Retreat in Gethsemane for Lent

On Saturday, March 5, the Jerusalem kehilla together with the Jaffa kehilla set off for a retreat in Gethsemane. The aim of the day was not only to pray and to prepare for Easter but also to go through the Gates of Mercy together, the Basilica of Gethsemane being one of the churches in which it had been decided by the Church to celebrate in a special way the Year of Mercy. The Franciscans allowed us to spend the day in the garden which is behind the basilica, on the slopes of the hill, from which one can see the walls of the Old City and pray for Jerusalem. The weather was as good as could be hoped for and the garden was luscious with grass, the trees budding and the flowers blossoming in an array of colors.

In the morning, Rivka taught us about mercy in the Old Testament: the mercy of God and the ways in which we are invited to be merciful. An hour followed for silent prayer and confessions. The morning ended with the celebration of mass and we then sat down to eat. In the afternoon, Benedetto taught us on he theme of the Parable of the Prodigal Son from a particular perspective (the exit of the younger son from the home as the breaking of the covenant that is formed within the family when its members sit down to eat together). This was followed again by an hour of prayer and confessions, preparation for the ceremony of passing through the Gates of Mercy, a deeply meaningful and refreshing moment from the perspective of our faith. We were overjoyed, gave thanks and departed to return home.