Psalms for peace in the Vicariate


On Tuesday, December 31, 2013, members of the Vicariate community, of the Jerusalem kehilla and many guests gathered for a prayer vigil on the eve of the World Day for Peace and the beginning of 2014.

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From 20.30 until a few minutes before midnight, the gathered assembly prayed many psalms from the Book of Psalms. Whereas most of the psalms were prayed in Hebrew, many of the psalms were read in other languages too, in Arabic, English, Russian, French, Polish, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, German, Hungarian, Ukrainian, Swedish and Tigrinye. A number of the psalms were sung entirely in Hebrew and others were introduced by verses that were sung in Hebrew. Among the highlights were the singing of psalms in Arabic, Swahili and Tagalog, the last by the choir from the Filipino community of the Good Shepherd. The evening was also graced by the presence of a small group of Eritrean Orthodox faithful, who regularly pray in the Vicariate hall.

Father David Neuhaus, Vicar for the Hebrew speaking communities, briefly preached after Psalm 8, explaining that praying the psalms is like learning the language that is spoken by Israel, by Jesus and by the Church. Praying the psalms for peace is widening our heart to incorporate the entire creation in all its moods and emotions as represented in the Book of Psalms.

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After Psalm 122, the assembly was addressed by Rabbi Tamar Elad Appelbaum, a conservative rabbi and founder of the Zion community. She shared with those gathered her understanding of peace as a Jerusalemite, meditating on Psalm 122. She emphasized that peace would come when all people can contemplate creation in all its wondrous diversity and come to the same conclusion as God: “it is good!”

After three and half hours of prayer, the assembly rose to pray the Our Father in Hebrew and Arabic before singing with joy and hope Psalm 150.

Those present then gathered in the church hall to raise a toast to the new year of 2014!

Thanks to all who helped organize this evening and especially the musicians under the capable leadership of Benny.

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