“We wanted to give a testimonial of an experience which has transformed us, and that took place on 11-13 December 2015. On this occasion some members of the Jewish Bet-El Community and the inhabitants of the Focolare town, prayed for one another,” wrote the Argentinean Rabbi, Silvina Chemen and Carlos Becaría and Nanni Espinosa of Mariapolis Lia. A special Shabbath. “We started by gathering bread for the rit,” Silvina recounted, “then we participated and shared this moment in which the Hanuka candles were lit, and we recalled the historical pact celebrated by Chiara Lubich and the Jews of Buenos Aires in 1998. Under the trees, we sang together and waited for the sunset to receive the stars that announced the arrival of the Shabbath. And then hand in hand, we entered the hall which was transformed into a synagogue for the occasion. Together we prayed the Shabbath vespers, and shared the Saturday morning prayer and the reading of the Torah scroll. It was a sacred moment.” Sharing and dialogue. “In the afternoon, there was an equally important event for the Jews –Carlos narrates – which consisted of a preparation for the mass. We had anticipated their request to participate and thus fixed the schedule. During the prayer of the faithful, one special prayer was for peace and dialogue among us (Bet-El Community and the Focolare) we all were deeply moved. This feeling of unity continued all afternoon in a workshop on dialogue, with the participation of all the Christian youth who attend the town’s school. We shared our queries, doubts, expectations on dialogue and our various traditions, with liberty and depth. We concluded by decorating the Christmas tree on which we also hung our secret wishes.” End of the Shabbath. “Then we all gathered in the open air, Nanni continued – to each light our candles until a circle of light was formed. Then the sound of the Shofar horn, as the Bible explains, accompanied the rite since it was another sacred moment.” We did not only pray, but also shared artistic talents in «an evening filled with joy and harmony, where once again Chiara Lubich’s presence was felt through a painting which Sofia of the Bet-El Community offered as a gift to the town. She had also participated in the meeting last year, and felt personally addressed by the message and the figure of Chiara,» Carlos added. On Sunday there was a tour of the town. “After having reflected on some aspects of the history and the spirituality of the Movement – Nanni said – they visited the various sectors of the town and the day ended in the Vittorio Sabbione Auditorium. A new depth and God’s presence among us were felt in the reading of the First Testament. Those of us who remained in the Mariapolis felt that something had changed in us, and those who returned to Buenos Aires departed with the joy of the discovery of new brothers and sisters. And this was confirmed in the impression of one Jewish participant: ‘It is my third time here in Mariapolis Lia. Every time I left it was with the desire to return. Today instead, I feel part of this experience, and this town is now part of me as I am part of it.’ Next year’s schedule has been set!” Gustavo Clariá