Our Brother Bruno According to a very beautiful However, he lived events of his Hebrew expression, life in an existentialist fashion, as “Halach Bruno leolamo” he loved to say, and engaged with (Bruno went to his world) them with his whole person. He on February 8, 1996. remained humble before reality, changing or correcting according Bruno, our brother, our friend. to the needs of his personal way, Bruno, our guide in this great ad- but always with faith in the core venture of Neve Shalom ~ Wahat vision of his whole life, which he al-Salam, which crowned not on- summarizes at the end of his ly his life but also the full realiza- book, When the Cloud Lifted : “Not tion of his personality. destroying anything that has life in it. Loving, because loving is li- As an agnostic Jew, who was ving and creates life. Hoping...” educated without any religious knowledge, he encountered, at And it is thus that could be age 22, the figure of Jesus, son of born, exist and develop, Neve the Jewish people, so that the Shalom – Wahat al-Salam, this faith of the God of Abraham be- village of the impossible, it came his. This encounter allowed seems, this village of hope. him, some years later, to discover his own Jewish identity. It is thus Beyond the separation that that Bruno came to Israel in leaves us as “orphans,” to us, the 1953. children of his dream, remains the tough and exciting task to As a founder – a visionary, a continue the unfoldment. pioneer – he dreamed. Nothing and nobody caused him to depart This booklet does not wish to from the road that he took, until be other than a souvenir and a he judged that he had arrived at testimony to the memory of one his destination. “I have walked who has given us so much, and along each of the many varied who, we wish to believe, remains paths where the cloud has led with us. me, and lived for the end towards which it was guiding me.” Anne

"Wisdom consists of attempting to see the signs of the times, of discerning the Spirit in certainties that are in the process of evolving; of clinging to cer- tain solid rocks that remain in the midst of this nebula. The most solid rock is brotherly love. There, we are sure not to be mistaken.”

Bruno Hussar Accepting the A.J.C.F. award, October 1994.

2 Bruno has left us, silently, after quite a read a prophetic passage from the Bible - short illness. Hospitalized from the beginning “and from my flesh I shall see God...” (Job 19: of January, the final week was a time of grace, 23-27). Brother Daniel read from St. Paul: “I spent in the French Hospital of Jerusalem, to have fought the good fight, … (Timothy II, 7- which he had been moved, and where he re- 8)”. Abdessalam cited words of Muhammad. ceived the best and the most devoted care. Dafna moved us greatly with the poem There he was looked after also with the that she had written. tender and loving care of his friends and A great number of overseas friends, from companions from Neve Shalom. His old Germany, Italy, Holland and the United friends, especially, came many times to watch States, came to accompany Bruno one last over him at night. Anne was able to accom- time, speaking of their memories and men- pany him throughout and until the end of his tioning the profound respect and affection journey. that he had evoked in According to his Bruno, it suits you so poorly to be each. wish, Bruno was inter- confined to a box. The children, accom- red at Neve Shalom – That is why I want to believe that panying Ety on her guitar, Wahat al-Salam, in the your being, your neshama, is always sang a song that Bruno cemetery where we with us, and here lies only that had loved very much, “Me also wish to remain which remains of your body. and you will change the together. We are, you loved to say, enclosed in world.” (Arik Einstein / After a religious ce- a gradually changing chrysalis while Miki Gabrielov). remony at Isaiah we move towards the fullness of The casket was then House in Jerusalem on being. driven to the Doumia. February 11, Bruno's There were days when I would ask There, at the House of Si- casket was driven to you, “Bruno, will you become a lence, we stood for a long the village, and at first butterfly,” and you'd smile back at moment, before conti- we welcomed him at me. nuing towards the ceme- the school hall: such a We worked a long time together, for tery. It had been raining moving and significant 25 years, day after day, always all morning. Umbrellas of station! Under the di- heading towards the future. many colors provided a rection of Ety, the We worked for so many years with half-picturesque note. children prepared the our companions, day after day, Bruno would have smi- ceremony. The walls always heading towards the future. led…. were covered with Bruno, we accompany you still, you Spontaneously a friend drawings and affec- remain with us. chanted a pilgrim's song tionate, even poi- We continue. with a Hassidic melody. gnant, statements in Anne Anne addressed Bruno in Arabic and Hebrew. Hebrew and Eitan, in “Bruno, don't be place of a son of the fami- afraid, you are not alone,”, “Bruno, pray for us ly, said Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the de- from there below,” “Bruno, we are with you,” parted. “Bruno, we love you.”… The casket was placed in the ground by Ahmad, as the elected head of the village, Ilan, Abdessalam, Kobi, Eitan, Boaz and Za- made a short speech: “Bruno, our father, you kariya - a friend from the Palestinian territo- supported us all, with the good and the bad ries. that is in each of us. Your soul will continue to Eyas awaited us with a basket full of roses live among us, to watch over us.” and each placed a flower on the tomb of our Jews, Christians, Muslims, we prayed one brother Bruno. after another, in Hebrew and Arabic. Shai He remains with us.

