And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, a holy convocation. Ye shall do no manner of servile work; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the LORD. (Leviticus 23:23-25)
In a meeting with World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder held in his private office in the Vatican yesterday, Pope Francis wished Jews around the world a happy new year, according to the Jerusalem Post. The Pope also disclosed to Lauder that he has assigned a senior church official to investigate the recent ritual slaughter ban enacted in Poland since January. The Pope has called upon Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity as well as the Vatican’s Commission for Relations with the Jews, to take responsibility for the matter.
According to the WJC, a follow- up meeting with Koch may be scheduled for “as early as next week,” although it may be pushed off due to the upcoming High Holy Days. Lauder explained to the pope that although he is personally not observant, allowing ritual slaughter is important for the continuing religious freedom of Polish Jewry.
Polish Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich expressed gratitude for the pope’s decision to involve Koch in the ongoing debate over Kosher slaughter, telling The Jerusalem Post that “anyone who supports shechita [ritual slaughter] anywhere in the world is something that is very welcome and encouraging and especially coming from the pope, it really gives us encouragement that together with the Polish government we will find a wise and quick solution.” According to the JPost, the Jewish community of Poland filed a lawsuit with the country’s Constitutional High Court to lift the ban on ritual slaughter, asserting that the law violates a 1997 statute granting permission for Polish Jews to slaughter according to tradition.
Among other topics discussed by The Pope and Lauder were the crisis in Syria, the dire situation of Christians in Egypt and the attempts to ban circumcision in Europe.The Pope also reiterated a statement he made earlier this year that “a Christian cannot be an anti-Semite” and told the Jewish delegates that “to be good a Christian it is necessary to understand Jewish history and traditions,” the Post reported.
Lauder, flanked by a number of WJC officials, brought Pope Francis a Kiddush cup used for the blessing of wine on Jewish holidays, along with a honey cake — a traditional Jewish New Year dessert, according to The Times of Israel.
In a statement following the meeting, Lauder said that the pope’s “leadership has not only reinvigorated the Catholic Church but also given a new momentum to relations with Judaism” and that “never in the past 2,000 years have relations between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people been so good.
Speaking with the Post on Monday evening, Lauder called the meeting “extremely cordial” and said that “the pope promised to do whatever he can in finding a solution to the problem with shechita in Poland. He stressed it several times: What counts for him is dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. The religious leaders need to speak with each other and find ways to reduce tensions and build bridges. The alternative is conflict and ultimately war, and that’s what we want to avoid. Pope Francis then asked me to convey on his behalf to all of the Jewish people worldwide wishes for a “Shana tova and a very sweet new year.”
