God’s Canopy of Peace
A Passover Visit
By blackhedd Posted in Benedict XVI visits New York City | Culture — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I was deeply moved to read about Pope Benedict’s brief visit to the Park East Synagogue here in New York City at the start of their Shabbat service yesterday evening. (Local-news story here.)
It was a gesture of respect and esteem by the Catholic pontiff, and just as important a gesture of welcome and friendship by the congregation which has been led for 45 years by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, a Holocaust survivor.
Introducing Benedict, Rabbi Schneier said:
May God spread His canopy of peace over all of us!
He also said, pointedly, that our love of God must never come at the expense of our love for His children. Then Pope Benedict addressed the congregation. In his remarks, the Holy Father said: “I encourage you to continue building bridges of friendship with all the many different ethnic and religious groups present in your neighborhood.”
Passover is a festival of freedom. Today we live in a season of discord, division, and war. At this holiday, let’s all remember how important it is to secure freedom for every human being, and understanding among all faith and cultural traditions, so that the world may have blessed peace.
Happy Pesach to all members of the human family, and bear on your lips the most beautiful word humans may speak, regardless of the language in which we speak it: SHALOM!
-Francis Cianfrocca (“blackhedd”)
God’s Canopy of Peace 2 Comments (0 topical, 2 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
May God spread His canopy of peace over all of us!
It just rolls so beautifully off the tongue when you say it aloud. Happy Passover!
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By the way, do you know if anyone has ever studied the effects on markets of increased butter consumption during Passover (secondary to increased matzo consumption)?
And Rightly So!