SOME REACTIONS FROM THE JEWISH SIDE
Israeli ambassador says the visit
turned out to be a pleasant 'surprise":
Media did not get the crisis it expected
By Jesús Colina
Translated from
the italian service of
ROME, JAN. 18, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Israel's ambassador to the Holy See says Benedict XVI's visit to the Synagogue of Rome was not only a great help in the fight against anti-Semitism, but was also 'a pleasant surprise'.
Ambassador Mordechai Lewy told ZENIT: "The press had been generating an atmosphere of crisis, before the visit, and the media were very much disappointed that there was no crisis afterwards," he said, affirming this was a nice surprise.
The Holy Father visited both the synagogue and the Jewish Museum on Sunday evening, giving an address focused on what does and can unite Jews and Christians. It was the third time as Pontiff that he has visited a synagogue.
The Israeli envoy affirmed that with the Pope's visit also contributes greatly to the fight against anti-Semitism.
"I think it is very helpful," he said, "because the Holy Father has repeated and extended the meaning of
Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council's declaration on inter-religious dialogue - in this case, dialogue with Judaism.
Lewy said Benedict XVI goes "to the essentials of this dialogue."
He also feels the visit has a positive impact on Israel-Vatican relations, which "are of two kinds: There is a spiritual level, and a political level. We would want to have the both of them in good shape, and both of them are advancing in the right direction."
Lewy noted that the Pope referred to the presence of the members of the Mixed Commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and of the Holy See during Sunday's event. Their meeting to dialogue on Catholic and Jewish teaching on creation and the environment began today.
The Israeli envoy characterized the political relationship between the Vatican and Israel as "very good."
"We are promoting [relations] on the level of culture, and in the level of negotiations, which are proceeding well," he said.
As for reaction in Israel to the Pope's visit, Lewy said it is too early to tell: "In Israel we have to get used to the idea that we must keep up dialogue with the Catholic Church as much as we can, but some differences will remain, and we will have to live with it. I think it is a learning curve".
A surprising slant from Riccardo Pacifici, who has found his voice as president of teh Jewish Community of Rome:
The start of a great dream
by RICCARDO PACIFICI
Translated from
January 18, 2010
We have a dream. That this event - beyond the media attention and the pleasantries (handshakes, photographs, TV broadcast) - may have a strong effect on individuals.
We now have the responsibility to translate our intentions and our dreams to reality, to break the wall of mistrust and fear, to open our hearts to the desire to know the other. This would be the best result of this historic encounter.
Historians may debate whether 1986 will repeat itself in some way. In 1986, Chief Rabbi Elio Toaff, in his address welcoming John Paul II, expressed the hope of a common commitment against apartheid in South Africa and for religious freedom in the Soviet Union.
And my predecessor [as president of the Jewish community of Rome], hoped for the opening of diplomatic relations between the State of Israel and the Vatican. All that became reality.
The time has come to work for new aspirations: for the freedom of those peoples - women in particular - who have been deprived of their civil rights and freedom of worship, often at mortal risk, by obscurantist and tyrannical dictatorships in the name of Islam.
We wish to liberate men and women of the Islamic faith in Italy and on the continent from the imams who preach hatred.
Only by strengthening the forces that express moderate Islam, who recognize the values in the principles of our Constitution, can we dissipate an atmosphere that is dense with prejudice, hostility, xenophobia and racism.
If we can succeed in doing this together, then we can say that this historic day in Rome will have been the start of a dream come true.
The Pope's visit:
Nothing was taken for granted',
says the Chief Rabbi of Rome
Translated from
the Italian service of
January 18, 2010
Alessasndro Gisotti spoke to Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni the day after the Pope's visit to the Rome Synagogue:
DI SEGNI: I was intent on a Biblican reflection on the subject of brotherhood, because the Bible - our common root - explains that brotherhood is something very intimate but complicated. And that is why relations among brothers are as important as they are difficult.
Biblical narrative tells of total conflict between brothers that changes to reconciliation and peacemaking. This expresses very well in symbols the common road we face - it is full of difficulties but also of goodwill.
Both your address and that of the Pope stressed the common patrimony of Jews and Christians. How much of this patrimony can help mankind today, which is so riven by divisions?
That is the challenge now - we must find common means to convey a strong message of peace.
The Pope also pointed out that notwithstanding common roots, Jews and Christians often remain unknown to each other. Thus, there is a call for commitment in order to know each other better...
Yes, to know each other on various levels. There is personal knowledge, which can develop wherever there are Jews living in the midst of Christians. And there is the problem of getting to know the cultural patrimony, which is very much open and must be confronted.
Benedict XVI has now visited three synagogues, and one can say that after Peter, he is the first Pope to enter more than one synagogue. How impostant is it, in your view, that after the first visit by John Paul II, which was called 'extraordinary', it has become almost 'ordinary' for Benedict XVI?
After yesterday, we can say that it is becoming 'ordinary'. Before yesterday, it was not that clear. In fact, we could not take anything for granted about yesterday. It was difficult to make it happen, but in the end, we had a happy ending.
But one can never speak of 'routine' for events like this - it always takes a lot of hard work and good will.
But is it not beautiful to think it could become routine in the future?
Of course... But at the same time, a little 'movement' can make things more interesting and so, in this sense, not everything bad is harmful!
And after this intense encounter, what are your expectations of the dialog with Catholics?
I think the important thing is the atmosphere in which dialog takes place, the possibility to resolve problems such as those that have emerged lately. I think this is the most real and essential aspect that has emerged. We do not have a magic wand to resolve everything but at least, we are available and open to each other.
Philippa Hitchen spoke to Cardinal Walter Kasper about the prospects for Catholic-Jewish dialog:
CARD. KASPER: I think the visit constitutes a reinforcement of the dialog, because both sides have affirmed their determination to move forward with dialog, not only in the academic sense but as an exchange of values.
What the Holy Father said about the Ten Commandments is very important. This is our common heritage, but it is also a heritage for all men, and Jews and Christians should bear witness to these values that are expressed in the Ten Commandments - these are the values that the world needs today.
So you would say this visit was satisfactory?
Yes, it went very well for both sides. Of course, we have our differences, as well as concrete problems, which we can resolve in hostility or in friendship. Yesterday was an exercise in trust and friendship, so we can move forward. It shows that even after a long period of misunderstanding, we can start over, with the grace of God.
There were some touching moments, especially when the Holy Father shook hands with some of the survivors of the Nazi camps....
It is always very moving to meet survivors of the Shoah.... But it was also moving when he greeted the former chief Rabbi Elio Toaff, who contributed greatly to reconciliation and became a great friend of John Paul II... Yes, there were many touching moments, and also encouraging ones.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 19/01/2010 00:14]