Epistle on Palestine

Photo: Lit tea candles on a Keffiyeh that creates a shrine.

Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) is founded upon the values of peace and community-building. We believe there is a Divine Light in every person. Because of our values and beliefs, it has been devastating to witness six months of consistent bombardment on the Palestinian people. We would like to add our voice to the global community now to say that our belief in the Divine in every person means that, with over 38,000 Palestinians in Gaza killed, our world is growing darker.

QVS staff have hosted weekly Meetings for Worship with an Attention to Gaza and shared the voices of Quakers and others calling for a ceasefire. We join with people throughout the world calling for an immediate ceasefire and for the provision of desperately needed humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. We celebrate members of our community who are in the streets, fundraising for Palestinians, and advocating for our legislators to stop this violence.

The United States, where QVS is based, is responsible for much of the weapons sent to Israel in the occupation of Palestine. The QVS community reckons with the harm that colonial violence and genocide has caused to indigenous peoples here on Turtle Island (so called United States). Meanwhile, our Quaker ancestors were complicit in Indian Boarding Schools*; the Religious Society of Friends continues to be complicit in colonization globally. We in the US and we as Quakers see the genocide and harm done by these institutions and bodies of people. As we witness the horrors unfolding in Palestine and beyond we see that history of genocide and colonialism repeating itself now.

In order to be faithful we stand with Palestine and for the liberation of all occupied peoples globally. We do not comment on every atrocity in which the US is involved but silence is also a statement. We demand a permanent ceasefire now.

* To learn more about Quakers’ involvement in Indian Boarding Schools in the US please read this article from Friends Committee on National Legislation.

Please read more on Palestine from our Friends at Sierra-Cascades Yearly Meeting.

Connecting Quaker Values & Money

Lucas Richie served in 2018-2019 with Bread & Roses Community Fund in Philadelphia. Bread & Roses was one of QVS’ first site placement partners when we expanded to Philadelphia in 2013. Since then, they have hosted ten QVS Fellows to support their Giving Project and grants administration.

2020 Alumni Impact Report

In Spring 2020, QVS conducted a major outreach survey to gather stories and impact from QVS Alumni. The following report offers testimonials, statistics, and learnings across the three pillars of the QVS experience: Community, Spirituality, and Service.