3 Our Bruno Our Bruno was a man of faith - in many Those who followed in his path and were ways. Not only was he a deeply religious man loyal to him did so on account of his love, his and served as a priest but he had the great caring and his every word. They wanted to belief that it is possible to put into action help him, and they followed him. every positive inspiration that suited his Regarding the strength of his faith, he was ideals, if only he wanted it sincerely and not a formalist. He saw mainly the essence of seriously. things; their internal side. Neither affiliation I never knew a man who loved to repeat as to frameworks nor acceptance of doctrines he did the sentence, “If you will it, it is no interested him. His faith was open, broad… so dream” and thus, Herzl and the founding of he could accept both “Neve Shalom” and its the state of Israel were for him a proof and a members as people of faith, as brothers from model that all is possible and given to the spiritual and interior perspective. Even if fulfillment, if we only truly want it. they did not behave or speak in the language This is the way he thought and believed, in of tradition or what is accepted by it, he saw every project he undertook, from the beyond the framework and knew its beginning of his way to the end. From his importance. involvement in the Nostra Aetate document Besides his being a man of faith, he was up to Neve Shalom / Wahat al-Salam. He also a man of dialogue. Bruno loved to believed with such conviction that everything converse with people, to listen to what they is given to attainment that he did not pay had to say. Even if he did not agree with attention to the formalities required when he everything, they saw that he cared very much began. He started with nothing and, with about what they were saying, and that he sustained and continuous effort, created attempted to relate to it seriously and help as something. The nothing did not bother him, much as he could. and the something, when created, did not But above and beyond everything, our invoke pride or cause him any diversion from Bruno was a loving person. He loved the the way he had chosen. people around him, those with whom he Our Bruno taught us that even in our spoke, and those with whom he lived. And material secular world it is possible to attain everyone felt his love. things with the power of faith. He showed And like all great lovers, his love was that, even in our time, there is still a power in accompanied by another trait: an enormous faith, and precisely in the simple, naive and modesty. He was not important in his own unsophisticated faith that was his. eyes. For himself, he asked nothing, and he His simple faith, his ability to find small was ready to manage with less than nothing. sparks of light and goodness everywhere and Deep faith and great love – these are the all the time, conquered hearts, endeared him characteristics of “our” Bruno. We will to people, made them partners to his dreams remember him always as one who was a and their realization; partners who adhered great believer and a great lover. to his faith and the warmth of his heart. Yosef Emanuel (from Hebrew)

God wants to enter the world, but he wants to enter it through man. This is the secret of our existence, the superhuman chance of humankind. Yet the only entry we can offer him is the place where we are, there where we really live, where we live life authentically… thus we prepare for God a place to live in our own house, and bid him to enter. M. Buber – The Way of Man

4 Bruno's "Will" From the "Will" of Bruno Hussar * with me during all these pioneering years. To my companions in Neve Shalom/Wahat Without her, Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam al-Salam: would not have existed today. I ask that everything concerning my burial My thanks to all the wonderful members in N.S. will take place under the direction of who came and are still coming to live and Anne and Yohanon Elihai, with the active work here, for their sharing in building this participation of all the companions. place. I turn towards the companions to say the I would like very much that you will or- following. ganize this funeral so that it will really be an I am glad to live permanently among you. I act of reconciliation, love and peace among believe that death is not the end of life, but a all the companions, in an atmosphere of joy. kind of metamorphosis, as it were, a com- Yes, joy, because I am staying in your midst, plete change of the same life, passing from a though in another form. known to an unknown phase. I believe that in My brothers, start your prayers already in some mysterious way I will continue to be Jerusalem, in the House of Isaiah. connected to you. Now I want my fellows and friends, over If I have hurt any one of you, out of disre- and above all divisions between religions, gard or for any other reason, I sincerely ask opinions and philosophies, to be united in for your pardon. love and faith. Faith in the ultimate victory of Here in Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, we love over hate - this is the real and deepest have one aim: peaceful reconciliation bet- aim of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam. ween our two peoples. In order to work A righteous man once said: "In a place fruitfully towards this aim, we need to have where there is no love, sow love and you shall mutual understanding and consideration of reap love". It may happen that the one who each other. This means love. sowed the love will not reap it himself, but I really want that what we do together will only someone who follows after him. But, no be done as an act of love, reconciliation and doubt, every seed of true love will give - to- peace between all the members of Neve Sha- day, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow - lom/Wahat al-Salam. the fruit of love. This is the real aim of Neve I ask that you will not forget that Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam - to keep the hope Shalom/Wahat al-Salam was founded thanks alive and to sow a lot of love in this dry earth to a group of very dedicated friends, among of our country. The fruit will come in its time, them Rina, Yosef Emanuel, Mike Levy and on the day of harvest. others. And I particularly ask that you do not * Bruno recorded this in Hebrew on a cassette forget that Anne was the person who worked tape found by Anne, a week after his death.

