During the week covered by this review we received 57 articles on the following subjects:
The Pope and the Vatican
Status of Holy Places
Jewish Attitudes Concerning Christians
Israel
Jerusalem
Christian Tourism
Miscellaneous
Christians in Israel
History
Book Reviews
Archaeology
The Pope and the Vatican
Various Newspapers
The articles received for this week’s review on the subject of Pope Francis’ visit represent the entire spectrum of opinion. Of these, the articles detailing the pope’s itinerary and the security measures for the visit, as well as additional issues such as Cardinal a-Rai, the Maronite Patriarch, are reviewed separately (see below).
The analysis articles stating the neutral to positive half of the spectrum of opinion came mostly from the secular newspapers. Issues mentioned repeatedly were Pope Francis’ image as a humble priest, warm and interested in his fellow man, dedicated to interfaith dialogue and social justice, but still given to unconventional pronouncements. Also of interest is the fact that the pope will be accompanied by 31 priests from Arab countries, but will also lay a wreath at Theodor Herzl’s grave, the first pope to do so. The Christian population in Israel is excited at his coming, but regret the fact that he is not affording very much time for the public; Jews are favorably impressed by the pope’s obvious effort to be even-handed in his visit, and by the fact that his entourage will include Rabbi Avraham Skorka, a friend from Buenos Aires, with whom he authored a book (see below under book reviews). The Israeli government has expressed cautious displeasure at the pope’s intention to visit the mufti of Jerusalem.
The analysis articles stating the neutral to negative spectrum of opinion came mostly from the Jewish religious newspapers. Issues mentioned repeatedly were the Crusades and the Inquisition, and the desire to hear a statement of responsibility and an apology for centuries of persecution fostered by the Catholic Church, and especially for the church’s role during the Holocaust. Some additional issues mentioned were replacement theology, the fact that Pope Francis appears to have no interest in the political facet of the visit but only in the religious facet of it, and Jewish artifacts stolen during the Byzantine period which have been housed in Rome ever since. It was also stated that the chief rabbis of Israel, while agreeing to meet the pope at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem, will follow their predecessors’ protocol closely, and will go no further than to bring up general Jewish issues.
Israel Hayom, May 20; Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz, May 23, 2014
These articles detail the itinerary for Pope Francis’ visit. The pope has declared his visit to be “a gesture for the ending of Shimon Peres’ term of office as president.” The pope will begin his visit on Sunday, May 25, in Bethlehem, and then continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. On the following day he will visit the Temple Mount, meet the mufti of Jerusalem, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl, and visit Yad VaShem, where he will be accompanied by President Peres, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and senior Yad VaShem officials. He will then meet the chief rabbis at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem. A reception and meeting with President Peres will take place at his residence; of particular interest is the choral part of the reception, during which 500 children will “sing and pray for peace and unity.” The pope will meet Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Notre Dame Guest House, and will end his visit at the Cenacle on Mount Zion. Security officials are making extensive preparations to prevent price-tag attacks – including restraining orders issued to 15 right wing extremists – and many roads will be closed during the visit, as the pope has refused to use the armored “pope mobile.”
Maariv, May 21, 2014
Cardinal Butrus Beshara a-Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Christians, will accompany Pope Francis to Israel, and will be staying additional days after the pope completes his visit. A-Rai has drawn stiff criticism and threats from Hezbollah, who see his visit as “normalization” with Israel, but the patriarch insists that he is coming for religious reasons only. He will not meet any Israeli government officials nor be guarded by Israeli security; the Foreign Ministry has not commented at all on his unprecedented visit. The patriarch will visit Maronite communities all over Israel, and will be present at a reception in his honor at Gush Halav [Jish], where the biggest Maronite community is located.
Status of Holy Places
Mishpacha, May 15, 2014
A demonstration protesting a handover of David’s alleged tomb to the Catholic Church was held on Mount Zion on May 12, led by rabbis. Approximately 1,000 people were present at the demonstration, as well as some members of the Jerusalem municipality. Some 24 hours after the demonstration, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman reiterated the government’s denial that any sort of handover is being contemplated. Religious authorities, concerned over the security measures initially demanded for the pope’s visit to the Western Wall, have succeeded in their demands for alternate arrangements, including the provision that at no time should the Western Wall be closed to Jewish prayers.
