Across the Divide Podcast

This episode is a part of Across the Divide’s Monthly Book Club. To join Across the Divide’s Book Club, become part of our Patreon community  at https://www.patreon.com/c/AcrosstheDivide 

In this episode, Jen has a conversation with Rifat Kassis on the Kairos II document, authored by Palestinian church leaders in October 2025. Rifat describes how the realities of genocide and settler colonialism has led to the newest Kairos document as a theological assessment of the dire situations that Palestinians are facing as well as an appeal to the global church to repent from complicity and engage in costly solidarity with their Palestinian siblings.

Rifat Kassis is the General Coordinator of Kairos Palestine and Global Kairos for Justice, being one of its founding members. Follow Rifat on his Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rifat.kassis) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/rifatkassis15/ )

Kairos Palestine Document & Study Guide- https://thepjn.org/kp2studyguide 
BDS Resources- https://bdsmovement.net/ 

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Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

#israel #palestine #gaza #kairos #repentance #solidarity #bds #faith

Christopher Hays joins Abeer to explore the ethics of the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus on “welcoming the stranger” and it relates to debates around immigration and citizenship.

Christopher is president Scholar Leaders, and a biblical scholar committed to the transformation of theological knowledge into missional practice, he has worked in projects ranging from authoring scholarly volumes to establishing church-based ministries to victims of forced migration. He holds degrees from Wheaton and Oxford. His most recent book in English is Eight Million Exiles: Missional Action Research and the Crisis of Forced Migration.
Support our work at Across the Divide: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide
Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠
Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

It's blatantly obvious that Islamophobia has been a driving force in justifying Christian support for the Gaza genocide and the ongoing war on Iran. We’re joined by Jordan Denari Duffner, a Christian theologian and expert on Islamophobia, to discuss the history of Islamophobia, its role in the Palestine/Israel conflict, and how to combat it. 

Jordan Denari Duffner, PhD, is a Catholic public theologian whose work focuses on Muslim-Christian relations and interreligious dialogue. She’s written Finding Jesus among Muslims and Islamophobia: What Christians Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination. Her forthcoming book is titled "Palestine, Israel, and Catholic Social Teaching, co-authored with Julie Schumacher Cohen. Follow Jordan’s substack here: https://jordandenariduffner.substack.com/

The Shoulder to Shoulder campaign: https://www.shouldertoshouldercampaign.org/

Support our work at Across the Divide: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide 
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#israel #palestine #gaza #islam #iran #christianity #bible #faith

To join Across the Divide’s book club, become part of our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/c/AcrosstheDivide
In this conversation, Jen Maidrand sits down with Mercy Aiken, a storyteller and advocate whose work serves as a vital bridge between the West and the Holy Land. Mercy shares the deeply moving journey of co-authoring Yet in the Dark Streets Shining : A Palestinian Story of Hope and Resilience in Bethlehem with Bishara Awad, the founder of Bethlehem Bible College.
Through the lens of Bishara’s life—marked by displacement, faith, and an unwavering commitment to education—Mercy discusses the unique challenges faced by Palestinian Christians and the profound impact of the Bible College on the local community. We explore the weight of telling such a significant story, the shifts in perspective since October 7th, and Mercy’s enduring hope for a future rooted in empathy rather than fear.
Mercy Aiken is a cross-cultural advocate, storyteller, and peacebuilder dedicated to fostering empathy and understanding in the Middle East. With years of experience living and working in Palestine and Israel, she serves as a bridge-builder between Eastern Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Mercy is the co-author of Yet in the Dark Streets Shining, the memoir of Bishara Awad, which chronicles the little-known history of Palestinian Christians through the resilience of one family.
Beyond her writing, Mercy is a seasoned pilgrimage leader, organizing transformative journeys to the Holy Land designed to move participants toward a more embodied and curious faith. Her professional background includes serving as the Relationship Manager for the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East (NEME) and her current work with Peace Catalyst International. Through these roles, she engages global communities to address the challenges of the Holy Land, encouraging a new generation of Jesus-following peacebuilders to lead with grace and truth. Follow Mercy’s substack for more: https://mercyaiken.substack.com/
Buy Yet in the Dark Streets Shining: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Dark-Streets-Shining-Palestinian/dp/1737945908
Support our work at Across the Divide: https://www.patreon.com/AcrosstheDivide
Follow Across the Divide for more on ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠‪@AcrosstheDividePodcast‬⁠⁠⁠
Across the Divide partners with Peace Catalyst International to amplify the pursuit of peace and explore the vital intersection of Christian faith and social justice in Palestine-Israel.

#israel #palestine #gaza #judaism #history #christianity #bible #faith

Ron Naiweld, professor at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), in Paris, France, joins us to discuss how Jews over the last 2 thousand years have understood the Biblical idea of possessing the land.

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‬⁠⁠⁠#israel #palestine #gaza #christianity #bible #faith #zionism