New York – Park East Synagogue Rabbi To Be Named Papal Knight By Pope

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    FILE - Pope Benedict XVI (R) greets Rabbi Arthur Schneier, from the Park East Synagogue in New York City, at the end of his weekly audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican July 7, 2010.  REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico New York – Rabbi Arthur Schneier, senior Rabbi of Park East Synagogue and the founder and president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, will bee awarded Papal Knighthood, as a Knight of St. Sylvester by Pope Francis.

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    Schneier will officially be awarded the Papal Knighthood Monday, April 27 at 3 p.m. at the Official Residence of the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.  Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York is slated to be present.

    “Pope Francis is bestowing the honor on Rabbi Arthur Schneier who has worked unceasingly to promote peace and mutual understanding, in the firm conviction that respect for fundamental human rights, including religious freedom, are indispensable values for all peoples of the world to enjoy peace, security and shared prosperity. A Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Schneier has always held this conviction in his heart and made it a principle of life,” said Archbishop Bernardito C. Auza, Apostolic Nuncio, and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.

    Born in Vienna in 1930, Schneier survived the Holocaust in Budapest, Hungary, and arrived in the U.S. in 1947. Since 1962, Schneier has been the senior rabbi of the 125-year old Park East Synagogue, one of New York City’s historic landmark houses of worship. He founded the Appeal of Conscience Foundation in 1965.

    Schneier was awarded the U.S. Presidential Citizens Medal for his service as an international envoy for four administrations, devoting a lifetime to overcoming the forces of hatred and intolerance by encouraging interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding and promoting the cause of religious freedom around the world.

    The rabbi has also received the U.S. Department of State Special Recognition Award and has been nominated for the Congressional Gold Medal.

    Schneier was named as one of the 100 most trustworthy people in the U.S. by the Readers’ Digest magazine poll and listed as one the most influential rabbis in the U.S. by Newsweek Magazine.


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    26 Comments
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    BubbyK
    BubbyK
    8 years ago

    Is this some sort of a joke in poor taste?
    Is a Rabbi really going for some “honor” from the Pope?
    shame, shame, shame!

    Mazal1
    Mazal1
    8 years ago

    Why is this knight different from all other knights?

    eliezer318
    eliezer318
    8 years ago

    Why is this knight different than all other knights? Smile if you remember the whole joke…

    8 years ago

    Wow, what a holy guy. When is he coming to Crown Heights?

    8 years ago

    Did you notice the Pope wears a bigger kapul then the rabbi.

    8 years ago

    Why is this knight different than every other knight? Because he’s Jewish..

    eomez
    eomez
    8 years ago

    An accomplishment to be proud of

    LEEAVE
    LEEAVE
    8 years ago

    nebech

    8 years ago

    Why be so negative about it? Can you imagine the reaction a crusader would have at reading this article. It is a big step for Jewish – Christian relations.

    TexasJew
    TexasJew
    8 years ago

    You might not agree with his hashgafah but he is a Rabbi and has done more than 99% of the responders here.
    Would you rather read about a “religious” rabbi that’s been convicted?

    chicagomaven
    chicagomaven
    8 years ago

    Is that like getting simcha from the Pope?

    RebKlemson
    RebKlemson
    8 years ago

    the dipolmatica rebbeh

    Bentzion
    Bentzion
    8 years ago

    This reminds me of an incident I witnessed years ago. After a drosha from Rav Sholom Schwadron zt”l there was a line for the mensroom. Someone on line motioned to Rav Sholom to go ahead of him. He smirked and said “ken zein es iz nisht kein kibud”!

    8 years ago

    Nebech too

    Longwave
    Longwave
    8 years ago

    Sylvester was one of the popes who died in 335. He took delight in torturing the Jews.
    Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it

    sasregener
    sasregener
    8 years ago

    So much nachas! Nebach

    samiam
    samiam
    8 years ago

    The award is named after an Anti Semitic Pope. How can any Jew that respects his heritage accept an honor name after the very person that was actively involved with destroying his ancestors?

    MarkTwain2
    MarkTwain2
    8 years ago

    Are they each matching their yarmulkes to one another for the ceremony?

    yaakov doe
    Member
    yaakov doe
    8 years ago

    The year before the Council of Nicaea convened, Sylvester convinced Constantine to prohibit Jews from living in Jerusalem. At the Council of Nicaea, Sylvester arranged for the passage of a host of viciously anti-Semitic legislation. All Catholic “Saints” are awarded a day on which Christians celebrate and pay tribute to that Saint’s memory. December 31 is Saint Sylvester Day – hence celebrations on the night of December 31 are dedicated to Sylvester’s memory. The tradition in Rome was for Jews to be paraded in the streets of Rome on St. Sylvester Day and mocked and beaten. The Rabbi is better off being knighted as a Knight of St. Nicholas or St. Christopher (of medal fame).

    8 years ago

    Not just a nebach, but a shanda.

    Chevraman
    Chevraman
    8 years ago

    WOW! Archbishop Auza, The Pope, US Presidential Medal, US State DEpt Award, Reader’s Digest, Newsweek. WOW! Anything Jewish this Rabbi can boast of??? Just wondering.

    Shimon
    Shimon
    8 years ago

    Reading the above comments is illustrative of the problems within Jewry today.
    With Jews being persecuted in Europe, Iran close to getting nuclear weapon, and a Jew-hating US president, this is NOT the time to wring our hands over symbolic awards of honor and friendship. “Nebech” to people who fail to understand this.

    8 years ago

    Anyone who may have had the chance to know this Rabbi for more than five minutes, will know that this is all about his ego and nothing to do Judaism. Both he and his son claim to be “orthodox”, but I don’t think they know what that means or stands for.