Rappe shares experience of living in the West Bank

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

The guest speaker at the Our Lady of Victory Church, Fergus Falls, fellowship hall Tuesday evening, July 30, was Wendy Rappe, a native of Vernon Center, southwest of Mankato. She, her husband and two children at the time lived in Israel and the West Bank from 1984 to 1989. 

Rappe, over the years, worked in Catholic parishes and retreat centers and served as a college theology instructor. She is a graduate of the St. John’s School of Theology and recently retired after 36 years of service to the Catholic ministry. Her work included faith formation in the St. Cloud area.

She was asked to speak at OLV, at the request of the social concerns committee, in light of the current crisis between Israel and Palestine. After her talk a free will offering was taken for Catholic Relief Services designated for assistance to Gaza.

“We have a world that really needs healing,” she told attendees at OLV on July 30. As for the current crisis, Rappe said that, unfortunately, leaders on both sides have a hard time serving the interests of residents in the regions afflicted by the ravages of war.

In 1947 the United Nations approved a plan to partition Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state. In May 1948 Israel was officially declared an independent state with David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, as the prime minister. While this historic event seemed to be a victory for Jews, it also marked the beginning of violence with the Arabs that has lasted on and off for close to seven decades.

In recent years several countries have pushed for peace agreements. Many have suggested a two-state solution but acknowledge that Israelis and Palestinians are unlikely to settle on borders.

“During my time in Bethlehem I learned how to live in occupied territory,” she said. “We as a family also lived for a while in Jerusalem. It was heartwarming when our Jewish neighbors asked us to show them our decorated Christmas trees.”

Due to kosher restrictions, it was a difficult task to find a ham when Jews and Muslims do not ever eat pork or shellfish. Wendy and her family were, however, able to obtain a ham for Easter dinner, obtained from a Christian butcher.

“While living in Israel and the West Bank we found that what is taken for granted in the United States, such as telephone service and running water, can be lost quickly for extended periods of time in those areas of the Middle East,” she said. “But when telephone service and running water is restored, those things are appreciated even more.”

As for the current situation, Rappe said that people in that part of the world “are just like us, wanting to live their lives and do good. Instead, we sadly see so many lives lost or disrupted. This current situation requires prayer and not displaying hatred.”

Attendees at the OLV fellowship hall on July 30 were treated to food brought by the guest speaker, including Israeli pita bread, olives, stuffed grape leaves and hummus, a spread that dates back to the Middle East.

“We thank the close to 36 people who took time to attend our presentation related to the Israeli-Gaza conflict,” said OLV social concerns committee chairman Mary Widiger. “And thanks to Wendy for giving a very inspirational presentation.”