On July 31, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) announced a US$25,000 donation to help rehabilitate the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, a gesture that speaks louder than politics and transcends religious boundaries.
The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in Gaza, was struck on July 17 by what the Israel Defense Forces described as a misfired tank shell. The incident left three civilians dead and several others injured, including the parish priest. For the dwindling Christian population of Gaza—numbering only about 1,000 before the war and fewer now—this blow was both physical and symbolic.
For nearly two years, the church has provided shelter and sustenance not only to Christians, but to Muslims as well, forming a fragile sanctuary amid destruction. Its doors remained open to hundreds as the war between Israel and Hamas continued to reshape the lives of millions. The Church was not merely a building, but a sign of endurance, faith, and interreligious community.
The AJC’s donation comes from a place deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and modern responsibility. While the organization is principally committed to Jewish welfare and the security of Israel, its director of interreligious affairs, Rabbi Noam Marans, emphasized a broader mission: compassion toward all innocent lives shattered by war. «Our concern and empathy extend beyond the Jewish people to all of humanity,» he said. «Especially to the innocent caught in this terrible conflict.»
Read more: https://zenit.org/2025/08/03/american-jewish-association-to-fund-repairs-to-gazas-only-catholic-church/
By zenit.org