Not Like a Cypress And not like the single man, Yehuda Amichai like Saul, whom the multitude found and made king. But like the rain in many places Not like a cypress, from many clouds, to be absorbed, to be not at once, not all of me, drunk but like the grass, in thousands of by many mouths, to be breathed in cautious green exits, like the air all year long to be hiding like many children and scattered like blossoming in while one of them seeks. springtime. (trans. Chana Block & Stephen Mitchell)

5 Curriculum Vitae 1911 Birth in Cairo, Egypt. “I have been a order relations between Jews and Hungarian citizen, then an Italian. My father Christians]. and mother were non-practicing Jews, and “At the beginning of 1959, Brother James my mother tongue was English, then French. I Fontaine, a Bible enthusiast, asked to join the made my high school studies at the Italian Jerusalem foundation... At the beginning of High School in Cairo.” winter, Brother James and I took up resi- 1929 Bruno went to live in France. He en- dence in the House of Isaiah. Or, rather, we tered the Central School of the Arts and camped there...” Industries, where he received a diploma in 1964 – 1965 Bruno was the co-founder of 1936. many ecumenical and Jewish-Christian asso- It is then that through the figure of Jesus ciations in Israel: the Rainbow group, the he encountered God. He was baptized at a Ecumenical and Theological Brotherhood, Catholic Church. and the Association for Understanding Bet- 1936-1942 Bruno worked as an engineer. ween Religions”. He received his French nationality in 1937. 1964 – 1965 Bruno participated in the “Under German occupation I became Vatican II Ecumenical Council. He was named much more deeply aware of my Jewishness.” as an expert consultant to the Secretariat for He was obliged to flee from Paris and en- Unity Among Christians, in the editing and ter the “Free Zone”. When looking for work, presentation of the Nostra Aetate document, he encountered “the bitter experience of in matters concerning the relations of the antisemitism.” Church with the Jewish people. The text was 1941 Bruno fell ill. “Those three years, two adopted and promulgated. of them spent in complete immobility, gave 1966 Bruno received Israeli citizenship. me time to think things over.” 1967 Immediately following the “Six Day 1945 Entered the Dominican Order, in the War”, Bruno took part in the General Assem- province of Paris. Pursued studies in philoso- bly of the United Nations as a counselor for phy and theology at Le Saulchoir theological the Israeli delegation. school. 1968 – 1970 The Israeli Minister of Tou- 1950 Bruno was ordained as a priest. rism sent him on a mission to the United “Fr. Avril made me part of his desire to States, Canada and several European coun- found a center for Jewish studies in the Je- tries, where he attended conferences on the wish half of Jerusalem, along the lines of the Bible and Jewish-Christian relations. Dominican center for Islamic studies in Cairo. 1970 While continuing to take part in the He had thought that I, as a Jew by birth, work of the House of Isaiah, Bruno founded might undertake this foundation and asked Neve Shalom with a group of lay persons. me to think it over.” “We had in mind a small village composed 1953 Bruno came to live in Israel. of inhabitants from different communities in “With my arrival in Israel came a growing the country...” conviction: I was a son of Israel! This people I “It was impossible to imagine a communal was living among were my people. This coun- life shared by Jews and Christians in Israel try I was living in was my country.” without taking account those other sons of 1953 – 1959 Bruno prepared the future Abraham, the Arabs, both Muslim and institution. He lived in Jaffa and served as a Christian, who live in this country.” pastoral minister, for French, English and Ita- “The purpose would be to prove that living lian speakers. together is possible… and, at the same time, “In 1954, on the initiative of a group of to found a 'School for Peace', for peace is also priests of whom I was one, the St. James' an art. It doesn't appear spontaneously, it has Foundation was established” [for setting in to be learnt.” 6 1970 – 1976 The pioneer years of Wahat 1994 Received the French Judeo- al-Salam – Neve Shalom. With a few others, Christian Friendship award. Bruno lived on the hilltop in very difficult Towards the end of December 1995, Bru- material conditions. no remained active in Wahat al-Salam – Neve 1977 The beginning of a new phase of de- Shalom, particularly in the branch of activi- velopment of WAS-NS with the arrival of the ties known as “Doumia”, in the reception of first Israeli (Jewish and Palestinian) families. visiting groups, in many overseas delegations, 1980 Received the New Outlook prize for and in welcoming many visitors. He also par- peace. ticipated in ecumenical and theological mee- 1983 Appearance of his book, When the tings such as symposiums. Cloud Lifted (French edition) as part of the In 1988, at age 77, Bruno wrote: collection “That for which I live”, Cerf Edi- “Tongues of fire rest over stages of the tions, Paris, 1983. Second edition, 1988. Journey already accomplished and seem to The book was translated into English, Ita- call for my attention… Over all this hovers lian and German. the Spirit, inviting me to explore the path- 1988 Received a personal recommenda- ways that I thought I knew, where I still make tion for receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize. unsuspected and wonderful discoveries.”

