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March 2023 – From Friday, March 24^th to Sunday, March 26^th, 2023, the communities and friends of the Focolare in the Holy Land gathered in Jericho to experience three days of meeting in preparation for Easter. The participants, about 160 of all ages, came from various locations: Bethlehem, Gaza, Jerusalem, Haifa, Jenin, Nazareth, Ramallah, etc.

The central points of the program were: the Eucharist, the Word and sharing. On this basis, the mornings were devoted to visiting significant sites in Jericho due to their historical and spiritual value: the sycamore tree and the house of Zacchaeus, the Mount of Temptation and the Place of Jesus’ Baptism at the Jordan River. Each visit was preceded by moments of in-depth reflections of the Gospel texts related to the respective places. In the afternoons we shared moments of recollection so as to respond, like Zacchaeus, to Jesus’ invitation,  “…come down at once, for today I must stay at your house” (Lk 19:5), and to welcome him into our “home.”

Each day was enriched by moments of sharing and prayer with priests and religious who, with their experiences and testimonies, made a significant and much valued contribution.

We are happy and grateful to God for this experience, which took place despite various challenges and suspensions due to the uncertain political situation. One of the participants shared, “I realized the strength of living as one family, of sharing and giving love, of caring for others, as well as the strength of praying together.”

Oct. 2022 – This is one of the pages from the diary of Irene, a young editor of Teens, a magazine of the Città Nuova publishing group, which is made by teenagers for teenagers. Through her eyes and her words we learn of a journey in a country marked by divisions and we get to know the project “Harmony among peoples”, which, thanks to art and dance is spreading beauty and hope to the new generations in Bethlehem.

Sept. 2022 – Its name means “miracle of the peoples” or “sign for the peoples” as we read in the prophet Isaiah (Is 11:10). In Nes Ammim, a village of Christian origin in northern Israel, dialogue and coexistence among people of different peoples, faiths, religions and cultures is the norm.

An ideal location to host the Focolare Movement’s initiative that brought together around 150 people of different faiths and cultures from September 16 to 18 last year to reflect and experience “caring.”

CLAUDIO MAINA Focolare Movement

“With the pandemic and after the pandemic, the theme of caring is present in the Focolare Movement. A real awareness campaign on this issue is emerging.”

The guiding theme these days is “Dare to care”. Not just a title:

CLAUDIO MAINA Focolare Movement

“We are deeply convinced that it is a way of life to care for others. It takes courage! It takes daring, because it’s about stepping out of one’s box, stepping out of one’s comfort zone, to look beyond.”

Moments of reflection, but also spaces for conviviality and sharing, workshops, games, activities for children, time for a little relaxation, a chance to learn about and participate in different religious traditions. The beginning of Shabbat was experienced with particular intensity.

Sister DELPHINE SEEGOOLAM Chemin Neuf

“It is important to get to know each other: what others believe, who they are, what their culture is. That way all our barriers can crumble down and we can live as brothers and sisters.”

Among the most anticipated moments was a panel discussion with three speakers from different religions-Christians, Jews and Muslims-on building authentic relationships, with oneself, with others, but also in the society in which we live and towards the environment.

The need for every human being to be in relationship with the other, the importance of knowing one’s own identity, education for dialogue, starting with religious leaders, the push to get out of one’s own schemes: these are all topics addressed by the speakers and explored in the assembly and in the various workshops.

Prof KHALED FURANI Tel Aviv University

“Why am I here? What am I living for? If we keep asking ourselves these questions, perhaps we can challenge what makes us feel comfortable and go out and explore new ways in which we can enrich our lives and the lives of those around us.”

SHIRA LEVINE Rabbi – Kibbutz Hanaton

“Many of my friends chose not to be religious at all. It’s ok, everyone believes in whatever they believe – in the mankind and in themselves, ok. But I believe, I believe in God and I believe in people, and I found that I have a lot in common with people who believe. Sometimes we understand each other’s better than people who choose not to believe”.

The various proposals and free moments were an opportunity to touch upon this possibility of taking an interest in others and being enriched by their presence.

TALAT SHATROUBI Fureidis

“The theme of these days gives me energy to be a person who can help and do something good for their community.”

CHIARA PEZZULICH Haifa

“It was a good experience, of living together, of friendship, of meeting: meaningful for life!”

Spaces and moments like this Focolare Movement event are a testimony that the desired unity is possible if everyone takes the risk of “daring to care.”

SHIRA LEVINE Rabbi – Kibbutz Hanaton

“I am very happy. It’s really a miracle that all these people come together, it’s a miracle that all the ‘ammim’ (peoples) come together.”

_{Original post published in cmc-terrasanta.org}