Tony Khashram (kctj)
CEO
Born in Jerusalem in 1959, Tony Khashram holds an MA in Travel and Tourism and has many years of management experience. Mr. Khashram is the Managing Director of Aeolus Tours, President of the Holy Land Incoming Tour Operators Association, and Chairman of the Coordinating Catholic Aid Organizations, in addition to consulting on destination/tourism projects and for small startup businesses. He is part of several charitable organizations, Vice President of St. Vincent de Paul Society and Vice President of The Jerusalem Christian Community Development Association. He is also on the executive board of the Jerusalem International YMCA.
(Rev. ) Fursan Ayed Zu`mot
SPIRITUAL ADVISOR
Pastor Fursan Ayed Zu’mot of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Redeemer in Jerusalem. Born in Amman – Jordan 1980. Grew up in the Anglican (Episcopal) Church, called to ministry in 2003 in the Anglican Church, studied Theology at the United Theological Collage of the West Indies in Jamaica. Ordained in the Anglican Church in November 2009. Joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and appointed pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem in 2014 until today. Assigned to serve the ELCJHL as pastor for the Deaf. Pastor Zu’mot is also serving the Church’s Ecclesiastical Court of Appeals in the capacity of judge.
Rev. Dr. Maria Leppäkari
INTERNATIONAL aDVISOR
Through her work as the Director of the Swedish Theological Institute in Jerusalem (STI) and motivated by 22 years of professional relationship with Jerusalem, Rev. Leppäkari encourages people not to be afraid to build bridges of understandings through intercultural and religious dialogue: Rev. Dr. Leppäkari holds a Doctoral degree in Theology (2002) from Åbo Akademi University, Finland and is Docent (Adjunct Professor) in Comparative Religion. Her expertise spans from academic research and education to applied leadership, entrepreneurship and project management. In September 2019 she was the first woman to be ordained Reverend in Jerusalem in the Arabic speaking congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).
Ranan Issa
BOARD MEMBER
Ranan Issa Abu Shanab is the Gender Justice Program Coordinator at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy land. She is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Ranan believes that young people are the future of the country, with influential and innovative voices. They need to be inspired, empowered, and equipped to become agents of change who can build a better future where everyone is included and equal.
Bassem Thabet
cHAIRMAN
Bassem Thabet has more than 27 years of experience working with local and international organizations in the field of peacebuilding, development, advocacy, and humanitarian aid. He is the Director of Operations at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. Previously, he worked for eleven years with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) as their Office Manager. He also worked with the Health, Development & Information Policy Institute (HDIP) as a Program Manager. He has a master’s degree in leadership and Christian Ministry from Luther Seminary in Minnesota, USA in 2023, and another Master of Science Degree in English-Arabic Translation and Interpreting from Heriot Watt University, Scotland, UK in 1998.