Ok, so Pope Benedict ordered changes to a Latin prayer for Jews at Good Friday services by traditionalist Catholics, deleting a reference to their “blindness” over JC, removing a phrase that asked God to “remove the veil from their hearts,” but still hoping Jews will recognize JC.
“Let us also pray for the Jews. So that God our Lord enlightens their hearts so that they recognize Jesus Christ savior of all men.”
It also asks God that “all Israel be saved.”
This got the ADL all hot and bothered, who said the prayer is still “deeply troubling” because of its call to convert Jews.
I personally couldn’t care less about this prayer’s call for Jews to recognize JC. It doesn’t offend me because I know this is what Christians believe. And I don’t believe it presents a danger to Jews, since the Vatican is merely expressing its beliefs, nor calling for physical violence against us.
Of course, feeling so secure in my own faith helps, and I truly believe that the Jewish faith is the true faith. I trust that my Christian readers won’t be offended by that, just as I am not offended by their beliefs.
So ADL: pick your battles!
And still on topic, I have become a very big fan of Tovia Singer in recent weeks. Besides having an entertaining and informative talk show on Israel National Radio, he is also well known as the Founder and Director of Outreach Judaism, an international organization dedicated to countering the efforts of fundamentalist groups and cults that specifically target Jews for conversion.
If you are not familiar with his work, here he is on the Christian radio show Way of the Master (one of Kirk Cameron’s new gigs), responding to the host who is “trying to convert” him to Christianity.
Needless to say, said host bites off more than he can chew.
