
'Between the sacred and the profane' is the title of the exhibition about Christian groups in Haifa, sponsored by the 'Religious Research Incubator at the University of Haifa'.
On Tuesday 10/12/2024, the opening of the exhibition 'Between the Holy and the Filthy - the Christian Communities of Haifa' took place, in the lobby of the Haifa University Library. The exhibition presents eight Christian groups resident in Haifa, through photographs and historical windows associated with each and every group. The exhibition is open to the general public and is free of charge, the display of photos and information will be until March 2025.
As an introduction to deepening knowledge, it is appropriate to give a platform to the words of Professor Uriel Simonson, who is a professor in the Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Haifa and the founding director of the 'Haifa Religious Research Center'.


Exploring religions with practical strategies to promote coexistence and mutual understanding
As the founding director of the incubator, Prof. Simonson leads initiatives that connect academic research with practical application, focusing on promoting religious pluralism and fostering interreligious dialogue. Professor Uriel Simonson's work aims to combine the study of religions with practical strategies to promote coexistence and mutual understanding.
The Haifa religious mosaic includes Jewish communities with different religious orientations (Orthodox, Conservative and Reform), a Muslim community, an Ahmadi Muslim community, a variety of Christian communities (including those belonging to the Latin Catholic, Greek Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Anglican, Armenian, Russian and more), activists of the Bahá'í World Center, and even a considerable Druze presence.
Many members of these communities live in common neighborhoods throughout the city, sharing workplaces, cultural life and education. The Haifa Religious Research Center seeks to harness this reality in order to strengthen the fabric of shared life in Haifa and even expand it among other mixed cities, in Israel and the world, through the strengthening of the Haifa model.

Haifa - a city characterized by social pluralism
Prof. Simonson says that the exhibition 'Between the Holy and the Holy' creamed skin and sinews out of the desire of a 'Haifa hotbed for the study of religions' to respond to the severe attacks that took place against Christians, both in Jerusalem and in Haifa. According to him, the presence of Christian communities in Israel is a positive and empowering phenomenon for Israeli society. According to Prof. Simonson, the Christian community in Haifa constitutes a kind of cultural bridge: by virtue of the fact that the mother tongue is Arabic, they are Arabs, but the cultural orientation of these communities tends towards Western culture. In his opinion, the contribution of the Christian communities to the social and cultural fabric in Haifa is excellent and worthy of mention.
Haifa is characterized by pluralistic neighborhoods, where diverse and mixed sectors live side by side, for example: Ein Hayam - Wadi Jamel, Hadar, Carmel Sharfati, Naut Peres and Kiryat Eliezer. He deplores the trend of the constant reduction in the presence of the Christian community in Israel, due to migration to the West and South America, and at the same time even though the birth rates in the Christian communities are very low.

The exhibition as an element for an effective path to create meaningful connections
The exhibition 'Between the Holy and the Holy' seeks to provide knowledge to the general public, which lives with a whole world of stereotypes, a public that has not yet trusted the wide variety of types and factions of Christianity that exist in the region. Regarding the goal: "The more they get to know each other - then connections will develop and will contribute to strengthening the fabric of the entire Haifa population."
The exhibition represents many who are to be proud of and are "not only related to the holidays". In addition to the ritual and spiritual aspect - the life of the Christian community, the excellent education system, the subject of charity and community solidarity as well as the culture of leisure time and its integration in the various community centers are presented.
According to Prof. Uriel Simonson "it is wrong to think that religions are a source of problems - because the religious public does not want to fight and discuss". He emphasizes and says: "In a situation where about 80% of the public in the State of Israel has a religious orientation (in all sectors of all religions: Jews and Arabs) and only about 20% of the population are atheists - a situation has arisen in which the exhibition has circumstantial conditions for an effective path that may create good, useful connections and significant".


A look at the exhibition and links to the articles "The Churches Project in Haifa and the Carmel Ridge"
The opening of the exhibition evoked many waves of appreciation, since this is a project that seeks to create interfaces with all the residents of Haifa and the surrounding area. Until now and now living, many students visit the exhibition as well as high school students who come for guided tours.
Much information is published on social media and arouses great interest.
Below is a glimpse of the exhibition 'Between the Holy and the Dirty', as well as links to the articles "The Churches Project in Haifa and the Carmel Ridge" most of which were published here about two or three years ago (in each article there is a link to a YouTube clip describing the church relevant to the topic, which is recommended and even recommended to be viewed on a monitor big screen).

