The website of the Hebrew-speaking Catholic community that lives in Israel was started up on 22nd December 2007. It can be consulted in four languages (Hebrew, French, English and Russian) putting the address www.catholic.co.il into the browser and it is worth well doing to get an idea of a little-known aspect of Catholicism in the Holy Land.
The title introduces us to the life of the vicariate of Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel, one of the pastoral divisions of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Patriarch Michel Sabbah entrusts it to the care of a vicar, who is currently Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land.
The first steps of this pastoral service for Hebrew-speaking Catholics dates back to 1955, when the Association of St. James was founded, which is named after the apostle who was the first head of the Christian community in Jerusalem immediately after the death, Resurrection and Ascension to heaven of Jesus. The Association came into being to ensure pastoral care for those Catholics who had immigrated to Israel after 1948 following their Jewish spouses.
Over the years, it also received the contribution of various consecrated men and women, of European and Jewish origin, often very engaged in the study and dialogue with Judaism. In the History section, the site presents the profiles of 15 of these figures, some of whom are also known to the general public – such as Father Bruno Hussar, the founder of Nevé Shalom-Wahat as-Salam -, others who have remained in the shadow like hidden treasures. Also worthy of interest is the chronicle of the small Hebrew-speaking community in Israel, which is divided into three periods, from 1947 to the present day.
Today there are a few hundred Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel (there are similar communities on the Lutheran side) and they form six groups. Alongside the four in the main cities - Jerusalem, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Haifa and Beer Sheba – there are two Russian-language communities, made up of recent immigrants, one in the north, in Galilee and one in the centre-south.
The main tasks of the vicariate are to nourish the Christian life of Hebrew-speaking Catholics; to act as a bridge between the Universal Church and the people of Israel; to bear witness of the values of peace and justice, pardon and reconciliation in a context of violence and war as is that of the Holy Land.
The vicariate also promotes welfare for the poorest members, publishes liturgical and catechetical texts and trains the youngest members of the community, helping them to be present as Christians in the heart of Israeli society.
For those familiar with Hebrew, the website also has the most recent issues of the newsletter of liaison, Kol Rina («Cry of joy») in pdf format. There are also documents, a brief bibliography, the photos of the priests who assist the community and a few useful links.
Giampiero Sandionigi
The title introduces us to the life of the vicariate of Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel, one of the pastoral divisions of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Patriarch Michel Sabbah entrusts it to the care of a vicar, who is currently Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land.
The first steps of this pastoral service for Hebrew-speaking Catholics dates back to 1955, when the Association of St. James was founded, which is named after the apostle who was the first head of the Christian community in Jerusalem immediately after the death, Resurrection and Ascension to heaven of Jesus. The Association came into being to ensure pastoral care for those Catholics who had immigrated to Israel after 1948 following their Jewish spouses.
Over the years, it also received the contribution of various consecrated men and women, of European and Jewish origin, often very engaged in the study and dialogue with Judaism. In the History section, the site presents the profiles of 15 of these figures, some of whom are also known to the general public – such as Father Bruno Hussar, the founder of Nevé Shalom-Wahat as-Salam -, others who have remained in the shadow like hidden treasures. Also worthy of interest is the chronicle of the small Hebrew-speaking community in Israel, which is divided into three periods, from 1947 to the present day.
Today there are a few hundred Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel (there are similar communities on the Lutheran side) and they form six groups. Alongside the four in the main cities - Jerusalem, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Haifa and Beer Sheba – there are two Russian-language communities, made up of recent immigrants, one in the north, in Galilee and one in the centre-south.
The main tasks of the vicariate are to nourish the Christian life of Hebrew-speaking Catholics; to act as a bridge between the Universal Church and the people of Israel; to bear witness of the values of peace and justice, pardon and reconciliation in a context of violence and war as is that of the Holy Land.
The vicariate also promotes welfare for the poorest members, publishes liturgical and catechetical texts and trains the youngest members of the community, helping them to be present as Christians in the heart of Israeli society.
For those familiar with Hebrew, the website also has the most recent issues of the newsletter of liaison, Kol Rina («Cry of joy») in pdf format. There are also documents, a brief bibliography, the photos of the priests who assist the community and a few useful links.
Giampiero Sandionigi