Holyland or Land Unknown

Catherine Dupeyron

A conference entitled “Christian Communities in the Holy Land and Trans-Nationalism” was held in Jerusalem, at the end of July, under the aegis of four local university research institutions, notably the Van Leer Institute, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Center of French Research (CRFJ) and the Ecumenical Institute for Theological studies, better known as the Tantur Institute. The main goal of the conference, which produced a wealth of material, was to fill, in part, the gap in university research on contemporary Christian communities in the Holy Land – a subject which has remained largely unexplored.

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The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Israel: A Plea for Non-Violence

Catherine Leuchter

Haifa, Israel’s third largest city, is known as home to the world center of the Bahai, a faith which was founded in Persia in the 19th century, and whose immense gardens dominate the port city. Truly a different city from any other, Haifa is also home to an “Ahmadiyya Muslim community.” Largely unknown, the Ahmadis nevertheless number several thousand million followers, spread across the world. Originally Sunnis, the Ahmadis define themselves as Muslims who practice a “pure Islam,” a “moderate, peaceful and rational Islam.” Often discriminated against across the world, the Israeli community, which numbers some 2000 members, 75% of whom live in Haifa, is the largest in the Middle East. And it is in Haifa where, on July 16 and 17, one of their “annual international conventions” is held under the leadership of their Israeli emir, Muhamad Sherif.

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Haredim-State War

J&R Team

For the first time since many years, a crowd of 100 000 ultra-orthodox jews demonstrate on thursday in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak against a Supreme Court’s judgement. One of their motto is "We choose the Tora" meaning the Tora is above the Court. They compared the judgment to the repression perpetrated against the jews in Tzarist or Nazi time. This huge demonstration opens a new chapter in Haredi-State Israeli war. The Israeli non haredi press is very critical of the radicalisation of the ultra-orthodox population. For the Jerusalem Post’editorialist, this demonstration shows "a distortion of Judaism". In another article Ruth Eglash asks if the fight in Emmanuel school is over racism or religious freedom ?

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"Intrumentum Laboris" for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops
DOCUMENT

On June 6th, 2010, in Nicosia, the pope Benedictus XVI adress the bishops before presenting the "instrumentum laboris" (working document) for the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place in Rome this upcoming October 10-24. This is a historical document.

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