Anglican Communion
The Anglican Church is the state religion of the Kingdom of England. It was founded in the sixth century by missionaries on the papal mission, and was subject to Rome until the Reformation in the 16th century.
The Church of England differs from the other Protestant churches mainly in the form of ordination to the priesthood, in the structure of the prayer, which consists of English translations of prayers before the Reformation, and the insistence on certain Catholic foundations. Members of the Anglican community are found mainly in the settlements: Haifa, Acre, Kfar Yasif, Beirut. For the people of the community, education is a value of great importance. At the 'Saint John' school there are students from different backgrounds including: Christians, Druze and Muslims.
Father Hatam Shahada serves as the spiritual father and is the one who oversees the church's activities and the affairs of the community. He is also the president of the ecclesiastical court of the diocese of Jerusalem which is located in Haifa.



The Maronite community
The Maronites are members of the Armenian nationality. They belong to the Antiochian Aramaic-Maronite-Christian Church, which belongs to Eastern Catholic Christianity, and it accepts the orders of the Pope.
Tradition says that the Maronite Church was founded in the fourth century by Mar Maron who was an Armenian monk whose exemplary life, spirituality and the miracles he performed stood to merit him. Maron was born in the middle of the fourth century and died in the first decade of the fifth century. He lived as a hermit and hermit in the mountainous region near Antioch.
The Maronite community complex is located in the lower city of Haifa. The complex is surrounded by a fence wall and is located between Maronite Alley and Robin Alley, with the 'Saint Louis Church' in its center. The deacons and priests of the Maronite Church are not bound to celibacy, unlike their counterparts in the Catholic Church. In contrast, the monks and bishops are obliged to remain celibate. This is how Avona Yusuf Yaakov, married and father of children.


the orthodox community
The beginning of the separation between early Eastern Christianity and Catholic Christianity and Orthodox Christianity is in the monophysite types of Eutychus, who argued that Jesus had only one nature, the divine nature. In Orthodox Christianity, more emphasis is placed than in Catholic Christianity on the mystical and ceremonial aspect of Christian worship. The name "Orthodox" means "straightforward faith," and refers to the Orthodox Church's claim that it is the community closest to the original Christian traditions of Jesus and the apostles.
Although the patriarchies that were added over the years maintained their independence and possessed unique characteristics, a deep affinity prevails between them in the areas of faith and theology and in the form of prayer. The number of members of the Orthodox community is about 6500 believers. The Eastern Orthodox Christian Church is the second largest Christian community in the world (after the Catholic Church) and has approximately 250 million believers united by an ancient theological and liturgical tradition.




The Melkite Greek Catholic community
The Greek-Catholic Melkite Church is a unitary church that stands on its own. The believers of the church, called Melchites, are of mixed Greek and Middle Eastern origin and are considered to be the first descendants of Christianity and Christians in Syrian Antioch, and this from the first century AD. The believers define themselves as "Eastern Catholics practicing Byzantine worship" - that is, they are subject to the Pope and the Vatican, but are granted ritual autonomy, within which they preserve the customs and liturgy that have their origins in Greek-Orthodox Christianity.
The following churches are associated with the Greek Catholic Melchite community in Haifa: 'Mr. Elias Cathedral' which is on Ein Dor Street 23, 'El Seyda (Our Lady) Church' near the 'House of Grace', 'St. Gregory's Church' - Wadi Jamal and 'The Angel Church' ' - the station, as well as the 'Greek-Catholic Melkite Church' in Usafia, located at the end of al-Kiniya Alley.


Stella Maris community
The Carmelite Order was founded on Mount Carmel, after the Third Crusade in 1192, by monks who lived in caves in Nahal Shikh inspired by the prophet Elijah. This order prospered and expanded from there all over Europe. But immediately after the conquest of the Crusader Acre by the Mamluks in 1291, the monks were expelled from the Carmel.
The Carmelites are the only Catholic monastic order born in the land where Jesus Messiah was born, therefore Mount Carmel - for the Carmelites is not only a geographical place but also a spiritual essence where one can reach and experience the mercy of the Creator of the world, Father of all living.
The 'Stella Maris' monastery is the place where the monks belonging to the Carmelite order live, pray, work and provide spiritual service to local and foreign people, who come to pray and visit the monastery and the church.




St. Joseph Latin Community - Haifa
The 'Saint Joseph's Church' is a Catholic church that belongs to the Carmelite Order, located on Sderot Maginim in the German Colony in Haifa. Right next to the church dedicated to the memory of Saint Joseph, there are the "Carmel" school and the offices of the Latin quarter of the city of Haifa.
The original church in Haifa is called the 'Church of Elijah the Prophet' and is located near Paris Square. It was damaged in the War of Independence, restored and reopened in 2019. The community in Haifa has about 2500 believers and their religious activities are usually held in the 'Saint Joseph Latin Church' complex - where religious and social activities take place. Community members live all over the city: in Wadi Nisnas, the German colony, the Abbas neighborhood, in Carmel and in Ein Hayam-Wadi Jamal.


