Meeting of central committee of the kehillot

Following the priests' meeting on Friday morning, the other representatives of the kehillot joined the priests for lunch at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, the two priests from Tiberias had to leave because of a prior engagement and so those that met in the general council meeting were sixteen in number: Father David, Vicar and in charge of the Jerusalem kehilla, Father Apolinary, in charge of the Jaffa kehilla, Father Roman, in charge of the Haifa kehilla (and that of Nazareth), Father Gioele from Beer Sheba, Father Wieslaw, responsible for the Russian speakers in the south, as well as Fathers Gregor, Paul, Rafic and Michel. Gathered together with them were representatives from the different communities: Sister Anna and Vladimir from Jaffa, Lucia from Jerusalem, Viviani and Luda from Haifa, Brother Anton from Latroun and Norbert from Nazareth.

Over the weekend, two main themes were discussed. On Friday afternoon, the discussion focused on the date of the celebration of Easter. Why do Western and Eastern Christians celebrate Easter at different times? What about the celebration of Jewish Passover? What about the unity of Christians?

Saturday morning was devoted to the question: What is my dream for the kehillot? This discussion was very rich as each participant expressed his or her dream and then situated it within the present reality of the kehillot.

Friday night, the participants in the meeting went to the Jerusalem kehilla for mass. After dinner at the PBI there was time to relax together and get to know one another better. It was also a time for the veterans to reminisce and the newer members to learn more about the kehillot. There was also an occasion to celebrate Father David's 50th birthday.

The committee agreed to meet again in November in order to continue the discussion. The participants expressed the hope that their work will help to develop and advance the kehillot.