The Visit of Pope John Paul II
Interreligious Meeting at the Pontifical Institute, Notre Dame, Jerusalem
Speech by Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau
Jerusalem, 23 March 2000
Our very distinguished and honored guest, the Pope John Paul II, "Baruch Haba Welcome", my colleague Sheikh Tatzir Tamimi, dear guest, friends, ladies and gentlemen,
I will start with a few words of our Hebrew Language, the language of the bible, our holy book. The same words repeated by the prophets Isaiah and Micah say the following to summarize the prophecy of Micah, I will only mention a few sentences of it:
"But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established on the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall stream towards it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountains of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in this paths: for Torah shall go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. For let all people walk everyone in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever." (Micah 4)
Dear friends,
Everyone has his way of serving the Almighty, but one way is common and must be common for all mankind, all the believers of all the religions, especially the brother of the monotheistic faith. Peace, friendship, understanding, listening to one another, even though we do not agree with everything. In spite of all obstacles and differences to overcome obstacles and differences we have to speak, we have to listen. We are ready to go from place to place, from one continent to the other, from one century to another, offering a hand, speaking about peace.
In the name of this city, the holy city of Jerusalem, the eternal capital city of the people of Israel. Its very name has the meaning of peace. There was a debate because two personalities called this city different names. Abraham called it "Yireh" , after binding his son Isaac on the Mount of Moriah (Genesis 22). But Shem, son of Noah, Great-grandfather of Abraham called this city "Shalaim" (Genesis 14). According to our sages, the Almighty came and said: "Shem, the son of Noah, called it "Shalaim", Abraham, my beloved son, called it "Yireh". I will make a combination of both names and I will put peace amongst these two personalities: "Yireh-Shalaim" = "YeruShalaim" = "Yerushalayim". One long name, yet a name of peace, of a combination of both "Yireh" and "Shalaim".
We know the secret that peace can never be achieved by leaders only, even spiritual leaders, even leaders of this level, of this highest standard. Peace can be accomplished only if it will be followed by the leaders of mankind, populations, nations, the people, families. Step by step, we must adopt peace, not only in public speeches, but also integrate peace in the daily framework. This is a good start, this is a bridge. Here you can learn what is the target, what is the destination, what we are asking for.
Take the Hebrew Language. We do not know what it means when two people meet and say "Hi", or when two people separate and say "Bye". There is no "Hi" and no "Bye"; there is only "Shalom". "Shalom" when we meet, and "Shalom" when we depart. "Shalom Aleichem" (peace be to you), "Aleichem Shalom" (To you be peace), "Bruchim Habaim" (blessed are those who come) always with the word of "Shalom". This is the climax of our prayers. Three times a day we ask the Almighty to "put peace, goodness, and blessings upon us and all of the people of Israel". This is our prayer, our dream, and our wish. Who else like us, a nation who suffered so much, who sacrificed so much, understands the need, the urgent need for peace, understanding and friendship?
If you will permit me; you remember the prophecy of Isaiah, speaking about the time in the future, when the branch of the tree of Yishai, of King David, the Messiah will arrive:
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the nursing child shall play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the vipers nest. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11:6-9)
Your visit here, your coming here, the recognition of the Jewish independent State of Israel, the recognition of Jerusalem as its united eternal capital city, in Yad Vashem when you came and you shared with us your memories from the dark days of the Holocaust, you are the real bridge and hope for understanding for friendship and hopefully for brotherhood.
All the best to you, and God shall bless you all!