Haaretz, May 18 (Hebrew and English); Yated Ne’eman, May 21; HaModia, May 23, 2014
These articles reiterate the history of worship and of conflict on Mount Zion; how the right-wing extremists remain entirely unconvinced that no handover of the disputed structure’s second story is in fact contemplated; that they are concerned that the government is willing to concede to the Vatican in order to appease the Christian world; and that in fact the Catholic Church is scheming to own all of Jerusalem. This conflict is “fertile ground for price-tag incidents.” As Israel prides herself on the freedom to worship afforded within her borders, and as Christians are permanent inhabitants of the city, it behooves the government to allow them freedom of worship as well and, in particular, to grant more days of prayer on Mount Zion.
Makor Rishon, May 20, 2014
The meeting of the Knesset Interior Committee regarding David’s Tomb, which was set to be on May 19, has been canceled. However, the activists fighting the alleged handover remain unconvinced. “We don’t suppose the state will hand over ownership to the church, but are afraid that the place will become a Christian prayer site,” says Yehonatan Yosef, one of the main activists. According to Yosef, the government’s repeated denials regarding a possible handover of ownership do not address the activists’ actual concerns that a possible 60 masses per year would take place, thus changing the site’s character.
Jewish Attitudes Concerning Christians
Yediot Rehovot, May 16, 2014
Dr. Gadi Gvaryahu of Rehovot is the head of Tag Meir, an Internet forum which opposes the price-tag attacks. Gvaryahu, who holds a PhD in animal physiology and behavior, began his public work after the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. After the price-tag attacks began appearing the forum took it upon itself to visit the desecrated sites and demonstrate a tolerant attitude as a contrast. “When someone decides to set a mosque or a church on fire, it’s no less serious than setting a synagogue on fire,” says Gvaryahu. “We all live in a human society and our job is to show compassion for each other.” Although the law regarding such cases is very clear, Gvaryahu says that the definition is not clear enough. As soon as the price-tag attackers are defined as terrorists the intelligence networks will be able to act against them much more decisively. The article closes by saying that the situation is extremely serious: “We are very close to the point of no return.”
The Jerusalem Post, May 23, 2014
Three yeshiva students aged 16-17 were arrested recently, and are facing indictment for having allegedly committed hate crimes and vandalism. The three are from Yitzhar in Samaria. The police have stated that evidence has been found, both at the homes of the three and elsewhere, linking them to the vandalism.
Israel
Sha’a Tova (two articles); Yom l’Yom, May 15, 2014
The anti-missionary organization Yad L’Achim has recently been contending against alleged missionary activity both in the civil and the military arenas.
On the past Independence Day, an international group was evangelizing in public places in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Activists from Yad L’Achim, notified of the intended evangelism, also stood in these places, warning the public. Yad L’Achim pronounced itself very satisfied with its endeavors on this occasion, and Rabbi Binyamin Volkan, coordinator of this particular activity, said, “The people of Israel said ‘no’ to Christian missionizing.”
Additionally, Yad L’Achim is still vehemently opposing alleged missionary activity among Israeli Defense Force soldiers, citing a recent instance when a group was invited to lunch by Yakov Damkani, whom the organization defines as a missionary; another instance occurred when Damkani visited an army base and “preached to the soldiers and commanders on the base.” Yad L’Achim has said that they have also turned to the State Comptroller’s office in order to “bring an immediate stop to the wild Christian missionary activity in the army.”
Olam Katan, May 16; Makor Rishon, May 19, 2014
The Ministry of Education has recently decided on an initiative to include study of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in the history curriculum, as well as to hold summer camps with Christian subjects for children of elementary school age. This initiative has proved controversial – in part because it is being supported by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews – drawing opposition particularly from the religious community, who insist that “Christianity has always been hostile to Judaism”; that “saying that Christianity has changed its character is an unforgivable injustice”; that “blurring these lines for children is dangerous”; and that this financing from evangelical Christians is “backdoor evangelism.” The chairman of the Knesset committee for education, culture, and sport, on the other hand, said, “We must support meaningful teaching that deals also with subjects that so far have not been covered, and whose purpose is to encourage patience and tolerance.”
The Jerusalem Post, May 19, 2014
In this article Jeff Barak offers a “reality check” regarding Pope Francis’ upcoming visit, the Mount Zion controversy, and the price-tag attacks. Regarding the pope’s visit, for example, Barak defines how Israel expects a full Catholic apology from each visiting pope, for the Inquisition and the Holocaust, as well as for centuries of persecution. However, he also emphasizes that Pope John Paul II did much to repair the breach during his 2000 visit. Despite the progress in Israel-Vatican relations, issues such as Mount Zion (which Barak includes in the price-tag issue) remain unresolved. While utterly condemning the price-tag attacks, Barak does state that this example of the right-wing extremists’ opposition is “predictable.” He ends the article by saying that Israel’s self-righteous examination of the behavior of others is a “sad and potentially dangerous irony,” and that they are “blind to the misdoings and crimes of their own people.”
