After two years, the Jewish community of Ein Karem returned to celebrate, together with the local fraternity of the Custody, the feasts of Hanukkah and Christmas. The residents of Ein Karem were welcomed at the Franciscan Shrine of Saint John the Baptist, the place where, according to tradition, John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus, was born.
As in past years, before the war in Gaza, a full day of conferences focused on interreligious dialogue was organized, with various guests from different backgrounds and organizations.
In addition to interreligious events, on Thursday evening a night of music, songs and the lighting of the Hanukkah candles was held at the Magnificat Institute in Jerusalem, in the presence of Christians, Muslims and Jews.
The day opened with greetings from the head of the village council of Ein Karem, who thanked the friars of the Shrine of Saint John the Baptist for their hospitality and warm welcome. This was followed by Fr. Francesco Ielpo, Custos of the Holy Land, who greeted the local community and reiterated the importance of coming together, sharing moments of prayer and listening, in the joy of the feasts of Christmas and Hanukkah.
Later, Yiska Harani, expert, lecturer and consultant on Christianity and pilgrimages, presented a reflection on the Holy Fire of Holy Saturday in Jerusalem, in which she explored the theme of light in Christian and Jewish tradition, showing the connections between the two religions.
Moreover, Yiska Harani wished to reaffirm the message that we are all brothers and believers who simply want to share faith, hope and prayer. As a fruitful example of this sharing, the lecturer praised the organization of the day at the Shrine of Saint John the Baptist, where Jews and Christians gather in an atmosphere of curiosity, joy and welcome.
The tradition of the shared day between Jews and Christians at the Shrine of Saint John the Baptist in Ein Karem began several years ago, arising from the desire of the local community to understand what the Convent of Saint John the Baptist was and what the role of the Custody of the Holy Land is. For this purpose, various "formative meetings" are held every year.
This year, after Yiska Harani, Hana Bendcowsky spoke. Within the Rossing Center, she directs the Jerusalem Center for Jewish Christian Relations, and spoke about the relationship between Jews and Christians sixty years after the Declaration Nostra Aetate.
Immediately after, Dudi Mevorach, treasurer of the Israel Antiquities Authority, presented a talk on John the Baptist in the Beit She’an Valley.
Finally, Fr. Alberto Joan Pari, Secretary of the Holy Land and responsible for Interreligious Dialogue, took part in the conference by speaking about how Christmas is celebrated in Italy.
To close the day, the Magnificat Institute, the music school of the Custody of the Holy Land, held a concert inside the church of the Shrine of Saint John the Baptist, presenting several pieces from the religious tradition.
The notes of the professors and students of the Magnificat school, guided and introduced by Fr. Alberto Joan Pari, delighted and moved the local community of Ein Karem, concluding a day of celebration and sharing, dedicated to interreligious dialogue.
Riccardo Curti
