Partnering in Good Faith, for the Rehabilitation of the Jordan River

By Andrew Deutsch

A very special interfaith ecology tour, “Partnering in Good Faith, Towards the Rehabilitation of the Jordan River,” took place on January 28th, 2016. EcoPeace led the tour, and Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD) organized an interfaith group of participants to attend, from its Women’s Faith and Ecology Project. Similar tours are taking place with Jordanians and Palestinians, with the intention to enable Jews, Christians, and Muslims to learn about, and discuss the relationship between faith traditions, ecology and the Jordan River.

We headed down the ear-popping and picturesque descent to the Dead Sea plain, to the lowest river valley on planet Earth and the lower Jordan River. The tour itinerary included three sites along the river, beginning with the Baptism site at Qasr al-Yahud on the Israeli side of the Jordan River. The second site we visited was the St. Gerassimos monastery, and the final stop was an abandoned hotel with painted murals of the Jordan valley around its walls, on the northern tip of what was once the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea has since declined significantly, and has receded hundreds of meters from the sea-side hotel.

All through the tour EcoPeace Middle East expert Mira Elizabeth Edelstein gave well-researched and informative presentations to the participants about the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Jordan River, its sad demise, the related geopolitical and environmental issues, and encouraged discussion of related faith-based themes. Terry Hendin, a participant from Jerusalem, commented that the tour was “enjoyable and enlightening as well as inspiring.” The role of the different faith communities in sustaining the restoration, and reconciliation between human kind and nature, and the possibility of taking action were also discussed, culminating in the signing of EcoPeace’s ‘Covenant of the Jordan River. You can sign the covenant here: www.SavetheJordan.com