Sometimes good things happen…

This thought is very important in our times, when we do not even want to watch the news in the morning.

No matter how deep is the darkness, and how dominant fear can be - there will always be light, however small and modest. It is lit in the hearts of human beings and it can push the history of love, tolerance and humanity forward.

I say this just after we mentioned in our prayers in the kehilla Rabbi Elio Toaff, of blessed memory, who passed away a few days ago in Rome, 12 days before his hundredth birthday.

Rabbi Toaff played a central role in the history of Italian Jewry. His name is precious not only to Roman Jews, who he served for more than fifty years as Chief Rabbi, but also to us, Christians, because of a number of good reasons which I am here to explain.

His fascinating life story, the extremely difficult experiences of his youth, the death and destruction he contemplated with his own eyes, became a motor that drove him throughout his long life, consecrated to edifying a more just and human world. The Rabbi used to say that the task of memory is not to encourage vengeance but rather to warn the next generation to stand on guard so that the terrible events of the past will never happen again. To this he would add, unfortunately the conservation of memory is not free of charge. (In a television interview, the rabbi once told about the nightmares that hounded him for many years as a result of the memories of the past). He did not cease to work in order to help his people get over the traumas resulting from the Shoah and never missed an opportunity to work for rapprochement and repair a broken world.

In 1986, after consulting the chief rabbis of Europe, he agreed to take upon himself the historical role of hosting Pope John Paul II in the Great Synagogue in Rome on the occasion of the first visit of a pope to a synagogue in two thousand years. After that, an authentic and honest friendship blossomed between him and the Polish pope which lasted until April 2, 2005. In the days following the death of "the great Pope", Saint Peter's Square swelled with faithful from all over the world who came to say farewell and to pray and among them was also Rabbi Toaff, who crossed the Tiber in order to be present and to read Psalms in memory of his dear friend. This same friend, in his last will, alongside the name of secretary wanted to mention only one other name, that of Rabbi Toaff.

Stories like these strengthen the will of those who want to continue along the path opened up by these giants, especially in times when religion might again become an obstacle in human relations.

In the Hebrew speaking Catholic community in Israel, this year, we have the privilege of participating in a joint project with the Zion community, a beautiful Jewish community, led by Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum. A mixed group of members from the two communities meets once a month in order to read and study together the weekly portion from the Torah read in the synagogue on Saturdays. These texts constitute a common heritage shared by the people of Israel and the Church. From meeting to meeting, we have noticed that something beyond a simple learning process is happening within us and slowly the barries that exist in our imaginations are beginning to come down. In the face and the voice of the other we can identify the eyes and the voice of a beloved brother or sister, whatever his belief or religion might be.

Last Friday evening, together with Father Rafic, responsible for the Jerusalem kehilla, I went to visit them in the place where they gather to receive the Shabbat, in order to share with them this time of prayer. I was enchanted by the rich spiritual atmosphere which embraced all those present. At the end of the prayer, Rabbi Tamar invited us to bless the children gathered under the canopy with the special words of Shabbat blessing. At that moment we really felt that this was a moment of "tikkun olam" (mending a broken world).

With the grace from heaven and great personalities like John Paul II and Rabbi Toaff, both of blessed memory, this is all possible for us today.

Sometimes, good things happen... thanks be to God, source of all blessing. Let us accept this responsibility for all the time that He has fixed for us. Amen.