Haaretz
Sivan 3, 5765
The World Jewish Congress (WJC)
and the Vatican intend to cooperate on an anti-AIDS project in Africa. A
statement to this effect is expected to be issued this morning.
The
WJC will be partner in funding and managing a Vatican-initiated project to
fight AIDS, together with bodies in the Catholic Church and various aid
organizations.
The declaration that WJC will be joining the project
is to be made during a meeting between Pope Benedictus XVI and a
delegation headed by WJC president Edgar Bronfman.
This will be the
pope's first meeting with leaders of Jewish organizations since his
election some two months ago.
Bronfman and WJC chairman Israel
Singer will be accompanied by a large delegation representing the three
Jewish movements in the United States and leaders of large Jewish
organizations.
WJC officials attribute considerable importance for
the organization's involvement in humanitarian projects that reach out to
humanity in general, beyond its activity in "Jewish" issues, such as the
fight against anti-Semitism and restoring Jewish property.
At first
the pope will meet Bronfman and Singer in his bureau. The three will
discuss joint WJC and Vatican projects, such as a scheme to help the needy
in South America. Then Jewish dignitaries and leaders will join the
meeting to discuss plans to fight AIDS.
The dignitaries will
include Rabbi David Rosen of the American Jewish Committee, former Israeli
ambassador to the Vatican Shmuel Hadas, Chief Rabbinate director general
Oded Wiener and heads of the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements
in the United States.
Sources in the WJC say the plan will require
greater resources and efforts of the organization. In addition to
co-financing the project, the WJC will be involved in the organization and
management of the plan, estimated at tens of millions of
dollars.
In the third part of the meeting, the WJC will present the
pope with the organization's activity for inter-religious meetings and
suggest the pope sponsors setting up meetings between Jewish amd Muslim
religious leaders.
Israel's ambassador to the Vatican Oded Ben-Hur
said yesterday that this is the first time the new pope will be giving a
private audience to a delegation of Jewish leaders of international
organizations. He said the meeting is "another brick in the structure of
the relations being formed between the Vatican and Israel and the Jewish
nation."