The Armenian community
The Armenian Church "Saint Eliyahu - Saint Yijia" belongs to the Armenian Patriarchate. The Armenian nation is an ancient nation and ethnic group of Indo-European origin. The origin of this group is in the area south of the Black Sea (the Caucasus and the Armenian plateau). The Armenian Apostolic Church is the oldest national church in the world and one of the oldest Christian communities.
Its official name is the "Armenian Apostolic and Orthodox Church". Sometimes it is called the "Armenian Orthodox Church" or the "Gregorian Church". The Armenian people were the first to convert to Christianity as a nation in 301 AD. The penetration of Christianity among the Armenians was relatively fast, so already at the end of the 4th century there was an Armenian community in Jerusalem. Since then, there has been a continuity of Armenian settlement in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Armenian community in Haifa numbers several hundred people, who live mainly in the lower city. The church is located in a tiny and narrow street called Hana Nakara Alley - which is a small alley that branches off from Khouri Street in Wadi Nisnas.
Next to the church is the Armenian community center which is a meeting place for the members of the community. The community representatives maintain excellent contact with other communities in Haifa (of all religions). It is an accepting, inclusive and tolerant community that is proud of the symbol of the coexistence of the city of Haifa and sees it as a candle to its feet.




The Hebrew speaking church
The community of Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel (called the 'Jacob the Righteous Representation'), belongs to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. This community includes the Hebrew-speaking Catholics living in Israel, some of whom belong to the Jewish people and others from the nations of the world, including local Christians and immigrants. They are integrated into the Hebrew-speaking Jewish Israeli society and see the Pope as the supreme religious authority.
The location of the community house of the Hebrew-speaking Catholics is in the building of the Spanish consulate (on the lower floor) at 1 Anilwitz St. in the German colony.



A city with religious tolerance, as well as tourism uniqueness
From the general to the particular: Haifa is famous for its religious tolerance and the variety of beliefs that are integrated in it, on the one hand, and on the other hand, parks, gardens and promenades to sit on the beach and be moved by the sunset on the promenade and even marvel at the views of the bay.
Haifa is a city that has a lot to offer its residents and tourists from Israel and abroad. Here you can find family attractions, guided city tours, the Baha'i gardens, nature walks in parks in wadis and streams, shopping, drinking wine and wineries, markets and galleries.
Here we will find the Carmelit, which is not a subway but a funicular (two train cars are connected to one cable and move alternatively up and down) - as well as the 'Rachel Haifa' which operates and connects the 'Bat Galim' neighborhood on the beach with the 'Stella Maris' neighborhood as well as The suspended 'cable car' where the ride is an attraction in itself.

Haifa social resilience and coexistence
As part of the fact that Haifa is a Jewish city that includes a diverse population that also includes Baha'is, Christian Arabs and Muslim Arabs - where everyone has equal rights (by the way, the minority that supports Israel's enemies is indeed in the city, but they are not residents of Haifa, but come to stir up the spirits). The social resilience in Haifa was proven during the terrible war, because during the missile attacks, Jews and Arabs alike sit together in shelters and help each other.
The social resilience is also evident in Haifa's thriving culinary scene, which is a reliable reflection of a city that is all about co-existence, which has already stood the test of reality during the time of the 'Guardian of the Walls' as well as during the current protracted war and the massacre that preceded it.

Deepening mutual acquaintance as a cultural and social leverage
Now alive, in the festive square on Ben Gurion Boulevard, the symbols of the three holidays are placed - a huge fir tree, a menorah and a crescent moon. The atmosphere along the boulevard is full of life, all the lights were turned on, and Haifa became all sparkling in honor of the holidays.
Lights and decorations now fill the streets of the city, especially the boulevards in the German Colony, Wadi Nisnas and the illuminated Baha'i gardens.
... and here to the detail:
For all this, let's join the value of realizing pluralism, which is possible thanks to the existence of several important values:
- Acquaintance - in which the in-depth learning about the other person deals with knowledge and the emotional and personal aspects - which forms the basis for creating a group that the participants can and wish to participate in and express themselves.
- Tolerance - willingness to accept the difference and respect the right of the other person, to maintain his difference and give it expression.
Beethoven: The Ninth Symphony ► Watch

An exhibition that is indeed worthy, desirable and recommended to visit
As mentioned, according to Prof. Uriel Simonson, "It is wrong to think that religions are a source of problems, since the religious public is not a public that seeks quarrels and arguments" - therefore it is clear that the exhibition is a situation with circumstantial conditions for an effective path that may create meaningful connections.
If so, the deepening of mutual acquaintance is a cultural and social lever - meaning: first a visit to the aforementioned exhibition which is indeed appropriate, desirable and recommended to visit - and then a visit to Haifa's churches, a visit that begins with tourism and turns into acquaintance, tolerance and mutual respect.
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Well done to you, my friend Racheli Orbach, for this article. Good and blessed morning to you
Dear Rafi,
I appreciate you both for your ability to emphasize the importance of the topic and for your great appreciation for this special article.