The Custody of the Holy Land shared the moment of the Iftar – the evening meal which is eaten after the sunset and breaks the daily fast observed by Muslims during the month of Ramadan – with the Muslim community in Bethany.
On Monday 24 March, the Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land, Fra Ibrahim Faltas, and the friars of the Bethany community, welcomed members representing the Muslim community for a moment of conviviality.
Local civil and religious authorities, including the Mayor of Bethany, Khalil Abu Rish, and some representatives of the mosque, were present. There were also some members of the Al Quds University and of the University of Palermo, of the Mosaic Centre, and of the Pro Terra Sancta Association.
A meal to become friends
The celebration of the Iftar in the courtyard of the church o St Lazarus has now become a minor tradition. Bethany is the place where Jesus would come to visit Lazarus, Martha and Mary – therefore the “house of friendship”. In addition, the memory of the miracle of Jesus in Bethany and the resurrection of Lazarus is shared by the Christian and Muslim communities. The tomb of Lazarus is about a few dozen metre rom the Franciscan church and is the site of the village mosque .
The initiative of the Iftar – as Fra Ibrahim recalled – comes from a story of proximity and collaboration between Christians and Muslims, through the projects of the “pro Terra Sancta Association”, and in particular it is the result of the sensitivity of the architect Osama Hamdan, a Muslim, one of the main collaborators of “pro Terra Sancta” and of the Custody in the projects of redeveloping the cultural heritage, who died prematurely last year.
“The heart of this encounter is the co-existence between Muslims and Christians, Fra Ibrahim said. “As Christians and as Franciscans of the Custody, this encounter with Muslims is very important. There are very few Christians here, but it is lovely to be together, to talk and to share a meal, which for us Arabs is a way to becomes friends and brothers.”
A story of proximity
Pro Terra Santa is engaged in the village in a number of projects, especially in the area of culture and development of the heritage, but more as well. The candles made by the village women and scented with nardo are famous: “a concrete aid and also proof that this is not only a land of war but also a land of welcome, peace and dialogue,” says Carla Benelli.
A project of recovering Byzantine and medieval remains around the Tomb of Lazarus has been under way for some years. “We are working with the Franciscans of the Custody and with various local groups,” Carla Benell continued. “We have built up a close relationship with the community of Bethany – the town hall, the mosque… Meeting for initiatives such as the Iftar is a way of embracing the other, getting to know each other better and sharing these places, especially in times of great suffering, sadness and conflict.”
By Marinella Bandini | custodia.org
Source Link: https://www.custodia.org/en/news/the-iftar-in-bethany-the-house-of-friendship/
