Years ago, a book was printed in Jerusalem by Dvar Yerushalayim titled The Disputation by an anonymous author. The book is an account of a rabbi’s dispute with a highly placed priest in London. As the name implies, the book details an ongoing dispute between the rabbi and the priest on the fundamentals of their faith. The author asks that no one attempt to reveal his identity or that of the priest, as it could be very hurtful to the priest, being that the rabbi apparently bested him.
I recently emailed a very highly placed Catholic clergyman with whom my father had a very close relationship. The clergyman is a true lover of Israel and the Jewish People. And very honest. I would rather not allow any speculation as to the identity of this clergyman.
I was not sure if I should email him about my issue, as it might elicit either an angry response or a sorrowful one. The latter is the more apt description.
I asked this clergyman how he explains the seemingly overt anti-Semitism coming from the pope and the top Catholic clergy in Ireland. The pope, in a recent homily, said that Israel should possibly be investigated for committing genocide in Gaza. He also placed their savior on a keffiyeh, implying identifying with the Palestinians. In Ireland, which has become virulently anti-Israel, the highest-ranking clergy were unbridled in their criticism of Israel, helping to fuel the anti-Semitism in this once-great country.
I also asked: Why it is that we no longer hear from the Church on moral issues of the day? They used to be a very important ally for the Orthodox on these matters.
He started off very humbly thanking me for the email and promised to be frank and honest in his response, which he certainly was.
I will quote from him verbatim in his response, but in brief:
The culture of the West has degenerated into two choices: oppressed and oppressors. There is little sense of history and no objective understanding of right and wrong. Witness the anti-Semitic demonstrations at our universities.
You and I know that anti-Semitism is the oldest and historically relentless prejudice in the world… Jews have lived and defended the Torah books of the testament we call old… that we later shared. Unbending witness to Hashem is a gift that we and Jews later share.
The current Pope, who had a very good relationship with Jews in Argentina, is eager to be a force in today’s culture... His casual use of “genocide” is not only wrong, it is an insult to the Jews.
He continued with three more important points, including that Ireland today has rejected the Church and has become a different country. He also fully understood the difference between the sovereign, civil State of Israel and the terrorists of Hamas.
It is very reassuring to know that we have many friends, including in the Christian world.
It is also notable that the problem we Jews have with a lack of leadership is not unique to us. It may even be more acute with other societies. It is unfortunate that the lack of moral clarity in today’s generation plagues not only others, but our own Jewish community, as well. Ask any rabbi how things are with the younger generation as it relates to Torah, Israel, and sense of belonging to something special.
The Gemara (Sotah 49b), in describing the main features of the generation of Mashiach, states, “The face of that generation will have the face of a dog.” Rav Elchonon Wasserman quotes his rebbi, the Chofetz Chaim, who explained that a dog always looks behind to see if his master is still behind him. So, too, says the Chofetz Chaim, the leaders of the generation of Mashiach will always look behind them to check whether those behind them approve of their leadership.
If that is a tell-tale sign, then Mashiach must be on his way!
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, former President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and the Rabbinic Consultant for the Queens Jewish Link.
