Posted on 01/16/2004 11:48:58 AM PST by NYer
ROME, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The two Chief Rabbis of Israel, Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar, met today with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican to discuss the need for the world's religious leaders to help stem a rising tide of anti- Semitism and terror throughout the world and to continue to decry attacks on the very sanctity of life. It was the first time both chief rabbis met together with His Holiness.
Both Rabbis called the 30-minute talk with the Pope "historic" and productive. The meeting was arranged by the Vatican's Ambassador to Jerusalem Henazio Puerto Sambi amid the Vatican's most recent condemnations of anti- Semitism and terror, especially following the deadly terrorist attacks on Jewish synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey. Following the meeting, both rabbis were taken to the Vatican library to see old Jewish writings and Bibles.
Last month, the two Chief Rabbis of Israel arranged a meeting in Israel between Vatican officials and rabbis from cities throughout Israel to express tolerance and mutual respect between the religions.
Shortly after being named Chief Rabbi, Metzger visited South Florida last year. He spoke at the Palm Beach Synagogue and met privately with Palm Beach businessman and philanthropist Jeffrey Saull, a big supporter of Israel. The Chief Rabbi helped to raise funds for Bikur Cholim Hospital and introduced his own Foundation, the Abraham Foundation, dedicated to fostering peace throughout the world. Bikur Cholim in the heart of Jerusalem is usually the first to treat victims of terrorist attacks.
Last year Metzger visited spiritual leaders in New York and traveled to Kazakhstan, where he met privately with the Chairman of Iran's Committee of Islamic Law. The two discussed the fate of missing IAF navigator Lt.-Col. Ron Arad, who was on a mission in Lebanon in 1986 when he bailed out of his plane, and who is now believed to be held in Iran, along with other POWs. During the interfaith conference in Kazakhstan, delegates representing the world's major religions signed a declaration condemning the use of religion as a justification for violence and terrorism. Rabbi Metzger says he hopes to carry this message to other parts of the world, to ensure the lines of communication remain open between the world's religious communities.
He's a Republican? Who knew?
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