Pope Francis, who is visiting in Israel, met with Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita and Chief Rabbi David Lau Shlita on Monday, 26 Iyar 5774 in Yerushalayim. The meeting was held in Heichal Shlomo.
Rav Yosef stated “I congratulate him and thank him for all he does for humanity and the Jewish communities in the world. Welcome to Jerusalem”.
Rav Lau followed with “Welcome to Jerusalem”.
As expected, Rav Yosef was wearing the “Luchos HaBris” which he received from Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L on the day he officially assumed the post of Rishon L’Tzion, told “you will need these one day”.
Rav Ovadia had a custom of wearing them when he met with religious leaders including the pope. The Luchos HaBris was his response to the crucifix worn by the pontiff. Inscribed on the golden Luchos HaBris:
לרבנו הגאון כמוה”ר עובדיה יוסף שליט”א, ליום ההכתרה להרב הראשי לישראל והראשון לציון בהוקרה מאת ועד העדה הספרדית בירושלים”.
The pope responded with הנה מה טוב ומה נעים שבת אחים גם יחד and he received the sefer מצרה לרווחה. The pope thanked the chief rabbis for the warm welcome and explained during his first months as pope he met with Jewish leaders as part of his effort to mend fences.
The media was then instructed to leave and the three held a private meeting. Rav Lau told the pope he wishes to fulfill the wish of an ill Christian child being treated in Israel, to shake his hand.
Senior officials of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, Ministry of Religious Services, Minister of Religious Services Naftali Bennett, and Israel Prize recipient Adina Bar-Shalom were among the officials attending the meeting with the pope. Some members of the Jerusalem Rabbinate preferred not to attend.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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13 Responses
“Ministry of Religious Services,”
that’s the infamous משרד הדתות in the plural..
sounds fine to me! gosh a rabbi with a beard having a ornament moshiach is coming!
Hashem Yishmor!!!
How many tevilos will they need to go through to cleanse themselves from this tamei – just the handshake or looking at this klipa and his tzeilem?
And how many tevilos will YWN need to go through just for posting this tamei?
Arye says:
May 26, 2014 at 10:17 am
Hashem Yishmor!!!
How many tevilos will they need to go through to cleanse themselves from this tamei – just the handshake or looking at this klipa and his tzeilem?
And how many tevilos will YWN need to go through just for posting this tamei?
the same amount of prayers that the Popes followers will need to pray for him meeting what they may consider impure and the same for any web site that posted the story
#3: How many tevilos did Rabbeinu Hakodosh have to go through each time he visited with Antoninus, who was an oveid avodah zarah l’chol hadei’os (as opposed to the Pope, who is not, according to some)?
Answer: none.
He could start mending fences by handing over all Jewish the artifacts in the Vatican.
#3 you obviously are an ignoramous of the highest degree. All througout the ages our Sages have met and communicated with Oivdei Avoda Zorah for the sake of peace. Just look it up.
The headline should be The Galach and the Rov.
Well said #3.
#5 and #7, there is likely a difference between Ovdei Avoda Zara and Ne’evad as Avoda Zara. Furthermore, there is a difference between the leader of a cult of Ovdei Avoda Zara and Stam an Oveid Avoda Zara.
The whole medines yisroel is against Jews and when they meet with all the leaders of the world and enjoying with someone wearing tzelim they proof more and more that they Medinis Yisroel does not represent the Jews..
No one here can deny that Rav Lau and Rav Yosef are huge talmidei chachomim. Clearly, they felt it was important to meet with the Pope because of darkay shalom. Of course, people like Arye and ujm know more than them (being that they learn so much internet Torah) so the Rabbonim must be wrong.
All of u should calm down an leav it up to thr greatest of men to decide wat to do