Rabbi Abraham Skorka and his sin of omission

Rabbi Skorka has said publicly that he is Francis “roving ambassador” but it is more truthful to say that he’s Francis’ handler.  The rabbi gave a lecture, Nostra Aetate, past and future, at the International Council of Christians and Jews’ (ICCJ) Rome Conference 2015: ‘The 50th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate: The Past, Present and Future of the Christian-Jewish Relationship’.  In this speech Skorka explained that Christianity has play a key role in anti-semitism and that the Shoah demonstrates the futility of Christianity — its moral bankruptcy.  During his talk Skorka trots out the old canard that all the evidence of Pius XII has never been seen and states that,

“the issue of the role played by perennial Christian antisemitism in providing a seedbed for twentieth-century Nazi racism still awaits full exploration. A clear and unambiguous reckoning by Christians of all denominations is still expected by Jews with regard to all the components of Christian anti-Semitism, not only those found in the Patristic literature, but also those contributory elements that can be found in the New Testament, such as...”

Skorka then concludes with the following:

“For Catholics, the new approach and dialogue with Jews based on Nostra Aetate's theological statements, opens a theological quest: Since the "Old Covenant" has never been revoked, what does the living faith and practice of the Jewish People today mean for Christian faith and self-understanding? For Jews, the new relationship means to take more to heart Maimonides’ statement in his authoritative Code :

 It is beyond the human mind to fathom the designs of the Creator; for our ways are not His ways, neither are our thoughts His thoughts. All these matters relating to Jesus of Nazareth and the Ishmaelite (Mohammed) who came after him served to clear the way for King Messiah, to prepare the whole world to worship God with one accord, as it is written, “For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve Him with one consent” (Zephaniah 3: 9) Thus the messianic hope, the Torah, and the commandments have become familiar topics –topics of conversation (among the inhabitants) of the far islands of many peoples . . .

There is still a long way before us until Nostra Aetate in its body and spirit will be incorporated into the heart of all the churches and parishes throughout the world, and to become a deeper challenge for Jewish vision on Christianity.

But still, the next step must be to think and to analyze the present dramatic moment in humankind’s history in order to continue paving a way for a better future. We have been given an opportunity to be "a blessing to one another," as John Paul II put it. It is therefore our duty in the years ahead to make the most of this unprecedented moment.”

We will only concern ourselves with the quote from Maimonides.  He uses the partial Maimonides quote taken entirely out of its context to sell the idea that Christianity is a branch of Judaism which will one day return to ‘true Temple worship’ in Jerusalem.  Unsaid in his speech but footnoted for the statement from Maimonides is: “Hilkhot Melakhim 11: 4, according the uncensored editions of Soncino 5250 (1490), Constantinopolis 5269 (150 9) and Amsterdam 5462 (1702). The translation was taken from Herschel’s essay quoted in the footnote No. 28, p. 248.”  The essay of Abraham Heschel referred to is “No Religion is an Island” published in “Abraham Joshua Heschel, Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity, edited by Susannah Heschel, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York, 1996, p. 248”.  Here we have Skorka admit that there are uncensored editions of Maimonides quote however he uses Heschel’s edited one.  In 2012 Skorka published a paper titled, “Jewish Identity and Jewish-Christian Dialogue A View from Argentina”.  This paper examines Heschel’s “No Religion is an Island” and the themes it contains.  In it Skorka refers to the same quote, states that it only appears in uncensored editions of the Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, and then quotes it from the Chabad-Lubutavitcher website:

“Ultimately, all the deeds of Jesus of Nazareth and that Ishmaelite [Mohammed] who arose after him will only serve to prepare the way for Mashiach’s [the Messiah’s] coming and the improvement of the entire world, motivating the nations to serve God together as Tzephaniah 3:9 states: “I will transform the peoples to a purer language that they all will call upon the name of God and serve Him with one purpose [Lit.: shoulder to shoulder].””

