1. Under whose rule was Palestine since the 1930's, what kind of people was the population, how did they get along and how did the residents feel about themselves after World War II?

2. How did Elias and his friend find the studies in Paris?

3. What type of journal did Elias begin when he was at school? How long did this journal last?

4. What did Elias see in Jesus and how did he feel about Jesus? How did Elias see his interaction with Jesus?

5. What would a current student of the Middle East find strange about Palestine in the late 1940's?

6. How did Elias feel about school and where else did he learn what he considered important?

7. What did a second Supreme Court rule about the town of Biram and what happened after that ruling?

8. What did the new Jewish landowners find out about their land and what did they do about it?

9. How did the Beatitudes appear to Elias and why?

10. Who are the Zionist soldiers battling in Palestine in the late 1940's and what is the result of those battles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The intellectual approach to Biblical study was frustrating for Elias, as he continued to struggle for a personal, emotional relationship with his God and Jesus. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think Elias means about having a personal, emotional relationship with God and Jesus? How does he demonstrate this?

2. Why do you think Elias' seminary emphasizes the intellectual over the emotional in terms of Christianity?

3. Why do you think the seminary wants students who do not question the material presented and who are submissive? Does this really serve the church positively? What can questioning do for one's faith ultimately?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter one, Elias reveals that his father insisted their family would prepare a feast for Jewish soldiers who would be arriving in the village, and that the family would welcome them into their home. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem odd that the first people to arrive are soldiers rather than civilians? What message does that send to the Palestinians?

2. How might things have been different had families of immigrants came to Biram rather than soldiers?

3. Do you think the Zionist actually believe that Palestine is uninhabited land? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

An understanding of the events of Blood Brothers hinges upon an understanding of the geopolitical situation of Palestine. Discuss one of the following:

1. Research and analyze the history of how the State of Israel came about. Why do the Jewish people choose Palestine as the land to settle? How many Jewish people are already residing in Palestine prior to the decision of Zionist to invade Palestinian land? What is the nature of the relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims before the arrival of Zionists? Does your research seem to agree with what Elias Chacour writes in Blood Brothers? What are the discrepancies if any?

2. Research and discuss the history of Palestine under the Ottoman Empire. What is the predominant religion of the area? Is tolerance practiced? Is any particular group discriminated against? Who? Why? Are the lives of the Palestinians better or worse under the Ottoman Empire than under the government of Israel? Cite examples to support your answers. Do you think the Palestinians preferred the Ottoman Empire or that of the British? Explain your answer.

3. Research and discuss how the Jewish nation has changed Palestine. Have they initiated improvements? What ones? Have they treated the land respectfully? Why or why not. Does Israel practice religious tolerance today? What is the status of the Palestinians today in the first decade of the 21st century.

(see the answer keys)

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