Magdala’s People II

Is there day-to-day living together with Muslims, Jews and Christians in the Holy Land? was the title I used to repost the IEA Ecumenical Discussion on Interfaith Dialogue which was held here at Magdala on February the 28th.  Rather than being a mere discussion topic, this is our day-to-day life.‍

Our February Magdala’s People I included a brief introduction to the Druze faith. We described some of the inspiring richness of our daily life.

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This month we take a look at the Bedouin people before considering some current experiences in the context of conflict around us.

Bedouins: Magdala is located in Migdal. Our closest village is Wadi Hamam. Its population of 1600+, primarily comprised of two large Bedouin families, is home to many wonderful workers at Magdala. The Bedouin originally were a nomadic people of desert dwellers, who herded goats, sheep, camels and donkeys, in the Syrian desert and the Arabian Peninsula. With the rise of Islam they spread all across North Africa and then eastward to Mesopotamia. Families, clans and tribes structure their society. Nowadays many are only semi-nomadic while many others are fully urbanized.

Pilgrims who travel from Jerusalem to Jericho and the Dead Sea area often see Bedouins with their herds in the Judean desert. When one hikes near them, they always insist on drinking tea or coffee with them. They revive our imaginations about Abraham and the family and nomadic life of the Patriarchs. King David’s activity as a shepherd boy surely shared some of this lifestyle.

In the Byzantine period, St Euthymius evangelized the Bedouins of the Judean Desert, but with the rise of Islam they mostly became Muslim. Our recent Latin Patriarch, Archbishop Fouad Twal, was born in Jordan to a Christian Bedouin which had become sedentary. He progressed in the Vatican Diplomatic service and became Archbishop of Tunis and then eventually Patriarch of Jerusalem. In Israel, Bedouins are also constantly developing academic studies and diverse careers while many still struggle through a myriad of challenges.

Our Human Resources Manager, Abir Totry, says most of our employees appreciate working here. Abir says they love the Magdala atmosphere and are delighted to step inside the door each morning. “This is not a regular company business environment but a blessing to participate and contribute to the purpose of Magdala.” Our visitors typically only encounter a few workers, directly, but nevertheless perceive the warm welcome and recognize the special atmosphere.

We, volunteers, Consecrated Regnum Christi women, and priests, are mostly from overseas, but the local employees recognize the fact of the dedication to be here for philanthropic motives, to serve the spiritual lives of our guests. In times of political tension, everyone’s good will encourages us all to go forward, developing our family spirit, despite the serious political confrontations which, understandably, are articulated in a region that is so complex and has horrible outbreaks of lethal conflict.

In the aftermath of the horrendous events of October the 7th we were again surprised by a new development we would never have imagined. We were approached by the residents of some Kibbutzim (communal villages) from the Lebanese border area who were constrained to evacuate. So, when our pilgrims had hurriedly left, we welcomed entire families, including little new-born babies to great-grandparents. In total, some 240 new residents arrived ‘for some weeks’, a provisional measure, which since have become almost seven months. Definitive solutions have yet to be found for most of them.

Normally we were used to short-term guests. Pilgrims spent two or three and rarely four nights with us. Now, not just entire families, but an entire village moved in. School buses pick up the kids each morning to attend improvised schools, since a total of over 80,000 people had to provisionally relocate from border areas to safer places in lower Galilee. It was most moving to see this Jewish Kibbutz population prepare and give personal gifts to each of our workers, mostly Arab Israelis in this case, in the context of the Hannukah and Christmas festivity celebrations. Our long-term guests were thanking our employees personally for so much loving care all these months. When people overseas, constantly exposed 24/7 to media reports of warfare, learned of this, our Magdala experience provoked unbelief and astonishment.

It’s quite the experience for our community in this time of conflict to find ourselves offering support to victims on both sides of this horrendous conflict. Some people may want to instrumentalize the suffering of people to leverage political agendas. As disciples of Jesus, we are called upon to help the suffering at whose side we are providentially placed. Our Magdala people are radiating an experience and a ray of hope, beyond our dreams. We pray for this blessing in every family and community across the region and the entire world. Certainly, no one wants the present circumstances. Meanwhile we are also praying with the whole world, hoping for the blessed time of security, justice, and peace for all, soon.

We have been very encouraged by Pope Francis’ recent words in his remarks about responsibility needed to make sure Artificial Intelligence needs to be applied for growth in humanity and benefit all people. “All of us are called to grow together, in humanity and as humanity. We are challenged to make a qualitative leap, in order to become a complex, multiethnic, pluralistic, multireligious and multicultural society.” Jan 24, 2024 Message for World Communications Day. Some weeks ago, we all celebrated an Iftar, breaking the Ramadan fast, with our Muslim employees. Then, all joined in our joy as we celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection. Now we are celebrating Passover with our Jewish employees and guests.

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Get to know...

Karen Kaplan, Archeological Visitor Park Coordinator

“I can’t imagine not working at Magdala! Magdala is home for me!”

Karen’s grandparents were born in England to parents who fled the mid 19^th century Russian pogrom atmosphere. She had visited Israel with her brother and parents: “something stayed in my heart”. As a child, she made a mental note of some personal anti-semitic experiences and wanted to spare her children those challenges.

In 1993 Karen eventually emigrated to Israel with her family and after 18 months of candidateship, they were accepted as members on Kibbutz Ginosar near Magdala.

In 2014, when the Sea of Galilee was very low, Karen organized a Kibbutz cultural walk southward along the beach. She met Jennifer, one of the Consecrated Women serving at Magdala. She dreamt she would work here and stayed in touch. Once Magdala opened overnight accommodations, Karen became Reception and Reservations Manager from September 2019 - October 2022. She then transferred to Magdala Visitors Center to be Park & Operations Coordinator. “I can’t imagine not working at Magdala! Magdala is home for me!”  

Karen delights noticing visitors gaze across the site, taking it all in. “You watch hundreds coming in and out and you realize that Magdala is breathtaking for them.  I’m thrilled sensing their joy and fulfilling experience.

Having lots of experience as a foreigner, I appreciate what it is to find yourself away from home and I want to help them.

It’s vibrant here. Alive. Good energy. You don’t hear complaints. People come to learn and listen. It’s amazing how they came back so quickly in hundreds of thousands after COVID, and even more amazing how people continue coming during these troubled times. You feel their love and support.” Sadly, while recently visiting her mother in England, antisemitism had reached a new pitch. Karen’s four adult children all live in Israel and don’t need to hide their identity.

“Here at Magdala, we work for a cause of combined religious beliefs. We are a mix of faiths. What is important to me is each person, their heart, their soul, their behavior towards their fellow coworkers. If we try that bit harder and some more, wouldn’t life be just wonderful?”