Jerusalem
Haaretz, May 19, 2014
Many writers have visited Jerusalem over the centuries, responding with an entire spectrum of opinions. Moshe Gilad joins a tour of the Old City in their wake, organized by the 2014 International Writers Festival, and is particularly reminded of Mark Twain, Selma Lagerlof, Gustave Flaubert, and Herman Melville’s visits. Twain, for example, described Jerusalem as “mournful, dreary and lifeless” and Melville as “besieged by an army of the dead”; Lagerlof, however, wrote a novel after her visit entitled Jerusalem, which included accurate descriptions of the city.
Christian Tourism
Haaretz, May 16, 2014
The Old City of Acre has recently been developed by the ministry of Tourism and the Old Acre Development Company Ltd., and has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Of particular interest is the Crusader-era Hospitaller fortress, boasting a variety of activities reconstructing the Crusader knights’ world; the Ottoman Hamam al-Basha bath; the Fortification Complex, reconstructing life in the Galilee 150 years ago; and the Baha’i gardens, where Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i religion, passed the last years of his life.
The Jerusalem Post, May 23, 2014
Using examples from a recent conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Yishai Fleisher calls on the reader to abandon the recent government practice of “selling Jesus to Christians” in order to promote tourism, but rather to “start getting familiar with our own Bible” and show them the Old Testament, “of which we are the custodians.”
Miscellaneous
Haaretz, May 18, 2014
In this letter to the editor, Prof. Yehoshua Schwartz responds to Alex Livak and Gideon Levy’s article in Haaretz on May 9, which details a trip among Arab villages abandoned and ruined in 1948. Insisting that “not only Palestinians have the right over ruined villages,” he suggests a visit to sites such as the ancient Jewish settlement of Jofna and the Hasmonean palaces in Jericho, and asks about the state of the ancient Jewish synagogue in Gaza.
The Jerusalem Post, May 20, 2014
In speaking against genocide, Shmuley Boteach is convinced that in order for “Never Again” to indeed mean “never again,” the world must adopt Jewish values, “as the Jews were the ones to teach the world that everyone is equal in the eyes of God”; they gave the world the command “Thou shalt not murder”; and they said in Leviticus, “Thou shalt not stand idly by the blood of thy neighbor.” It is only when one hates the perpetrators that one begins acting to stop them. “The Jews gave the world the idea of choice, of setting moral goals that are within our reach.” Boteach quotes Victor Frankl, who says in Man’s Search for Meaning that although the Germans took everything away from him, they could never take away his choice of how to react to their deeds; Boteach ends by saying, “I could care less what people believe. … What I do care about is what they do.”
Haaretz, May 23, 2014
Italy’s tiny Jewish community, and particularly its official representative, Unione della Comunita Ebraiche Italiane, are in a struggle concerning relations with Catholic institutions; some of the more conservative members are accusing more liberal members of being too “cozy” with the church. These liberals, in turn, are accusing the conservatives of using this as a “pretext” for a power struggle. Examples of subjects at issue are the extent of coverage UCEI’s publication, Shalom, devotes to the official Vatican newspaper, and whether or not UCEI’s president supports Israel sufficiently.
Haaretz, May 23, 2014
In this article, Nicolas Pelham opposes the popular idea that Israel is a better place for Christians than the Palestinian Authority, citing Christians who hold governing positions there, Arab municipalities which stipulate a Christian majority for the city councils, and politicians’ visits to Christian sites, as opposed to price-tag attacks in Israel, the lack of Christians in Israeli government positions, and the Knesset banning Christmas trees in its halls.
Christians in Israel
Hadashot Haifa VeHaTzafon, May 14, 2014
Thousands of Christians participated in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel procession on Sunday, May 11, during which the statue of Mary, so named, is taken from the Latin church in Haifa to the Stella Maris church on the Carmel. This tradition originated during World War II, when the Christian population in the city, afraid of damage to the statue, took it up to Stella Maris for the first time.
