Jerusalem: 'We are praying for those who hate us'
Friday, January 22, 2016
"We are thankful for all of our friends in Israel who stand by us in solidarity. "
By
Oliver Maksan
NEW YORK—The Abbey of the Dormition in
Jerusalem has once again been targeted by vandals. During the night of Jan. 16,
2016, unknown persons defaced the walls and doors of the German-speaking
Benedictine monastery on the outer edges of the Old City of Jerusalem. Also
targeted were nearby buildings belonging to the Greek Orthodox and Armenian
Apostolic Church.
The graffiti, written in Hebrew and in several
different handwriting styles, proclaimed: “Christians go to hell,” “Death to
heathen Christians, the heretical enemies of Israel,“ “Revenge for Israelis”
and “Erased be His name.” A sword dripping with blood was drawn next to a Star
of David.On Jan. 21, Israeli police arrested two Jewish teenagers suspected in the vandalizing.
The community of monks reacted with dismay to the
incidents. “We are praying for those who hate us,” Father Nikodemus Schnabel, sub-prior
of the monastery, told international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in
Need. “If we are being attacked because we are Christians, then we want to
react as Christians,” he added.
Father Nikodemus emphasized that the Jewish community
had reacted with commiseration: “We are thankful for all of our friends in
Israel who stand by us in solidarity. We as monks of the Abbey of the Dormition
will not cease praying for reconciliation, justice and peace—as well as for the
perpetrators of last night; may the hatred disappear from their hearts.”
The monk also called for Israeli authorities to act: “We
ask that the security forces take this criminal act seriously and finally take
steps to improve the security situation on Mount Zion, something which has been
promised to us since the summer of 2013.” The police had already approved the
installation of cameras in the summer of 2013, after parked cars belonging to
the monastery were heavily damaged and offensive graffiti was discovered. However,
Father Nikodemus said that nothing had been done as yet.

In the last few years, the Benedictine community has
repeatedly been targeted by what are suspected to be Jewish extremists. Shortly
after the visit of Pope Francis in May 2014, an attempt was made to set fire to
the abbey church in Jerusalem. Up until this point, the worst incidence has
been the arson attack on Tabgha Priory, which belongs to the monastic community
and lies on the Sea of Galilee, in June of 2015. The perpetrators, Jewish
extremists, have been arrested.
The priory sustained damages totalling more than $1.8M.
Two people suffered smoke inhalation. It remains unclear how much of the cost of
the reconstruction of the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes
the Israeli government will agree to pay.
For years now, Christian and Muslim churches and
establishments have come under attack by suspected Jewish extremists. The
perpetrators are believed to extremist Jews who support the settlement
movement. There have been few arrests and convictions. Most recently, in
December the cemetery of the Salesian monastery of Beit Gemal was desecrated.
Unidentified persons overturned and damaged crosses.
Graffiti on the wall of the Abbey of the Dormition, Jerusalem
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