Jerusalem Community

The community of Hebrew speaking Catholics in Jerusalem congregated for decades in “Isaiah House”, a center that was administered by the Dominican Fathers while situated in a house of the Lazarist Fathers, on Agron Street. Many priests, religious (men and women) and lay people from this community contributed to the development of our Kehillot (communities), their liturgy, music and theological thought. Therefore, the Jerusalem community became the center of activity for the Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel.

At the end of the 1990s, the community left Isaiah House and found temporary premises in the Franciscan’s Terra Santa College. In those years, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, a Franciscan monk from Italy, was the priest of the community. He supervised the renovation of a house in the center of West Jerusalem which was inaugurated in the year 2000 as a new Franciscan monastery, dedicated to Saints Simeon and Anne. From that time on, the Hebrew-speaking community has been assembling in this place, the members of the community being Israelis with other residents and migrants from many different countries.

What is the importance of Simeon and Anna to our communities? Forty days after Jesus’ birth, his parents, pious and observant Jews, brought him to the Temple together with the obligatory sacrifice (Luke 2:22-40). There, they were met by an old Jew who had faithfully waited for many years to see the salvation of Israel. It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. When they entered the Temple, Simeon identified Jesus and blessed God: “My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel”. Also, Anna, a prophetess, was waiting all her life and she thanked God for this great and saving day. Simeon and Anna represent for us the fidelity of Israel waiting for salvation throughout so many generations.

Address: 10 Rabbi Kook Street, Jerusalem

Priest in charge: Rev. Benedetto Di Bitonto

Mass Schedule

Mass is celebrated in Hebrew, every day of the week, at 18.30

Interior of the chapel in the House of Saints Simeon and Anne, Jerusalem