Frederick (pictured on left) with Palestinian school children and fellow internationals from Community Peacemaker Teams.

“It is haunting, every time I hear reports from a region that was so formative when I was a young adult.”

From 2007-2010, Frederick left her home in Chautauqua County to live in the West Bank (Occupied Palestinian Territories), doing human rights documentation and advocacy work with Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT). In the city of Hebron and the village of At-Tuwani, she supported the work of Palestinian practitioners of nonviolent resistance and collaborated with Israeli peacemakers and lawyers to advocate for Palestinian human rights under Israeli law. Because of her time there, reports on the war in Gaza have been hitting close to home.

“CPT focused on building grassroots relationships with local Palestinians – and the Israeli peace activists who were their partners,” explains Frederick. “We went only into communities where we were invited. I never made it to Gaza – rooted as I was in Hebron and At-Tuwani. But the situation between Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian territories are interconnected. Since Oct. 7, I have heard from Palestinian friends about how the war in Gaza is having a direct impact on their lives and safety. I’ve been so deeply troubled by the news coming out of Gaza. I had to do something.”

Frederick, the priest for Children, Youth, and Family Ministry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown, turned to the arts for action. With the support of the Winged Ox Players, St. Luke’s community drama group, she will perform “My Name is Rachel Corrie” on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Robert H. Jackson Center, 305 E. Fourth St., Jamestown). This one-woman play is about Rachel Corrie, an American diarist, activist, and human rights advocate who travels to Gaza in 2003. The script is composed of excerpts from Rachel’s diaries and emails, edited by actor Alan Rickman (known by many as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies) and British journalist Katharine Viner.

Frederick looks out over the Mount of Olives in 2007

“What I love about this play is that it is rooted in the fundamental humanity of Rachel and the people she encounters,” reflects Frederick. “Her articulation of human dignity in the face of overwhelming destruction makes, as Corrie states, ‘Bravery seem more possible.'”

Friday’s performance will mark the 21st anniversary of Corrie’s death. In an attempt to stop demolition of a Palestinian home as it was being destroyed by the Israeli military, Corrie stood in front of an armored bulldozer and was subsequently crushed to death. Each performance will include a talkback session.

Admission to the play is free, but donations are welcome. All donation proceeds collected at the event will go to support Gaza relief through the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.

For questions or more information, contact the Rev. Jessica Frederick at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 716-483-6405.