In Jerusalem, there is one day in the year when everybody makes an effort to arrive on time. On Thursday 2nd September, the appointment was for 7.08 p.m. on the dot when, for the Muslims in the Holy Land, the cannon was fired to announce the end of the fast of Ramadan.
Most of the heads of the Churches of Jerusalem were present at the Notre Dame Centre beside their Muslim guests at this time to share soup, dates and hummus.
It is also the only time in the year when an official meal is not preceded by speeches. Nevertheless, these came after the Muslim dignitaries had been able to quench their thirst and fill their appetite.
The first speaker was the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, followed by the Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Muhammad Ahmad Hussein answered their warm and brotherly words in equally fraternal terms, asking the heads of the Churches in particular to do everything in their power to stop the haemorrhage of Christian emigration from the Holy Land. These words touched the Christians all the more as the Islamic radicalization of Palestinian society is not making their lives in this land, which they have shared for fourteen centuries, any easier.
All the speeches mentioned the wish for a Jerusalem that is really a city of God and of peace and justice. The resumption of direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis - at the same time in Washington - also marked the spirits and the exchanges. It cannot be said that the speeches translated a mad desire… at least they aspired to the spiral of the worst ceased.
Whilst Christians and Muslims were eating, a large group of Israeli Jews had reserved the terrace for dinner. Going from one table to the other, it was one of the employees of the Notre dame Centre who underlined: «It‘s so simple when it‘s like that, just being together in Jerusalem. »
Another guest was able to rejoice :the pastor Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches) on a visit to Jerusalem. If the Holy City ha not always been an example of unity, at least it is capable of living these minor events in the greatest simplicity.
Mab
Most of the heads of the Churches of Jerusalem were present at the Notre Dame Centre beside their Muslim guests at this time to share soup, dates and hummus.
It is also the only time in the year when an official meal is not preceded by speeches. Nevertheless, these came after the Muslim dignitaries had been able to quench their thirst and fill their appetite.
The first speaker was the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, followed by the Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Muhammad Ahmad Hussein answered their warm and brotherly words in equally fraternal terms, asking the heads of the Churches in particular to do everything in their power to stop the haemorrhage of Christian emigration from the Holy Land. These words touched the Christians all the more as the Islamic radicalization of Palestinian society is not making their lives in this land, which they have shared for fourteen centuries, any easier.
All the speeches mentioned the wish for a Jerusalem that is really a city of God and of peace and justice. The resumption of direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis - at the same time in Washington - also marked the spirits and the exchanges. It cannot be said that the speeches translated a mad desire… at least they aspired to the spiral of the worst ceased.
Whilst Christians and Muslims were eating, a large group of Israeli Jews had reserved the terrace for dinner. Going from one table to the other, it was one of the employees of the Notre dame Centre who underlined: «It‘s so simple when it‘s like that, just being together in Jerusalem. »
Another guest was able to rejoice :the pastor Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches) on a visit to Jerusalem. If the Holy City ha not always been an example of unity, at least it is capable of living these minor events in the greatest simplicity.
Mab