Pope Benedict met with prominent Israeli Rabbi Shlomo Riskin on Jan.
12, who updated the pontiff on the efforts of the Jewish community to
support local Christians in the face of mounting tensions with Islamic
militants.
Riskin, chief Rabbi of Efrat and chancellor of the Center for
Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation, briefed the Pope in a
recent audience on the work the organization is doing in Israel.
“We are taking Your Holiness’ call to stand in solidarity with our
Christian brothers and sisters in Israel and advocating on their
behalf,” Riskin said.
Riskin added that local members of the Jewish faith are looking for
ways to alleviate poverty within the Christian community, as well as
“opportunities to dialogue on those areas where we must cooperate.”
These areas, he underscored, include “our united faith in a God of
love, compassion, morality and peace rather than a God of will, power
and Jihad.”
Rabbi Riskin also explained to Pope Benedict the opportunities the
organization provides for Christians visiting Israel to learn more about
the Jewish foundations of the Christian faith.
According to Rabbi Riskin, Pope Benedict affirmed his remarks and responded, “we need to work together.”
After the audience, the Center's Executive Director David Nekrutman
spoke about the group's focus in 2011 to address the needs of the
Christian community in Israel.
“For the first time in history Jews as a majority are coming face to
face with religious minorities. It is Judaism’s obligation to adhere to
the biblical mandate: You shall love the stranger in your land.”
Nekrutman also noted that each religious and ethnic community in
Israel has different needs, saying, “we cannot just lump everyone into
one melting pot.”
He stressed the organization's desire to become a trusted partner in
dialogue with local Christians, explaining that to achieve this end,
they first “must address their individual concerns.”
SIC: CNA/INT'L