Ammas visit will be like Hanukkah

Between the 3rd and 8th of December 2009 Br. Shubamrita paid his fourth annual visit to Israel.

Public programmes were held in the cities of Tel Aviv, Pardes Hana and for the first time in Netiv Halamed Hey, a Kibbutz (community) near Jerusalem. An Integrated Amrita Meditation course was held in Tel Aviv, with nearly 80 participants.

The participants enjoyed Br. Shubamrita’s talks based on Amma’s teachings and interspersed with a lot of humour and personal experiences. The Hebrew songs also were a great hit with the audience.

Br. Shubamrita was invited to ‘Wings of Krembo’, a youth organization which cares for children with special needs. There are more than 900 teenagers who volunteer in the organization, which has 8 active groups throughout the country. Twice a week they spend an afternoon with the needy children, thus allowing their parents to have some free time. Br. Shubamrita had a very lively interaction with the group, joining in their singing and games. He taught the kids the peace prayer “Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu” which was chanted with a lot of cheering and clapping.

At the end of the meeting, Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light, was celebrated. Just like the candles are lit on the traditional seven-armed lamp, the simple act of kindness by the youngsters is kindling the light of joy, love and peace in the lives of those they care for.

People are praying to Amma to visit Israel.  In Tel Aviv one lady said, “Hanukkah is a festival that brings in joy and light to all of us and is very dear to our hearts. It will be like a Hanukkah for us when Amma comes to Israel, for we can see a person who is spreading the light of love and peace around the world.”

– Dass