September 30, 2026 — Approximately 270 children, young people and adults from Hebrew-speaking Catholic communities in Israel gathered at Kiryat Yearim on September 26 for Yom HaKehillot, or Day of the Communities. The gathering marked the 70th anniversary of the Saint James Vicariate of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and opened what organizers called the “Year of Love.”
The event highlighted a distinctive part of Israel’s Christian landscape: Catholic communities whose worship and daily life take place in Hebrew. Their experience reflects the diversity of Christian life in the Holy Land and the ways religious identity can be expressed across languages and cultures.
For Jewish-Christian relations, these communities offer a reminder that the relationship between Jews and Christians is not only international diplomacy. It is also lived locally, through neighbors, families, schools and congregations.
Learning about the different Christian communities in Israel helps replace generalizations with understanding. It also encourages Christians abroad to listen to local believers rather than assume that one community speaks for all.
May the coming year strengthen friendship, mutual respect and the freedom of every community to practice its faith.