship and instability, your support delivers urgent relief
June 09, 2025 | by Charmaine Hedding
A time of war means economic hardship and emotional strain on the Christians in Bethlehem.
Visualize a mother in Bethlehem looking at her empty pantry, wondering how she’ll feed her children another day. Then she opens our envelope…
A quiet but powerful act of love unfolded across Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and Beit Sahour.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, 120 vulnerable Christian families received food vouchers—each worth 300 shekels—bringing not just meals, but a deep reminder that they are not forgotten.
A Community at Risk
The challenges these families face are not isolated. They are part of a broader crisis facing Christians living under Palestinian Authority and Hamas control. A recent report from the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs shows a dramatic decline in the Christian population due to violence, weak law enforcement, and religious coercion.
Hamas’s terror tactics—indiscriminate rocket fire, civilian targeting, and regional destabilization—have intensified danger for Christians, a vulnerable minority under the Palestinian-Authority and under Hamas in Gaza. The economic toll has been crushing.
More Than a Meal: A Sign They Are Seen
In communities where Christians often live under intense economic pressure and face marginalization, these vouchers meant far more than a financial reprieve. They were signs of solidarity—of connection to a global Church that cares about their dignity and survival.
Each voucher brought immediate relief to families struggling to meet basic needs. But it also delivered something harder to quantify: dignity, hope, and the assurance that someone, somewhere, is standing with them.
Impact Snapshot:
- 120 families nourished with dignity
- 3 communities—Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and Beit Sahour—reached
- Countless hearts uplifted by the reminder that they are not alone
Your Compassion Makes a Difference
Shai Fund supports an average of 10,000 people of religious minorities each year, providing both urgent aid and long-term support. In times of crisis—when families flee persecution or violence—Shai Fund responds immediately with essentials like shelter, food, and clothing.
By partnering with local communities, the fund not only delivers emergency relief but also helps vulnerable individuals rebuild their lives and strengthen resilience for the future.
Together, we’re showing the Christian community in the Holy Land that we see them, stand with them, and will not forget them.
