New Jersey Episcopal diocese gives $1 million to treat Palestinian children

(RNS) Soon after she arrived in New Jersey, Episcopal Bishop Sally French discovered her new diocese had a little-used fund to support medical care for children and adolescents with lifelong and debilitating illnesses. The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey’s Jane O. P. Turner Fund was sitting on $3. 6 million in assets and doling out only a tiny fraction over the past 12 years. On Friday (Nov. 21), French announced the diocese was giving $1 million from the fund to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East to help it provide medical care for Palestinian children and families in Gaza and the West Bank. Archbishop Hosam E. “We realized that we had resources that we could potentially put to use,” French told RNS in a phone call. “We recognized nothing in the terms (of the fund) that say it must be in New Jersey, or even in this country. By offering this gift, we could make a real difference in the lives of children and youth and families in Gaza and elsewhere in the Palestinian territories. This for us is gospel work.” The gift will help several medical institutions supported by the Jerusalem-based diocese, including al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza and the Princess Basma Center in Jerusalem and Gaza. At least 42, 000 children have been injured in two years of the Israel-Hamas war that has left most of Gaza’s hospitals and health facilities decimated. About 19, 000 children have died, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund. Gaza is now known for having more child amputees per capita than anywhere else in the world. Since President Donald Trump announced a peace plan on Sept. 29, another 67 children have been killed in Gaza, the U. N. agency said. The money will help rebuild pediatric care at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which was damaged in the war. On Oct. 17, 2023, an explosion took place in a courtyard of the hospital, killing hundreds. The gift will also expand services at the Princess Basma Centre in Jerusalem and Gaza. The centers treat children with disabilities and autism and provide a residential program and school. The gift also enables both institutions to build greater capacity for psychiatric and trauma care. “There’s an entire generation of children and adolescents in Gaza right now who will suffer debilitating, lifelong impacts of the trauma from the war,” French said. “Being able to provide therapists and psychiatrists and whatever is deemed appropriate by those on the ground will strengthen the community in the hopes that in some small way, it will contribute towards lasting peace.” Ten Episcopal bishops, including French, made a “solidarity pilgrimage” to the Diocese of Jerusalem in January. The diocese has been part of the humanitarian response to the war in Gaza and has worked to keep Al-Ahli Arab Hospital open. French has had a good working relationship with Naoum for many years. But her concern for Palestinians stretches back further, she said. Twenty-five years ago, she spent a year working for the diocese’s St. George’s College in Jerusalem. She said she brought the idea of using some of the money to treat the children of Gaza to the Turner fund trustees, then to the diocesan council and then the standing committee of the diocese. The initial proposal was for $500,000. After spending some time in prayer, the diocesan council decided to double the amount, French said. The Turner fund was created from a bequest by the late Jane O. P. Turner to the diocese after her death in the 1920s. She said she hoped the gift might open the door to others in the Episcopal Church to step up and provide additional support for children’s medical and trauma care. “The need there is very great, ” she said. “There is an opportunity now to do work that will maybe build bridges and change the course of the conflict.”.
https://religionnews.com/2025/11/21/episcopal-diocese-of-nj-gives-1-million-to-treat-palestinian-child/

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