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Chief Rabbi of Poland recalls John Paul II |
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06/03/2009 (2:00)
Analyzing the existing relations between Judaism and Catholicism, as well as their connections with Islam, can improve the reciprocal understanding between these faiths and enrich their religious traditions.
This was the position of Michael Schudrich, Chief Rabbi of Poland, who reflected on the meaning of respect toward others during the 2nd Annual John Paul II Lecture on Interreligious Dialogue. The event was promoted by the Russell Berrie Foundation and the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, known as the Angelicum.
Regarding dialogue, Rabbi Schudrich said that, in the past two months, he has learned, on one hand, that one cannot ignore the difficult moments of the past, and, on the other, that the dialogue and discussion of the last 40 years have granted the possibility of facing those moments of darkness.
Referring to the controversy created by Bishop Richard Williamson’s declarations on the Holocaust, he considered the prospects for improved Jewish-Catholic relations. Commented the rabbi, “The past few days prove that dialogue is a success, that we should not close our eyes before difficult situations, that we know how to communicate with each other, and, more importantly, that no matter how much we learn, we ourselves must reinforce this with dialogue and understanding between religions”.
Noting John Paul II's concrete manner of implementing interreligious dialogue between Jews and Catholics, the rabbi remembered being amazed at the sight of hundreds of Polish Jews waiting in long lines at synagogues to pray for the late Pontiff on the day he died.
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