CBF, Jerusalem

The text, the people, the land and interreligious dialogue

Located on Jerusalem’s Via Dolorosa, the CBF gives students a chance to deepen their knowledge of the Bible text, the Jewish roots of Christianity, and the very land where the Biblical events took place through a programme of theme-based courses.

All programmes are developed on the pillars of encounter with: the text, the people, the land and interreligious dialogue.

The centre’s curriculum takes an integrated approach to Bible study, to give a better understanding of Jesus as a Jew in his own cultural and religious setting.

Sessions examine both the Hebrew Scriptures – the only scriptures Jesus knew – and the New Testament. They draw on archaeological findings, Biblical and historical research, and the best of contemporary Christian and Jewish scholarship, to shed new light on the significance of Christianity’s Jewish roots over the centuries to the current day.

Courses are available in-house and online in English and Spanish and are usually two, three or four weeks long.

The CBF lends a listening ear to group needs and harnesses expertise in Biblical formation and local knowledge to build customised packages with onsite accommodation. Collaborative study projects are also developed and tailored in to visits to the Holy Land for dioceses, parishes, schools, and other institutions and groups.

Residential programmes include excursions within the region with knowledgeable presenters and guides. They explore the significance of sites central to the sacred stories of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as well as what the land means today.