Jewish and Catholic Leaders attend Dedication of Yom Hashoah Menorah
to advance Interreligious Relations and Stimulate Holocaust Study Programs
His Eminence Bernard Cardinal Law, Archbishop of Boston will join together
with Jewish and Catholic leaders to receive and dedicate a Yom Hashoah
Menorah, commemorating the Holocaust on the front lawn of the Chancery
of the Archdiocese of Boston, 2121 Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton, on Thursday,
September 12, 202 at 7:00 PM. There will be a brief speaking program in
the Peterson Hall at Saint John's Seminary College followed by a candlelight
vigil procession to the front of the Chancery.
The Menorah was made possible by a generous give from Mr. Leonard Florence
and his wife Charlotte and will be presented to Cardinal Law and the Archdiocese
of Boston by the Interreligious Information Center and The Center for
Interreligious Understanding and local Jewish agencies and synagogues.
A local committee started working on this project over a year ago with
IIC Director, Gunther Lawrence, who created the concept of the Menorah.
The committee consisted of Father David Michael, Liaison to the Jewish
Community, Rabbis Michael Menitoff, Barry Starr, President of the Mass
Board of Rabbis, Mara Tencer of the Jewish Community Relations Council,
and Geoffrey Berdy of the Anti-Defamation League.
The original Menorah was placed on April 13, 1999 in the North American
College, Vatican City and the following day, a thirteen inch miniature
was presented to Pope John Paul II who encouraged a proposal to place
these menorahs in Catholic centers as a means of advancing Catholic-Jewish
relations and stimulating holocaust study programs. Catholic leaders encouraged
Mr. Lawrence and Rabbi Jack Bemporad and the prime supporter of the program
Mr. Stephen Ollendorff and his wife Bjorg to proceed with the program.
Menorahs have already been placed in Miami, Palm Beach, Baltimore, Seton
Hall University, Dallas, Huntington, L.I. and a dedication is scheduled
for a Menorah placement on October 13 at Catholic University. Other menorahs
have been arranged for Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, San Francisco and Phoenix
with dedication dates to be fixed.
**Members of the Media wishing to cover the dedication and vigil are
respectfully asked to check in at the Commonwealth Avenue entrance of
the Chancery at 6:45 PM for an escort onto the grounds.
(Other press releases and statements)
|
