Throughout this time of unprecedented violence in Palestine/Israel, many are asking, “وينك يا اللة؟”, “where are you God?” This lecture responds to this lament by presenting the felt-sense of divine presence and agency at faith-based reconciliation organisation Musalaha. Based on theological ethnography conducted from October 2022-2024, including participant observation and 20 in-depth interviews with 9 Palestinians, 9 Israeli Jews and 2 internationals from various faith and religious backgrounds, this lecture presents two key findings of divine encounter through loving neighbour and wrestling. I argue that these accounts shift attention away from ascents to the extraordinary and toward the everyday work of moral repair.
Courtney Reeve is a PhD candidate in Theology and Religion at Durham University and has been living in the land since October 2022. She is also a Research Fellow at the Hebrew University advised by Dr. Salim J. Munayer. Originally from Canada, Courtney completed her Master’s in Theological Studies in Urban and International Development (MTSD) at Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto and previously worked as Assistant Pastor at a Mennonite Brethren church in downtown Toronto.