Here is where Rabbis Skorka’s sin of omission come into play.  The following is the quote in its context.

source: A Maimonides Reader, Moses Maimonides

To which we add that the Chabad website referenced prefaces the above with,

source: Chabad, Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 11, 4

Wow!  Skorka blames the Shoah on the Christians, has the chutzpah to state that all Christian denominations need to have their New Testament and writings of the early church fathers reexamined in order to cleanse, “[their] soul[s] of its role in contributing to anti-Semitism.”  Skora then has the audacity to be duplicitous towards his Christian audiences concerning what Talmudists truly believe about Jesus the Christ.   One can see from this that Conservative Judaism (Masorti Judaism) which Skorka professes isn’t very different from its kissing cousin Hasidism — for they are both Talmudic, lying, and deny Our Lord and Savior.  When will the ravings of the rabbis and their various Talmudic religions be reexamined by Catholics so they can be purged of their anti-Goyimism?

Don’t think for one instant that Francis is ignorant of any of this.  Recall in September 2017, Francis sat approvingly as Rav Dr. Ratzon Arusi said, “that we may work together to fulfill the vision articulated by Maimonides.”  Also, when he was but the cardinal archbishop of Buenos Aires he attended a museum exhibit in 2004 on Maimonides and a few years later in 2008 accepted the Maimonides Award for Inter-religious Dialogue!  Is it any wonder that Rabbi Skorka is Francis’ close personal friend?

Francis says that the paper, ‘Between Jerusalem and Rome: The Shared Universal and the Respected Particular Reflections on 50 Years of Nostra Aetate’ is “a miracle.”

Dr. David Berger shaking hands with his fellow Talmudist after this ‘miracle’.

“The fact that agreement was reached on such a statement is itself a miracle.”

Francis’ words as related by Dr. David Berger

source: The Yeshiva University Observer, Dr. Berger meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican

Related:

• a typical day at the Vatican shtetl

• How many books on Talmudic Judaism does Francis have in his personal library?

a typical day at the Vatican shtetl

For more photos of the celebration of Yidishkeyt in the Vatican shtetl (click here).

Vatican II celebrates Tikkun Olam!

Vatican II anniversary celebrated by bishop and local rabbis

Rabbis Steven Graber, of Temple Hillel in North Woodmere, Jay Rosenbaum of Temple Israel in Lawrence and Shalom Stern of Temple Beth El in Cedarhurst were among the 120 rabbis, seven Catholic cardinals, 25 bishops and 50 priests who the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Vatican II, which transformed 2,000 years of Catholic-Jewish relations and began constructive dialogue between the two faiths, according to religious leaders. Bishop William Murphy, of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, was in attendance.

Held from May 4-7 at the religious center of the Neocatechumenal Way on the shores of the Galilee in Israel, the four-day conference had 400 attendees, including lay people; a concert, “The Suffering of the Innocents,” composed by Kiko Arguello and performed by The Way; reflection on the history of Catholic-Jewish relations and addressed the current wave of anti-Semitism in Europe and the persecution of Christians in some Africa and Middle East countries.

In a closing address Rabbi Rosenbaum said: “While we who have gathered come from different faiths, we share the same fate, so let us pray that God strengthen and inspire us as we go forward to do the holy work of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world for all humanity.”

the American Jewish Committee (AJC) & Nostra Aetate

more friends of Francis

Francis meeting with Guillermo Moreno and Amelia Marta Cascales.  Guillermo Moreno is divorced and has been in a long-term cohabitation with Amelia Marta Cascales.  From 2005 to 2013 Moreno was the Secretary of Domestic Trade for Argentina and was in charge of the economic policies of the country.  He resigned from that office in 2013 after being tried in the Argentinian courts for dereliction of duty and abuse of authority. The result of Guillermo's policies were the ruin of the Argentinian economy and the fattening of his wallet as well as the bottom lines of the international bankers. He is currently the economic attaché at the Argentinian embassy in Rome.  Cascales is on the board of several Kirchner companies and has assisted in making pro-Kirchner  propaganda movies for television.  This was the last private audience Moreno and Cascales was to have with Francis as economic attaché.  The reason for this is Moreno's political party lost the elections and someone else is soon to be appointed to his office.  