Haaretz, May 23, 2014
This article quotes statistics regarding the Christian community in Israel. According to the latest figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Christian community in Israel numbers 161,000, some 75% of whom live in the Western Galilee. Approximately 2% of the Palestinian population beyond the Green Line is Christian, but many of them identify as Palestinians even if they hold Israeli citizenship. Of the non-Arab Christians, some 23,000 are from the former Soviet Union and arrived in Israel with Jewish relatives. The articles mentions the Maronite Christians, numbering 7,000, and Messianic Jews and Hebrew Catholics, numbering 6,000; approximately 45% of the Christians in Israel and the West Bank are “in communion with Rome.”
History
HaBitachon, April 30, 2014
A deadly “Holy Fire” ceremony took place in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in 1834, in which 600 people lost their lives. Robert Curzon – attaché at the British embassy in Constantinople, who was present at the ceremony – reported that there were some 17,000 pilgrims present. The fire, spreading from candle to candle, caused a cloud of smoke and immense heat, in which some of those present died of smoke inhalation, and others were trampled to death. Even Ibrahim Pasha, the governor of Palestine, was almost trampled, and was only saved due to the efforts of his bodyguards. This tragedy seemingly took place because of the large number of pilgrims who were present, and measures were taken afterward to prevent anything similar happening again.
Haaretz, May 23, 2014
On May 23, 1536, the Inquisition was introduced into Portugal, King Joao III having requested this in 1521. Tribunals were set up not only in Portugal but in Brazil, Goa, and Port Verde as well. Quoting Antonio Jose Saraiva, the article states that 40,000 people were charged. Of them, 1,175 on the mainland were burned at the stake and another 633 burned in effigy. The last public auto-da-fe took place in Portugal in 1765, and the Inquisition itself was abolished in 1821.
Book Reviews
Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz, Israel Hayom, May 23, 2014
Of Rome and Jerusalem, a collection of conversations between Pope Francis and Rabbi Abraham Skorka of Buenos Aires, will soon be published by Tobi Publishing. This collection, translated into Hebrew, includes subjects such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, Pius XII during the Holocaust (Pope Francis allegedly said that the Vatican archives should be opened, “and if we were in error somewhere we should say ‘we were mistaken’”), but also with social issues. Skorka said that they hope the book will show “that religion has things to say about current problems, such as capitalism or same-sex marriage,” and also show Pope Francis’ stand in favor of interfaith dialogue and social justice. The dialogues are not “lukewarm,” in spite of the fact that the two often agree with each other. Rabbi Skorka’s explanations regarding Judaism are also freshly phrased, shedding new light on familiar subjects. The two have seemingly “made a covenant of moderate religion, a covenant of yesterday in tomorrow’s world.”
Haaretz, May 23, 2014
This review deals with the book In the Beginning Was the Word: Eight Conversations on the Fourth Gospel, recently published by Magnes, in which an Old Testament scholar and an early Christianity scholar, both from Hebrew University, speak of the Gospel of John. This is unusual, since Christians usually research the New Testament and Jews usually research the Old Testament. Unlike most, these two scholars emphasize the connection of the Gospel of John to the Old Testament, rather than to Jewish-Hellenistic sources. The book suggests that elements of Moses’ and Isaac’s character served as an inspiration for Jesus’ messianic character. It also suggests that “a multiplicity of voices is a foundational element of the New Testament.” The article closes by asking if Pope Francis’ visit is meant to “breathe new life” into Vatican II.
Archaeology
Haaretz, May 18, 2014
Recent archaeological digs in the Old City in Jerusalem have shed light on the reasons for the Bar-Kochba Revolt of 132 CE. The Roman authorities were rebuilding Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina during the revolt, but historians do not agree on the exact reason for the Roman form of the city; Cassius Dio (2nd century), for example, is convinced that the temple to Jupiter was “the spark that began the revolt,” while Eusebius (4th century) says that the building of Aelia Capitolina was a punishment for the revolt. Dr. Shlomit Wexler-Bdolach is of the opinion that the sight of builders building the Roman city was the spark for the revolt, particularly since the building can be dated, by Roman coins found in the city, to a few years before the revolt broke out (this is corroborated by coins minted by the rebels in the northern Negev). The extensive dig, executed in the rear of the Western Wall plaza, shows that the Roman intent was to make Aelia Capitolina as Roman as possible, and they were willing to destroy previous structures for this purpose. The dig has also concluded that the Temple Mount remained an important site even in the new Roman city, leading archaeologists to surmise that the new temple to Jupiter was built on the ruins of the Second Temple. This would make it even more likely that the construction helped spark the revolt. An additional question connected to the building is the degree to which Emperor Hadrian’s visit to Judaea in 129-130 CE influenced the decision to build a Roman city. Archaeologists so far have not reached agreement on this point.