Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Rabbi says trip to Israel can help pope show his respect for Judaism

Poland's chief rabbi said he hopes Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Israel will be an opportunity for the pope to demonstrate to the world his deep knowledge of and respect for Judaism.

Rabbi Michael Schudrich, the U.S.-born chief rabbi of Poland, said the May trip can be "very enlightening and help Pope Benedict show in a very clear way" the sensitivity and respect that has been clear in his writings for decades.

"I am full of hope," the rabbi said on March 2 after delivering the second annual Pope John Paul II Lecture on Interreligious Understanding at Rome's Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Rabbi Schudrich's speech focused on how he learned from "the life and actions" of Pope John Paul about the importance of interreligious dialogue and of being willing to learn from members of other religions.

But the rabbi said he could not talk about Catholic-Jewish relations without acknowledging that "it clearly was very painful" when Pope Benedict lifted the excommunication in January of traditionalist Bishop Richard Williamson, who had denied the extent of the Holocaust.

"It is not my place to tell or even suggest to Pope Benedict or the Vatican what they should or should not do," the rabbi said. The incident has demonstrated that 40 years of improving relations make it possible for Jews and Catholics to speak openly when offended or hurt, he said.

"It is just because of the past 40 years of dialogue and discussions that we were able to face this dark moment," he said. "It was a test for us, but it also taught us that we have no other option than to rededicate ourselves to dialogue in an even deeper and more meaningful way."

In an interview after his speech, the rabbi said the Williamson affair caused many people to "jump to the conclusion" that Pope Benedict was not scandalized by Holocaust denial.

But Rabbi Schudrich said he and others who know the writings of the pope know that is not true.

"John Paul II was a great theological thinker, but even more, he knew how to get his point across" through his words and gestures, the rabbi said, adding that Pope Benedict's trip to Israel should give him an opportunity to do the same.

In his speech, the rabbi said Pope John Paul's attitude toward Judaism and other religions helped him discover a teaching present within Judaism as well: The fact that God created each person in his image and likeness means that each person has something to teach us.

"If God created us all as his children and created us so that all of us would learn to love him and each other, then it must be the fulfillment of God's plan when we seek inspiration and truth from each other," the rabbi said.

"The more I am open to other religions, the better Jew I become," he said. "Furthermore, when I close myself off from the outside world, I limit my access to the rays of light, truth and wisdom" present in others.

"This philosophy is so profound, so changed my view of the world, of my God and of myself, that all I can say is 'Thank you, Pope John Paul II for teaching me how to become a better person and a better Jew,'" Rabbi Schudrich said.
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(Source: RCNG)