Bright Stars of Bethlehem September Newsletter

September 16, 2026 Ru-Lee Weller Passman

Dear Faith Partners,

As the fall semester begins at Dar al-Kalima University, I wanted to take a moment to share with you all that has happened this summer. In August, 142 students graduated from the Bethlehem campus. These are students from the various colleges of fine arts, architecture and design, cultural management, and college of graduate studies. Many of these graduates are now going on to work at global and local institutions and some have even created their own start-ups, taking their creativity into the world. Behind every number is a life that has been transformed through Dar al-Kalima University.

One student, Asmaa Al Hour, a graduate of the fashion design program, is taking her capstone designs to an upcoming international fashion show. Her collection, which she titled, Marsan: The Only Refuge, shows Palestine's maritime fishing heritage and the challenges faced by fishing communities. The collection highlights traditional crafts such as sickle-making, the distinctive Gaza "Tasneeneh" embroidery technique, and natural dyeing, transforming stories of the sea and resilience into contemporary fashion, and preserving them for future generations.

This is the work of Hope that you empower. And there’s more. In Gaza, the important work of the university is continuing for its 6th year in a row. Dar al-Kalima University held a summer camp that reached 691 children. The camp provided children with safe and supportive spaces for artistic, recreational, and interactive activities that provided children with spaces for self-expression and healing.

One girl was withdrawn and reluctant to participate at the beginning of the summer camp. But with encouragement from Dar al-Kalima artists and volunteers, she gradually joined drawing, games, and group activities and became more comfortable interacting with other children, as psychosocial support and art helped provide her with a sense of belonging.

These are only a few examples of the transformative work that Bright Stars supports, and I wanted you to see it firsthand, because you make this work possible. There’s still a lot of work ahead, but together we will continue empowering Hope.

Empower Hope Today

For Raneem, fashion design has become a way to tell stories that are deeply personal. As part of the creative community at Dar al-Kalima University, she is learning to use design not simply to create something beautiful, but to give form to experiences and emotions that can be difficult to put into words.

Her newest collection may be her most personal yet.

It was inspired by her twin sister, Raheeq, and her journey through illness. During some of her most difficult days, Raheeq carried a black bag with her because of the nausea she experienced. Rather than ignore this painful reminder, Raneem chose to transform it.

Using black as the foundation of the collection, along with smooth and textured leather, Raneem created evening and formalwear designed to exist in harmony with the bag her sister must carry. Drawing from surrealism, she exaggerated areas of the garments corresponding with where Raheeq experiences pain, allowing each piece to become a visual expression of what is happening within the body.

What began as a symbol of illness became part of the art. But perhaps the most beautiful part of this collection is why Raneem created it in the first place. It is an expression of love for her twin sister, an acknowledgment of a body that continues to endure, and an attempt to give Raheeq something illness so often takes away: the ability to feel that what she must carry does not diminish her beauty.

This is the kind of creativity being nurtured at Dar al-Kalima. Art that does more than make us look. It asks us to see differently. And Raneem’s newest work reminds us that sometimes art cannot remove what someone is carrying, but it can transform the way we see it.

That is what Threads of Hope is about. Creating opportunities for young people like Raneem to take their experiences, their creativity, and the stories that matter most to them and turn them into something meaningful.

Right now, your thread can have twice the impact. Thanks to a generous donor, every gift to Threads of Hope will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $125,000. Together, we can continue creating the space for Palestinian students to learn, create, tell their stories, and imagine what comes next.

Add Your Thread To Theirs

Threads Of Hope

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See Dar al-Kalima University Through Rick Steve’s Eyes

Rick Steves has spent decades traveling the world, meeting people, experiencing cultures, and encouraging others to look beyond the headlines. When it comes to Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, he has seen firsthand just how extraordinary this place is. It is a place where young Palestinians are given the opportunity to learn, create, develop their talents, and prepare for meaningful careers in the arts, culture, design, tourism, entrepreneurship, and beyond.

In this video, Rick shares why he believes in the work happening at Dar al-Kalima and why investing in education is such a powerful way to stand alongside the next generation of Palestinian leaders, artists, creators, and changemakers.

Upcoming Events

Bright Stars of Bethlehem invites you to experience Lilies of Gaza: Women Artists in Times of War. Through this powerful exhibition, we share the art and stories of 22 Palestinian women artists from Gaza, who bear witness to life in the midst of war, loss, and displacement while revealing the extraordinary resilience of creativity, identity, and hope.

You can experience this exhibit: September 13th – October 4th at Northminster Presbyterian Church, IL. Executive Director, Tracie Ortman, will be joining for an in-person presentation on September 20, 2026

November 1st- November 30th at First Lutheran Church, St Peter MN. Development Director, Tala AlRaheb, will be joining for an in-person presentation on November 1st.

Upcoming Events