From 1974 until his death in 1995, Fr. Isaac lived near Bet Shemesh (the House of the Sun), on Church land, midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Here he worked to build up the Benedictine Center of Tel Gamaliel. At the Center, Father Isaac conducted programs of study of the Word of the Lord as Torah and Gospel, and a kibbutz-like community developed using the Rule of St. Benedict as its framework. Here, Christians, both lay and religious, sought to become self-supporting. In realizing this objective, a center for Christian settlement began to evolve, based on the call for community in the Judeo-Christian tradition within the Israeli context. Over the years, Tel Gamaliel received many visitors, volunteers, young people, families, priests and religious who prayed, studied, and worked in the Land of Israel. No matter how challenged the community was at times, for instance, in the early years there was no running water or electricity, the Shabbat meal was always a festive celebration.
James Southern
I volunteered at Tel Gamaliel during the 1980’s. I remember Father Isaac as someone with a good sense of humour, as illustrated by changing his name from Henry to Isaac. Sister Gemma was the practical one, running the establishment. I have pleasant memories of my time there.
John
I remember being there in 1977, four of us including Father Isaac. He was amazing! One Canadian, a Texan and I was from Ireland. Three ‘buildings’ little more than stone shacks. Our staple diet was bread, cheese and honey with the occasional trip in Beth Shenesh for Falafel!
Hope to get back this year!