Francis greets Moreno and Cascales at the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration 

of Nostra Aetate.  Earlier that day at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, 

the Argentinians in attendance voraciously booed Moreno and Cascales.

Nostra Aetate has its roots in the concentration camps

...no rule is too big or too small

     to exempt the Talmudists 

always 'the eternal victims' from

Francis tells his favorite blasphemous joke again!

(from left to right) David de Rothschild, (chairman of the board of the WJC), 

Ronald Lauder, (president of the WJC) , Francis, Chelly Sara, Jack Terpins (treasurer of WJC), Robert Singer,  (Chief Executive Officer & Executive Vice-President of WJC), and Claudio Epelman (Executive Director, Latin American Jewish Congress).

Today, on the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Nostra Aetate, Francis privately met with six members of the World Jewish Congress.  According to Claudio Epelman, Executive Director of the regional branch of the World Jewish Congress; the Latin American Jewish Congress, Francis regaled his Talmudic Jewish guests with a joke.  We at Call Me Jorge... are assuming it is Francis' favorite blasphemous joke as Epelman recalled hearing the same joke two years ago, on the Jewish New Year, coming out from the mouth of Francis.  It was also told at the kosher Last Lunch Francis held at the Vatican. The following quote is excerpted from the article, Francisco sorprendió con un chiste religioso a los mayores seis líderes judíos del mundo, published in La Nacion and written by biographer of Francis, Elisabetta Pique.

"And this time he (Francis) said 'I will do as the rabbis who have a habit of telling stories' and he told the story of an anti-Semitic priest who never missed an opportunity to attack the Jews. One day, in a sermon, the priest found a pretext and began to attack Jews, as always, in virulent form. Suddenly, Jesus came down from the cross, looked to the Virgin and says, 'Mom, let's go, it seems that they do not like us here.'"

Once again, the true Francis comes out.  Not the PR character created by Greg Burke and company, who kisses babies and takes selfies but the one who hates Jesus the Christ and His Church.

Francis celebrates the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate

“Yes to the rediscovery of the Jewish roots of Christianity. No to anti-Semitism.”

Francis' comment at today's general audience

Francis' interreligious general audience

“Since Nostra Aetate, indifference and opposition have turned into cooperation and goodwill. Enemies and strangers became friends and brothers.”

Francis' comment at today's general audience

FRANCIS' INTERRELIGIOUS GENERAL AUDIENCE

Dear Brothers and Sisters: Today’s Audience marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration Nostra Aetateon the Church’s Relation to Non-Christian Religions. I welcome the followers of the different religions who have joined us, especially those who have come from great distances. The Council’s Declaration was an expression of the Church’s esteem for the followers of other religious traditions, and her openness to dialogue in the service of understanding and friendship. The past fifty years have seen much progress in this regard. In a special way, we give thanks to God for the significant advances made in relations between Christians and Jews, and in those between Christians and Muslims. The world rightly expects believers to work together with all people of good will in confronting the many problems affecting our human family. It is my hope that the forthcoming Jubilee of Mercy will be an occasion for ever greater interreligious cooperation in works of charity, reconciliation and care for God’s gift of creation. As we look to the future of interreligious dialogue, let us pray that, in accordance with God’s will, all men and women will see themselves as brothers and sisters in the great human family, peacefully united in and through our diversities.

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including those from England, Wales, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Nigeria, Israel, Australia, Indonesia, Japan and the United States of America. In a particular way I greet the ecumenical delegation from Korea, and I renew my thanks to the representatives of the different religions who have joined us today. God bless you all!