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12 Tevet 5772 January 7, 2012
Vatican Decision Widely Welcomed And Applauded
Shabbat Parasha Vayechi had Anna and me, along with our Sara's family --- husband Lee-Lev and daughter Jacqueline-Hannah --- joined a sparse group attending services at the Sephardic Temple
Apart from the worship highlight of having our dear friend Aaron Zacharia recited the Bendicho Su Nombre, upon the opening of the Ark, and our son-in-law's ascent to the teva, pulpit, to read the blessings prior and after hearing his Torah segment read, it was the positive remarks of Rabbi Arnold B. Marans on the imminent elevation of New York City's Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan to Cardinal, in a Vatican ceremony, on February 18. He is among 22 proposed new Cardinals, but, with Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, the only other American.
Cardinals constitute the privileged class of the Pope's advisers who are called upon to enter a secret conclave to deliberate and fill the highest office in Catholicism whenever a vacancy occurs. Most are of advanced age, but Dolan, 61, is among 18 of newly-appointed leaders under the age of 80. While no American has ever been selected for the papacy, the privilege seemed to be reserved for Italian-born candidates, bending to the reality of changed demographics, and in an effort to make the Church fall in line with its universal appeal, a Pole (John Paul II) and a German, the current Benedict XVI, have served to good effect --- the former, for being a transformative prelate, more so than the latter.
However, relations of Popes and Jews have always been fraught, with a subliminal anti-Semitism, not as overt as found traditionally in the Eastern Orthodox Rite, which has markedly ebbed since the historic Vatican Councils of the 1960's absolving Jews of the pernicious charge of deicide, the crucifixion of Jesus; eventually ceasing the proselytizing of Jews as errant brothers, and references to the "perfidis Judaeis", the "unfaithful Jews" on Good Friday were excised. The benefits of reconciliation are self-evident in the superior relations between Catholics and Jews, alas, a level yet to be achieved between the Greek Orthodox and world Jewry, for such reforms in the former remain wanting. (Islam is also late to begin the process to embrace necessary and desirable overdue changes.)
After all, the Byzantine Empire, of which the Greek Orthodox Church provided the spiritual undergirding, grew historically isolated, intolerant, and oppressive, unable to experience the West's Reformation and Counter Reformation, albeit much of it bloody. Living in our glorious American republic, we need to be cognizant, that this polity represents the evolving distillation of ideas from such torrential waves as the Renaissance and Enlightenment culminating in the epochal Glorious Revolution of 1688.
But I am diverting. The celebration of good relations between Catholics and Jews, even to the extend that Bishop William Murphy of the Archdiocese of Rockville Centre, NY, sending warm Rosh HaShana, Jewish New Year, greetings to area rabbis, addressing them as brothers, has not always been a given, nor has a tension-free existence been achieved. The question of whether to canonize Pope Pius XII a saint, having served during World War II and while the Holocaust was being prosecuted festers. Sometimes identified as Hitler's Pope, for affecting cooperation, some would say collaboration with the Third Reich, one Gary Krupp, resident of Long Beach, and founder of The Pave the Way Foundation to promote interfaith harmony through mutual respect, demurs as he asserts that efforts were exerted by Pope Pius XII to "save Jews from Nazi tyranny."
This pope's inability or unwillingness to raise his voice during the direst period in our People's history was dramatically presented by playwright Rolf Hochhuth in his controversial work, The Deputy, suggesting that political interests and religious prejudices converged to make the saving of Jewish lives a secondary manner. These thoughts cascaded through my mind, as I heard the rabbi weave a more positive working partnership that awaits this soon-to-be-elevated churchman. Aware that Archbishop Dolan is well-known, and appreciated, in the Jewish community --- he has participated in programs with Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the Park East Synagogue --- I join the growing throng to wish him G-d's speed, and may the coming years be ever-fruitful, and in every respect satisfactory. Amen.Sincerely, and with fraternal affection,
Asher
Prof. Asher J. Matathias
312 Longacre Avenue , Woodmere , NY 11598-2530
516-374-2958 Mobile
*Thank you for sending me this. I appreciate your erudite pieces for their beautiful use of language and their deep analysis of current events. I am enjoying the professional service of your son in law, Brad Herman. He really does a wonderful job of educating the children in my new school, Shaare Torah Boys HS. Secondly I wanted wish you a mazal tov on the honor your daughter received this past mozei Shabbat at the JEP dinner. JEP is an important organization in our community and your support of its work is most gratefully appreciated by all. May Hashem continue to bless your wonderful family! All the best! Richard Altabe, Far Rockaway, NY
**D. B. Asher gracias!!! Azak U Baruch!!! Emilio S.,
**Amen, Asher. However, I don't share your warm feeling for the pedophile protector from
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