Our internet site – an open door to the world

A few months ago, a woman from Oregon in the United States of America, Tracielyn, wrote saying that she would be in Haifa for her work and she asked whether she could attend our Sunday mass in Hebrew. She arrived at the Haifa kehilla accompanied by her mother-in-law and stayed to exchange a little with those present after the mass. A few months later a large box arrived from Oregon filled with chocolates, cookies, jams and other delicacies. In her letter, she wrote: "I would like to extend a sign of friendship to the Haifa community". She signed in the name of a group of Catholic women who belong to the Catholic Daughters of America in Oregon City. The Haifa community decided to save the delicacies for a celebration before Lent.

Tracielyn is one of a tens of people who, over the past year, have established contact through the internet site with the different Hebrew speaking communities in Israel. Another man from Montevideo, Uruguay, wrote about his late father from Eastern Europe, a Jew who had embraced the Catholic faith and remained very attached to his Jewish identity.

There are those who write who are Catholics particularly interested in Jews, Judaism, Israel and Hebrew and those who write because they themselves are from Jewish origins or have discovered some link with Judaism in their family histories. Some are planning visits to Israel and express interest in visiting the kehillot, praying with them and meeting Hebrew speaking faithful. And then there are those who write simply to express friendship, concern, fellowship and love. Finally, there are those who write who are Israeli Jews and want to ask questions about Christianity, the Church or Jewish-Christian relations. Just recently a researcher from Acre sent a text in Latin that he needed translated. Our site is indeed a door to the wider outside world.

Giorgio, a Catholic from Milan, wrote: "I visit your site practically daily and I note the regular updates and every day I get from it new information about the life of your communities. That is a help also for my faith and my knowledge. For my personal culture I am learning Hebrew language in a evening public school here in Milan. This is my second year to learn "Ivrit" and I love this language even if it is very, very, very difficult but very, very, very interesting".

This is perhaps the time to thank all those who make the site possible. Those who have generously donated money (from France, the USA, Italy, Germany and Ireland). Those who work hard on the translations, particularly into Russian and French. Those who contribute articles, ideas and insights. Those who have helped make the site known. Please continue... !