"Dialogue with church should be done carefully"
Rabbi Shmuel Di Saini, Chief Rabbi of Rome, in an exclusive interview with Behadrey Haredim for the visit of the Pope in Israel • "Franciscos wears two hats, one religious and one political, so he attached a Muslim friend and his friend Rabbi Saka, Rabbi of Argentina, with whom he wrote a book and did a TV show" • and why one should avoid a theological discussion?
- Yoel Bittleman, Behadrey Haredim
- כ"ז אייר התשע"ד
פלאש 90
"It is important to remember that Pope Franciscos who is currently visiting the country, wears two hats – the religious one, in his capacity as head of the religion of a billion believers, and the head of the most important country in the world. The entire world looks up to him. But he wears a political hat too, since the Pope he has many Chiristian believers in the Middle East and he's committed to their safety and interests," says today (Sunday) Rabbi Shmuel di Saini, Chief Rabbi of Rome and vice president of the Conference of European Rabbis, in conversation with Behadrey Haredim.
"So the good relationship with the Jewish people as well as the Muslim is very important to him," continues the rabbi of Rome and explains, "and so he took along for his visit to Israel his two friends - Muslim and Rabbi Saka, Chief Rabbi of Argentina. The Rabbi and the Pope were in good terms when the latter was a Christian Cardinal in Argentina, when they were both religious leaders in the state and would meet from time to time.
"Immediately after the election of the Pope, Rabbi Saka went to the Vatican, met with him and congratulated him on his new position. Ahead of the visit a book which the two wrote was translated into Hebrew, as well as talks on religious themes they held in a TV program and which the Pope guided."
Rabbi Di Saini carefully says that he is indeed optimistic about the visit to the country. "The people of Israel have a long history, and mostly painful, with the Church, and not all wounds healed. Nevertheless, in recent decades, many positive steps have been taken by the church in its attitude toward Judaism in general and Israel in particular."
However, he warns against an interreligious dialogue. "It should be done very carefully," he believes there is room for talks between Catholics and Jews on important issues like anti-Semitism, but not on theological matters, since Judaism does not accept the authority of 'that man'.
And where does his familiarity with the Pope come about? "I met him a few times and talked with him at length." It should be noted that Rabbi Di Saini also contacted the church a few months ago and asked for information about children baptized during the Holocaust.
"So the good relationship with the Jewish people as well as the Muslim is very important to him," continues the rabbi of Rome and explains, "and so he took along for his visit to Israel his two friends - Muslim and Rabbi Saka, Chief Rabbi of Argentina. The Rabbi and the Pope were in good terms when the latter was a Christian Cardinal in Argentina, when they were both religious leaders in the state and would meet from time to time.
"Immediately after the election of the Pope, Rabbi Saka went to the Vatican, met with him and congratulated him on his new position. Ahead of the visit a book which the two wrote was translated into Hebrew, as well as talks on religious themes they held in a TV program and which the Pope guided."
Rabbi Di Saini carefully says that he is indeed optimistic about the visit to the country. "The people of Israel have a long history, and mostly painful, with the Church, and not all wounds healed. Nevertheless, in recent decades, many positive steps have been taken by the church in its attitude toward Judaism in general and Israel in particular."
However, he warns against an interreligious dialogue. "It should be done very carefully," he believes there is room for talks between Catholics and Jews on important issues like anti-Semitism, but not on theological matters, since Judaism does not accept the authority of 'that man'.
And where does his familiarity with the Pope come about? "I met him a few times and talked with him at length." It should be noted that Rabbi Di Saini also contacted the church a few months ago and asked for information about children baptized during the Holocaust.
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