A Cafe and Garden Rooted in Hope

The tragic violence impacting Gaza and the Holy Land continues to leave a generation of young Palestinians carrying hardships most of us can hardly imagine. In the midst of uncertainty, displacement, and loss, spaces for community, creativity, and healing are not luxuries—they are lifelines.

At Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, one such lifeline already exists: the Rubash Garden, the heart of campus life. This garden is where students gather between classes, where conversations unfold, where art students sketch beneath the open sky, and where community quietly takes root. Now, that space is being thoughtfully increased through the expansion of the Rubash Garden - and the creation of the Cafe —a $150,000 project grounded in dignity, presence, and hope that is breaking ground this month and projected to be completed by the end of May.

Providing a place to sit, create, work, and breathe offers something profoundly human: a sense of normalcy, joy, and belonging. It is our belief that by nurturing this space, we can contribute—however modestly but meaningfully—to peace, healing, and new life in a region where stability is desperately needed.

A man wearing glasses and a clergy collar, smiling, in a professional setting.

As Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, President of Dar al-Kalima and founder of Bright Stars of Bethlehem, says “In a political reality where nearly all green space in the West Bank has been taken, the city’s gardens become its lungs—breathing life, shade, and quiet hope into the concrete.”

FUNDRAISING PURPOSE

  • A bright, modern cafe with large glass windows, wooden tables, and people working on laptops or reading, with outdoor seating visible through the windows.

    A safe place for students to gather, study, and breathe

  • Rooftop terrace with tables and chairs, surrounded by flowers, with a cityscape view and house on the side.

    Employment for four students per shift, offering dignity and real-world experience

  • Seating for 70 students indoors and 30 students outdoors

THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE

  • Valentine's Day message with a heart and brushstroke in the colors of the Palestine flag, and the text: 'PS Valentine Day Palestine is my Valentine'.
  • Smiling group of people at a buffet, some holding plates of food, in a bright, modern space with large windows.
  • A woman walking along a curved garden pathway surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery, with a house and outdoor seating area in the background.
  • Three young women standing together in a library aisle between bookshelves filled with books, smiling at the camera.
  • A landscaped garden with stone steps, trees, and vibrant flowers, including pink and purple blossoms, under a blue sky.
  • A young woman with curly brown hair, wearing a beige jacket and earrings, sitting in a library aisle, smiling at the camera.
  • A woman walking on a curved stone pathway through a colorful garden with pink, yellow, and orange flowers, two trees, and a building in the background.
  • Two young women hugging and smiling in a library or study area with bookshelves and orange chairs in the background.
  • Group of eight young adults, diverse in ethnicity, posing together indoors with paintings on the wall behind them.

INVEST IN EDUCATION:

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION

WITH RICK STEVES

A smiling middle-aged man with glasses and gray hair sitting in an office with wooden shelves filled with papers, books, and personal items. A large map of Europe is on the wall behind him, and sunlight streams through a window with trees outside.

With a $50,000 matching gift pledged by Rick Steves, every dollar raised will have double the impact. Together, as we raise the additional $100,000 needed, we will strengthen Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem—supporting arts education, cultural programs, and creative spaces that give young Palestinians a constructive, dignified path forward.

Rick Steves has long been a supporter and friend of Rev. Raheb, who is an internationally renowned pastor, peacemaker, and author. And Rick is a firm believer in Mitri’s peace-building work and hope-filled mission. If you’ve ever wondered what difference one person can make, doubling your donation with Rick’s match is it.

Your gift helps build a place of belonging in a land where so much has been taken. Your generosity turns solidarity into something tangible. Your love helps ensure that students can stay, learn, work, and create in their homeland. Bright Stars of Bethlehem provides support from caring people in the United States for Dar al-Kalima University, the first and only university for arts, culture, and design in all of Palestine. The funds raised will directly support students, faculty, and programs that foster creativity, resilience, and hope—ensuring this vital institution continues to thrive.

If more funds are raised than required to complete the café and garden expansion, the additional support will be directed to unrestricted operating funds for Dar al-Kalima University.

Unrestricted funds allow the University to respond to its most urgent and evolving needs, including:

  • Student scholarships and financial aid

  • Educational equipment and learning resources

  • Campus maintenance and infrastructure

  • Employment and support of essential faculty and staff

This flexibility ensures that every gift continues to strengthen students, protect academic programs, and sustain the daily life of the University—long after construction is complete.

“As we work to build a lasting peace with justice in the Holy Land, it often feels like a struggle between walls and bridges. While walls keep people apart, the mission of Bright Stars of Bethlehem is to bring people together in a positive way. With its unique focus on culture and the arts, it serves as a bridge rather than a wall, and fosters peace.” - Rick Steves