The time of parting has come, And raise our children. The cocoon has turned into a butterfly We part today only from your body. Flying to look for other regions. The power of your dream and vision stays with us But just a minute, Bruno, The belief in love between people, I want to tell you just a few more words. The belief in dialogue and giving, Words of love The belief in search and acceptance. For a man that for whom love was the call of Your dream stays with us as a legacy, life, And continues to the generations Love was the gate of your children and grandchildren, Through which many people passed - Sons of three religions and two peoples, Jews, Christians and Muslims. For us and all the friends and supporters. You had a place for them all, I hope we will learn and know Because you were seeking, and finding, the How to keep this legacy beautiful in each person. Because sometimes we forget, ponder, You had the power to hold and accept, Make mistakes, and close our hearts. You had the endless patience I hope we can be wise enough to learn to To dream about Neve Shalom. accept from you You wanted a center for three religions This wisdom, And received a dialogue between two The wisdom of love. people. Through all our disagreements, differences Your dream will still grow and spread its and contradictions roots You stood fast by the idea of "The Doumiah" Because more and more people believe and That would bridge all gaps. join us After all, And we will follow your path, Sometimes we remember The path of a modest, wise and innocent We are all equal before God. man. Good-bye Bruno, And we who were left behind, Fly in peace with all the other butterflies. Thanks to you, your power of faith and hope We live on this hill Dafna.

7 Bruno Words spoken before a delegation from the Once a journalist asked Bruno how he, a Japanese organization Rissho Kosei Kai, who man of religion, can continue to invest so had come to condole the members of WAS-NS much energy in a community that is fun- after Bruno's death. damentally secular. Bruno simply answered that, in his eyes, those of us who consider Rev. Niwano and distinguished guests, ourselves secular are also doing the work of There are communities and religious God, even if we do not know it. As I think groups with spiritual leaders - leaders who again about Bruno’s response to this journa- guide their followers with words of wisdom list I come to a different understanding of and who are turned to for advice in times of how he perceived NS/WAS. We often speak trouble. Often we meet people who believe of Bruno’s original intention to bring toge- that Father Bruno Hussar was such a leader ther people of different faiths who will find a for us. But the truth is, that for us in NS/WAS, common language by stressing the common he was never “Father” Bruno Hussar. He was spiritual values between them. Then we go always Bruno, a friend, and the founder of on to say that the Jews and Palestinians who our village. His death was a personal loss for arrived were more interested in addressing each and every one of us. their problems as two peoples, rather than as One evening, several weeks ago, many of three religions. We present this as a turning us gathered to share our memories of Bruno. point, or a change in direction. Nobody spoke of Bruno’s teaching, and few But now it strikes me that for him there of us actually quoted things that Bruno said. never was a change of direction, but rather a For we saw that it was not what he said, but realization of his original dream. The struggle who he was, that provided us with inspira- for peace is in itself the spiritual value shared tion. During times that many of us lost our by people of all religions and by people wi- energy to deal with NS/WAS and the Jewish - thout religion. His dream was to create a vil- Palestinian conflict, Bruno always maintained lage in which we could learn how to put these his optimism and his patience. There was no values into practice. And I now think, that distance between Bruno’s words and his ac- perhaps we have not yet begun to recognize tions. And it was the way in which he put his how much of a spiritual leader - or a “Father” beliefs into practice that enabled him to find - Bruno really was to us. May he rest in a common language with people from such peace. different backgrounds and generations. Bob Mark, August 5, 1996.

According to the words of Prophet Muhammad, the memory of a man remains alive if:

1. He discovers something new, or writes a book that people derive benefit from after his death. 2. He makes a contribution, or creates something that continues to serve humankind. 3. He has children that remember him well. Bruno fulfilled these three conditions. Abdessalam Najjar, at the funeral.

Collected and edited by Anne Le Meignen (1996). Translated from French/Hebrew (2016).

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