Group tries to stop flow of Christian emigration from Holy Land

Published: 2008-04-22

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Butros Abu Shanab said he may be like the tragic literary hero Don Quixote as he tries to stop the continuing tide of Christian emigration. Abu Shanab, a 54-year-old architect who quit his job to spearhead the nonprofit Holylanders Association for the Preservation of Christian Heritage, let out a wry laugh: Though he is intent on stopping the younger generation of Christians from emigrating, three of his own four children live abroad. "I have one daughter studying in Berlin, a son studying in Australia, a married daughter and two grandchildren living in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and only one daughter is still living with us," said Abu Shanab, a Greek Orthodox. "This is very typical of Palestinian Christian families." Two years ago Abu Shanab left his job and began rallying all his energies and a large part of his finances into an ecumenical effort to curb Christian emigration and strengthen the community's identity and traditions regardless of denomination. His association just recently started its work.

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