Why has the Pope chosen to visit an Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Manhattan?
What does Joseph Ratzinger have in common with Rabbi Arthur Schneier?
First of all, they are roughly the same age: the pope is 80, the rabbi is
78. Secondly, they share a common cultural heritage and Muttersprache:
Ratzinger grew up in Bavaria; Schneier was born in Vienna. Both bear the scars
of having lived through WWII. Most of Schneier’s family perished in the
Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Thirdly, they are both learned men, known
for their sensitivity and respect for the “other” while adhering to religious organizations that demand a high degree of uniformity with respect to teaching on sensitive matters of theology and ethics. Neither is less than
absolutely committed to the truth of their respective traditions. That is what
makes the attitude of respect significant.
Make no mistake: this is an important event. It is only the third time ever
that a pope has visited a synagogue. The visit will take place on the eve of
Passover, April 19th. The Pope will be welcomed by the children of
the rabbi’s famous Day School (see pictures below) and synagogue officials. Psalms
will be chanted in Hebrew. I can think of many that would be appropriate: Pss 6;
19; 23; 51; 137; 139. Ps 118 would be an interesting choice; so would Ps 87.
Rabbi Schneier’s legacy is multi-faceted. At Yeshiva University, there is the
Schneier Center for International
Affairs. Schneier is founder and head of an NGO, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation,
whose motto is:
A crime committed in the name of religion is the greatest crime against
religion
Since 1962, Schneier has been rabbi at Park East Synagogue in Manhattan. But the part of his legacy that touches me the most is the Park East Day School. Anyone who founds a day school (pre-school through middle school) that is both “secular and religious” is a very far-sighted individual.
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