Although we have significant differences with Lubavitch here, nevertheless, I want to compliment them for their action in the wake of the visit of a Hasidic delegation to the Vatican the other day.
It seems that they have removed the listing of the Lubavitch branch of the shliach involved from their website.
While we are prepared to work with others, including leaders of other faiths, to advance certain important goals, nevertheless, gedolei Yisrael, including such different personalities as Rabbi Yosef Ber Soloveitchik z"l and the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, have delineated guidelines for such meetings, warning against interfaith theological discussion. They have instructed that traditional faith boundaries be respected. Those guidelines seem to have been violated in this case.
Also problematic in the event was the singing, with instruments, of a verse from Psalms, in front of the Pope. It is problematic for a number of reasons, such as we are now in a historic mourning period, part of which is due to commemorating the many thousands of victims of the Crusades who were massacred in this time of the year, in which live music and dancing with instruments is banned, as well as the danger of the verse and the action being misconstrued, if not worse.
We need to make it clear that the delegation was not made up of major Jewish leaders. Rather it was a group of minor ones.
Hopefully in the future we will will merit the blessing of Chazal that אשרי הדור שהקטנים נשמעים לגדולים, fortunate is the generation in which the small heed the direction of the gedolim, the great Jewish leaders.
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