We stayed at a kibbutz near Akko for 3 nights. It has an interesting history--is Christian, staffed mostly by volunteers, has a social action agenda, is kosher. Many liberal groups stay here including Encounter, a group the supports dialog between Israeli and Palestinian survivors of the ongoing conflict in the area. Also staying here this weekend is a group of Israeli and Palestinian teenagers who are gaining understanding of each other using art. Right now I can't remember the name of the group but Debbie Nathan from Boston area is the executive director.
Nes Ammim founded by a Dutch physician Dr. John Pilon who arrived in Israel in 1950 to work in the Scottish Hospital in Tiberius. He became aware that Christian-Jewish relations had deteriorated and that it was important to promote an improvement in relations.
Dr. Pilon found ideological support for his idea from Dr. Hans Bernath, a Swiss doctor who worked in Nazareth hospital, and Shlomo Bezek, a Dutch Jew from Kibbutz Ayelet Hashahar. Together they searched for financial means to establish a Christian village in Israel. In 1959 Dr. Pilon met with Protestant priest Arich David from Germany and in 1960 Nes Ammim Germany was founded. It was decided that its objective was to concentrate on dialogue between nations and religions and create a space in Israel to carry on this dialog. In December 1960 a proposal was written to the Israeli government that was accepted for the establishment of a kibbutz. In 1962 about 2800 square meters of land were transferred to Nes Ammim ownership. They support themselves through farming and running a guesthouse that has space compatible for large group meetings.
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