Catholics and Jews
Rabbi David Rosen spoke to the Supporters of Laniado Hospital at the Young Israel synagogue in Netanya on Weds night. He was an excellent and informative speaker. The title was "The inside story of the Israel-Vatican diplomatic relations," and indeed as one of the five Israeli representatives he did provide an inside view. He explained that he was included mainly because they needed "religious" expertise and none of the Israeli diplomats from the Foreign Ministry had that. He was also the only native English speaker, so that helped a lot.
In 1903 Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism, was finally given an audience with Pope Pius X. He asked that the Pope agree to recognize the Jewish right to the Land of Israel (Palestine). The Pope refused, and said that he could not stop Jews from going to live there but he would only recognize Jewish rights there if all the Jews accepted Jesus. As Rabbi Rosen pointed out this was very naieve of Herzl to ask, because he knew nothing about Judaism and even less about Catholicism. The Pope's answer was in line with 2000 years of Catholic and even Christian theology. But, the situation now is a triumph for Zionism, not only did the Papacy eventually recognize Jewish sovereignty in the Holy Land, but its whole attitude towards the Jews and anti-Semitism is 180 degrees from what it was.
This came about partly due to the Shoah (Holocaust) and its influence on two Popes, Pope John XXIII (elected in 1958) and Pope John Paul II (1978). Pope John XXIII was born Giuseppi Roncalli, and while a priest in Bulgaria saw the evils of fascism and helped persuade the Archbishop there not to allow the Jews to be deported. As Pope he convened the Vatican Council II (1963) that not only was instrumental in adapting Catholicism to the modern world, but also changed radically the relationship to the Jews. In the portion known as "Notre aetate" (our times) it was stated that the Jews were not and never were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and further that anti-Semitism was unjustified and unacceptable. It was left to Pope John Paul II, who had personally experienced the Shoah as a priest in Krakow, Poland, and had saved the lives of Jews, to visit Israel and negotiate mutual recognition, that was ratified in 1993.
The issue of the beatification of Pope Pius XII, who was Pope during WWII and did little to save Jewish lives, is a matter of discord between the Vatican and the Jews. It has been delayed for ca. 20 years, indicating the Papacy's sensitivity to this issue. There is not likely to be a decision on this until after the secret archives of this period are opened, due to be in 5 years time. However, the archives might be cleansed, as the Church has done so many times in the past.
In answering questions, the issue of Islam was raised and Rabbi Rosen poined out that the Catholic Church is very sensitive to the position of the Arab Christians, and could not be seen to be ahead of the Arab States in dealing with Israel, hence the delay in recognition until after Egypt. Also, the relationship of the Vatican to Islam is more a cultural dialog, while that with Judaism is a religious dialog. This was a most interesting and fluent presentation.
In 1903 Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism, was finally given an audience with Pope Pius X. He asked that the Pope agree to recognize the Jewish right to the Land of Israel (Palestine). The Pope refused, and said that he could not stop Jews from going to live there but he would only recognize Jewish rights there if all the Jews accepted Jesus. As Rabbi Rosen pointed out this was very naieve of Herzl to ask, because he knew nothing about Judaism and even less about Catholicism. The Pope's answer was in line with 2000 years of Catholic and even Christian theology. But, the situation now is a triumph for Zionism, not only did the Papacy eventually recognize Jewish sovereignty in the Holy Land, but its whole attitude towards the Jews and anti-Semitism is 180 degrees from what it was.
This came about partly due to the Shoah (Holocaust) and its influence on two Popes, Pope John XXIII (elected in 1958) and Pope John Paul II (1978). Pope John XXIII was born Giuseppi Roncalli, and while a priest in Bulgaria saw the evils of fascism and helped persuade the Archbishop there not to allow the Jews to be deported. As Pope he convened the Vatican Council II (1963) that not only was instrumental in adapting Catholicism to the modern world, but also changed radically the relationship to the Jews. In the portion known as "Notre aetate" (our times) it was stated that the Jews were not and never were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and further that anti-Semitism was unjustified and unacceptable. It was left to Pope John Paul II, who had personally experienced the Shoah as a priest in Krakow, Poland, and had saved the lives of Jews, to visit Israel and negotiate mutual recognition, that was ratified in 1993.
The issue of the beatification of Pope Pius XII, who was Pope during WWII and did little to save Jewish lives, is a matter of discord between the Vatican and the Jews. It has been delayed for ca. 20 years, indicating the Papacy's sensitivity to this issue. There is not likely to be a decision on this until after the secret archives of this period are opened, due to be in 5 years time. However, the archives might be cleansed, as the Church has done so many times in the past.
In answering questions, the issue of Islam was raised and Rabbi Rosen poined out that the Catholic Church is very sensitive to the position of the Arab Christians, and could not be seen to be ahead of the Arab States in dealing with Israel, hence the delay in recognition until after Egypt. Also, the relationship of the Vatican to Islam is more a cultural dialog, while that with Judaism is a religious dialog. This was a most interesting and fluent presentation.
posted by Jack Cohen at 6:40 PM
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