Post-Pope Postscript

I think the people of Israel are clearly suffering from Pope fatigue, but I suppose a little closure is called for over this failed multi-million shekel venture, traffic headache, and momentous waste of time and energy.

The rabbis featured prominently during Benedict XVI’s visit…

Back in April JewishIsrael suggested that Jewish sensitivities were going be sacrificed on the altar of diplomacy. But still, it was a disappointment to see our anti-cross Rabbi of the Kotel buckle to the powers-that-be. Not only did Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch accompany the pontiff to the last remnant of the Jewish Temple, but the Holy site was cleared of Jewish worshipers in order to make room for the head of the Roman church .

Rabbi Metzger made headlines with a mysterious, still unsubstantiated, claim that “the Catholic Church will cease all missionary activity among Jews… Rabbi Yona Metzger thanked the pope for his announcement, calling it an "historic agreement and, "for us, an immensely important message. “
There’s been deadly silence on that “good news”, and no historic agreement has surfaced. JI member Moshe Burt also expressed his doubts about any agreement in his blog where he writes : “One must ask Rabbi Metzger, did he get the Pope’s pledge in writing, or did the Pope only “agree” orally?”

Sometimes silence is golden.
Israel’s Chief Sephardi Rabbi, the Rishon Letzion Rabbi Shlomo Amar,confronted the Pope’s cross with the ultimate Jewish answer… He sported his own golden-plated ornament depicting the Tablets of the Law (The Ten Commandments). Arutz 7 reports that Rabbi Amar also made sure to hold and consult a book of Torah law during the meeting and follow-up speeches.

A member of the Jewish Israel team (too shy to expose his name) feels that under the circumstances Rav Amar deserves a JewishIsrael Prize and he suggested the following titles:
a) the "Literal Yolk of the Torah" award.
b) The "Jewels for Judaism" award?
c) the "Israel Blings to the Jewish People" award?
JI members, feel free to add your 2 cents (or if you have gold, kindly go to the Jewish Israel donation page).

And the booby prize goes to…
That Vatican spokesman who thought he was doing the Pope a favor by declaring that the Pope was 'never, never, never' in the Hitler Youth. The press had a field day and the Vatican retracted within hours.
From now on, Benedict XVI will go down in history as "the pope from never,never,never land”
Someone should remind that official Vatican spokesman that three "nevers" do not make a right.

While people will continue to debate the

Pope’s wartime record, what we do know is that –unlike Peter Pan – the Pope can’t fly.

Rav Yisrael Meir Lau doesn’t forget his wartime past, and Comedy Central's pompous, left-wing but – at times- very funny John Stewart took an unfair crack at the Rabbi - but absolutely (and justifiably) trampled the pope.

Is it fair that America gets to laugh while a few months ago our own late night comedienne, Lior Shlein had to apologize for “blasphemy” against the Catholic church. The Vatican also managed to secure an apology from then-PM Olmert.

So like I said back then…

"These are dark times, and disputes with the Vatican and other Christian denominations over property rights, rights to proselytize and the right to freedom of Christian expression appear to be on the increase...and we Jews had better find our voice and assert our rights to laugh, legislate, smash idols and bloodlessly slaughter sacred cows." (Excerpt from "The Right to Smash Idols")

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Comment by Captain Q. on May 21, 2009 at 4:42pm: Hey, I'm no fan of the Pope! And you wouldn't catch me dead in one of those outfits!

Comment by ellen on May 21, 2009 at 4:37pm: Ok. Captain Q.
Point well-taken, but that doesn't excuse this pope from his current dismal record. He is not scoring too well with Israel or the Jewish people - and he is far, far, far (like never, never, never) from being a friend. However, I do feel that we Jews have got to stop using the label "Nazi" for everything and everybody.

Comment by Captain Q. on May 21, 2009 at 10:39am: Miriam, let me quote Wikipedia:

"Following his 14th birthday in 1941, Ratzinger was enrolled in the Hitler Youth, as membership was required for all 14-year old German boys after December 1939, but was an unenthusiastic member and refused to attend meetings. His father was a bitter enemy of Nazism, believing it conflicted with the Catholic faith, according to biographer John L. Allen, Jr. In 1941, one of Ratzinger's cousins, a 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome, was taken away by the Nazi regime to a care center and killed there in secrecy during the Aktion T4 euthanasia campaign of Nazi eugenics."

While history has its fair share of 14 year old heros, most children around the world, including our own, aren't usually mature enough yet to do the right thing under the pressures of the society they are living in.

Comment by Jewish Israel on May 19, 2009 at 8:14pm: Good point, Miriam.
There's plenty to be concerned about with this Pope and his recent history. I think it's a mistake to keep harping on his wartime history - which is nothing to write home about.

Comment by ellen on May 17, 2009 at 11:23pm: Ahhh, Tamar. You always cut to the chase.
But should we first and foremost be angry at the pope or at our own leaders?

Comment by Tamar Yonah on May 17, 2009 at 10:23pm: The article state: "member of the Jewish Israel team (too shy to expose his name) feels that under the circumstances Rav Amar deserves a JewishIsrael Prize and he suggested the following titles: "

.... how about,
"The 'In Your Face, Pope' award, or...
"I'm not an Exile Jew' award or...
"Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Pope?" award...