- What brought me to Jerusalem? What keeps me here?
- Always being a desire…….. since childhood
- Year of study – loved it! The land, its ancient history (Canada -200 years)
The land where Jesus lived-scripture/new meaning.
Meeting people/every nation & country
Studies I did, I thoroughly enjoyed them
Learned more about Xty - different rites/practices
Judaism/met Jews, feasts, learning
Learning the plight of the Palestinians- ’48 up till now.
First time I felt as a minority/lived in a Christian society
I wanted to return!
- ’96 – asked to come……….Yes!
Retired from teaching – first love!
E.H. visited but I had lived at Ratisbonne
Wondered what I’ll do there – gift shop/5 years earlier!
Team of 6, plus 1 sister who was here-Excitement
Newness
Together
Purpose
Family-staff/us
Fun!
- There was a great need to be here: Big job/ Few sisters/No vocations here
We felt & still feel responsible for Sion –view Jeruslaem as the center of our
Congregation. We need to be here/ I want to be here.
- More so now than ever before since we are now in collaboration with another
Community ty in running the house.
No matter where you are working – office, reception, serving meals, etc.
You meet guests/Biblical Prog. students/visitors – there is a contact
*Still a joy new guest to the top terrace – ah……when they see the view!
2. How has living here has formed me as a Sister of Sion:
A) Opportunities: There are vast opportunities here!
a) Deeping of the Word of God / knowledge of O.T. was bits & pieces. So many
opportunities here to learn/study/read the commentaries/Parashah / Feasts, many
speakers/conferences.
b) Understanding Judaism better,/talk with Jews, Synagogue/working with Jews,
c) Becoming more familiar with how Jesus lived, prayed, remembered his
ancestors/walked in this land,
c) Understanding the Palestinians /admire how they can live such diff. times with
patience. The occupation has done so much harm – unemployment,/building
permits/work permits/checkpoints/ lack of water/ crowded living conditions/
discrimination,
d) Learning more of Islam/ people I’ve met/grown in my understanding of Muslims
e) Good Networking among Christians here, among the Religious, among interfaith
groups.
f)The classes offered here in the Biblical Program are excellent – both Jewish & Christian teachers. This is a tremendous opportunity for priests, religious, laity & us.
B) These opportunities translate into Encounters & encounters can change us: With learning,
Being open to different realities
Being exposed to different cultures, faiths, customs, etc a person is changed.
Hopefully these encounters have brought me to a deeper understanding, more
compassionate and a better person.
Many questions are raised and we find that we don’t have many answers!
Constantly there are needs before you - you try to answer as best you can.
ie. We set up the Palestinian Education Fund. During the Intifada we felt that education,
keeping the children in school was important for the future, their future/ this country.
There is much suffering here – we see it in both peoples-Palestinians & Israelis
How do you deal with it ?
we bring this to prayer
for those closest to us, certainly we find time to talk
we are an extended family for our staff & there are many requests
we’ve been on demonstrations/when the wall was being built
we try to be here for both – Israelis & Palestinians and to give a balanced view of
the situation to our guests/there is injustice & corruption on both sides.
You really do feel a part of both peoples –
We pray with the Rabbi whose son is a soldier in Gaza,
with our staff so that they can get a work permit,
for the Muslim family whose house has been demolished.
Our community is a strong support and without it, I feel that I couldn’t go on.
We have a common goal
We’re an international community/tremendous richness - one is opened to
new ideas/new ways of operating.
We are guaranteed much laughter due to the different languages/expressions
3. I’m passionate about Jerusalem – This is the center! Our roots are here.
Christianity began here.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude:
to our Biblical ancestors,
to the early church
to the pilgrims coming to Jerusalem over the centuries
to Theodore & Alphonse for their love of Jerusalem & for their vision and to all our sisters who have worked here…….we are reaping the benefits of their labors
It has often been said: that if there’s peace here in this land,
it is possible in the rest of the world.
I tend to believe that!
Rita Kammermayer, nds. Jerusalem
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