If you weren’t able to join us live for our 6th Annual Hope Abounds Gala, we’ve got great news — the full recording is now available for viewing!

Donations to support the gala will be accepted through the end of September, so there’s still time to make an impact and help advance the mission of Dar al-Kalima University, the first and only university dedicated to arts, culture, and design in all of Palestine.

We are endlessly grateful for the incredible community that made this event possible: Covenant Presbyterian Church for hosting us with such warmth, our inspiring speakers for sharing their wisdom and stories, our dedicated ambassadors and watch parties across the country, the talented production crew who brought the gala to life, and all of our supporters around the world whose generosity and passion make hope a reality.

Together, we are creating opportunities, building connections, and empowering the next generation of leaders at Dar al-Kalima University. Thank you for standing with us. Hope abounds because of you.

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FEATURING

Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb

Rev. Raheb is a prominent Palestinian theologian and the author of over 50 books, translated into eleven languages. He is an acclaimed international speaker, having addressed the U.S. Congress, the German Bundestag, and various European parliaments. He has lectured at prestigious universities like Yale, Harvard, and Princeton and delivered keynote speeches at major events, including the National Prayer Breakfast. His work has been featured in significant media outlets such as CNN, BBC, and Al-Jazeera, and he appeared in a 2012 segment on CBS's 60 Minutes about Christians in the Holy Land.

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Rick Steves

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, author, and television personality known for his travel philosophy that promotes exploring less-touristy areas and immersing oneself in local cultures. Since 2000, he has hosted the public television series Rick Steves' Europe and has a public radio show called Travel with Rick Steves. He is also the author of several travel guides, starting with Europe Through the Back Door. In 2006, he became a syndicated newspaper columnist, and in 2010, he launched the mobile app "Rick Steves’ Audio Europe." In addition to his travel work, Steves supports humanitarian initiatives in Palestine.

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Our Brief History

In 1995, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb launched educational, arts, and healthcare programs at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church, his congregation in Bethlehem, Palestine. He also began meeting with pilgrimage tours to promote cultural and spiritual exchange, guiding pilgrims to areas in the West Bank that are often overlooked by organized tours. The success of these programs attracted the attention of several supporters in the U.S., including Rich Bimler and Gregg Smith from Wheat Ridge Ministries (now known as We Raise) and the well-known author and poet, Herb Brokering. Working together with Rev. Raheb, they founded an independent U.S.-based nonprofit organization, which was established in 2004 under the name Bright Stars of Bethlehem. 

By 2006, Dar al-Kalima University (DAK) was established. DAK was the first institution of higher education in Palestine solely dedicated to the arts. Its first class of 22 students graduated in 2008, and now there are more than 500 students enrolled. Bright Stars accomplishes its mission through scholarships and the construction of new facilities to help Dar al-Kalima meet the ongoing need for education and employment training in Palestine. In this way, we empower the next generation of creative leaders in Palestine.

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  • AMBIENCE

    Two young Palestinians try to record a demo for a music competition inside a noisy, crowded refugee camp. While failing to record because of the chaos of their surroundings, they discover a creative way to allow them to meet the deadline.

  • BY THE SEA

    Nahid wants to celebrate her husband’s birthday while he is on the run from Israeli soldiers, however, due to the COVID-19 lockdown, it is really difficult for Nahid to get all the ingredients needed to bake the birthday cake. Will Nahid be able to celebrate her husband’s birthday with him in their secret hideout?

  • IN THE WAITING ROOM

    Hussien — a 30-year-old Palestinian Arab with Israeli citizenship after being evacuated in 1948 — escorts his freshly bereaved 70-year-old mother Rashida to her medical appointment in an Israeli hospital waiting area. While Hussien works on an assignment on his laptop, Rashida — who hasn’t left her house in three months — tries to socialize with others in her limited Hebrew.

  • MAR MAMA

    Haunted by her mother’s death and recurring attacks by Israeli forces on her city, a young girl becomes obsessed with death. To distract her, her father makes a stop-motion film. However, his attempts fail and the girl finds nothing other than imagination to escape from reality.

  • THE DEER'S TOOTH

    The film centers around a young man from a refugee camp who embarks on a perilous journey in order to fulfill his little brother’s wish: To throw his milk tooth into the sea.

  • THE FIRST DINNER

    Siwar and her father are sat on the dinner table face to face. An encounter after 15 years of absence. Could what once was, still be? A somehow non existent relationship between a father and his little girl is redefined at the dinner table.

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