SAMUEL SAADA
AFRICAN CHURCH / TEL AVIV
In Tel Aviv, in the neighborhood of Florentine, a bank-like building houses a community of Christian believers.
Every Saturday, at the time of Shabbat - in Israel, there is no such thing as a public holiday Sunday - these Christians meet to commune in their love for God.
They are guided by the pastor Chudi Umeh-Ujubuonu, charismatic, imposing voice. Born in Nigeria, his faith was revealed by the religious education he received at school and his parents, faithful to the Catholic Church.
This pastor preaches fervently every week. "Everyone is accepted into the community." It does not matter the identity and the origin.
There are Kenyans, Congolese, Filipinos, Ivorians, Israelis.
We hear Swahili, laughs and songs accompanied by generous musicians. They play the chord until swaying.
The church was created in 1997. Since then, it works for the poor and the social activity. Funding is provided by faithful and humanitarian structures such as "Magen David" ambulances and "Zarka" disaster relief assistance
The church conveys a message of peace and tolerance. It is a place of meeting and learning of the other. "She creates a circle of faithful wishing to share the love, the social cohesion and sometimes the memory of a distant country.
Its members are doctors, teachers, building employees.
They are united in the euphoria of the word of Gd and his love.
"Some of the children you see in the church were born here in Israel, they do not know any other place, and in fact some will soon be serving in the Israeli army."
You can not understand what you do not know. You must know before understanding to interact.
Isolation breeds dissonance and sometimes hatred. "
