Musicians of the Kehillot weekend

During this weekend, which took place in Tiberias, we were ten people (four from Haifa, a couple from Jaffa, one from Tiberias and three from Jerusalem) and we were hosted in the Casa Nova, administered by the Koinonia John the Baptist.

On Friday, at 17.30, we began the meeting with a cup of tea and the exchange of news, after which we joined the celebration of mass, celebrated by Father Giuseppe. After dinner, we learnt some songs and took some time in adoration together for an hour in honor of the Body and Blood of Christ, the feast to be celebrated the coming Sunday.

On Saturday, in the morning, a few of us went down to the Sea of Galilee for a refreshing swim. After breakfast, we prayed morning prayer and then listened to a talk by Father Rafic about some of the liturgical symbols and their meaning. After a short break, there was time for some musical exercises, directed by Benny, a seminarian who animates the music in the Jerusalem kehilla. He led the musicians in an exercise of the way in which – through the use of a few notes and a melodious rhythm – they can prepare the ear of the congregation for the melody of a song they have prepared to sing. Everyone enjoyed the exercise and learnt a lot. In the afternoon, for about an hour and a half, we learnt some songs from our common liturgical tradition and we also learnt and recorded a new song composed by our brother Yossi, from the Jaffa kehilla. At about 16.00, we set off in the direction of Tabgha – the place of the multiplication of the loaves on the north side of the Sea of Galilee – where we visited the site and took some time for “lectio divina” in the garden of the hostel of the Franciscan Sisters. Our meeting came to an end with mass celebrated in Saint Peter’s Church, together with the Tiberias kehilla.

Thanks to the Koinonia John the Baptist community that hosted us and allowed us to have this meeting. We continue to pray for Lioba and wish her a speedy recovery!