Interview with Rome's chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni
ROME, Friday, January 21, 2011 ( ZENIT.org) .- On the occasion occasion for the Day of Jewish-Christian dialogue, held in Italy on January 17 before starting the Week of Prayer for Unity Christians, the Italian edition of ZENIT interview published by the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, the program of Christianity Rai Internazionale. We now offer English version:
- Honour thy father and thy mother, but whose we are children?
Di Segni: According to our tradition we have two biological parents, and tradition tells us that participants are actually three, is the divine and the biological part, and there may also be educational parties are not reserved to parents. Sometimes parents can be odd or even negative in an educational process. Therefore the "parenthood" is a concept to be extended.
- Many commentaries say that the commandment "Honor thy father and thy mother" derive all the others. What does honor thy father and mother?
Di Segni: Tradition is a respectful relationship that is established in important formalities, for which the parent must acknowledge an authority to respect whatever. In addition there is a relationship that can become a supportive relationship, whether material or in a broader sense, during the years when relations are reversed: the small one is absolutely dependent on parents and as the years pass , are the parents who in some way dependent children. So at this time the respect for parents is a more important task.
- In the Semitic languages \u200b\u200bthe word "merciful" that defines the Almighty, has the same root in Hebrew rachem, Rahim in Arabic, the word uterus, and indicates the attitude of the mother who receives the child in her womb. The Bible compares God to a mother who does not forget their children, as recalled by John Paul I. So what defines motherhood divine mercy?
Di Segni: Let's say there is a schematic representation - the image we have of the Divine-a part of justice, severity and part of love. In this opposition, or synthesis of different aspects could be said that virtually the male represents love. There is also language support is confirmed. But it's the same Bible that uses the expression that God have mercy on us as a Father has compassion on his children "aw alwalim Rachem." Therefore there is no exclusivity in the Mercy, as there is no exclusivity in court.
- So what it means to be brothers? Do Christians and Jews have a Father and a Mother in common?
Di Segni: All humanity has a father and a mother in common, it makes sense to the story of the Bible that humanity derives from Adam and then Noah, everything we have to recognize a common ancestor and that No person can accept - as they say our texts, is to be superior to the other, because we have a common origin. In this regard all mankind are fraternal. There are also three groups of human ties together more closely, and undoubtedly the relationship between Jews and Christians is especially close and may be represented by the image of fraternity with all the ups and downs that exist in a fraternal relationship
- The word dialogue can have a strong and a weak sense. Maybe, say a diplomatic dialogue that has no impact on life, and dialogue and changes involving the whole person. The relationship between man and God in the Bible is often a dramatic dialogue. How do you define, therefore, dialogue between Christians and Jews?
Di Segni: I would say a need that can not run away, but as experience is difficult because it must overcome a series of obstacles placed by the history, theology and everyday life. The fact that it is hard not to exempt us to cope having a minimum of at least hope and serenity, since this may leave something positive.
- You lived the d John Paul II visits the Synagogue and hosted last year Benedict XVI, what dae sums up these meetings?
Di Segni, visits have been very different. Different by the time and personality. The first was a momentous event that marked, symbolically, a turning point in history. The second, an event ue confirmed this course of action. There is in these events ... but the latter was not an event where everything is worked peacefully, there was controversy around it, and I insisted that much is done because I think that leaves us feeling that is beyond divides us, there are common elements and common responsibilities, especially the latter, work together, from which we can not escape.
- When Benedict XVI came to the synagogue stood before the stones that resemble the Roman Jews deported. The day of the Report Is it a recall or warning necessary today?
Di Segni, is necessarily both. Day of Remembrance means that we must stop to reflect, understand what happened, and also remember, as should be all the days of memory-not to stay in the past but projected into the future and as this is a problem health affects society has is absolutely necessary to pause for reflection.
- Do you think religious freedom is in danger, the lives of believers threatened because of the Faith?
Di Segni: Absolutely.
- Where does the danger?
Di Segni: It comes from all possible forms of intolerance, which can be political intolerance, intolerance of dictatorship or religious intolerance also.
- Religion, in his view, is a cause or a pretext for war and violence?
Di Segni: Ah! It can be either. Sometimes it can be an easy excuse but sometimes it is the same religious structure that is intolerant. Why talk about religion as if by definition be a thing of beauty? It is necessary to discuss religion, suffer, view and improve it in any way.
- How experience the relationship between the three great monotheistic religions, the Italians who are in contact with other cultures, living in other parts of the world?
Di Segni: Travelling the world is a great lesson to understand the differences. Today Italy is not as regionalist, the human landscape we capture walking down the streets of any Italian city has changed much over twenty years ago. Knowing the differences is essential to understand that humanity does not stop who has the face like mine, we must assume that these differences exist - especially, and then learn to live together.
- Diversity Is a danger or wealth?
Di Segni: The difference should be an asset.
- We are also seeing in Israel. "I'd send a message to the Italian Jews have made aliyah, which have become the land of Israel?
Di Segni: They are brothers near and share the hopes and experiences, we went to them always with affection.
- The prophet Zechariah and Isaiah, if I mistake not, speak of a day when Jew and Gentile eat together under the tent at the festival of Sukkot, which recalls the journey through the desert. Does this common table is a utopia or a prophecy somehow this is already available?
Di Segni: Judaism lives of utopia and therefore the fact that it is a utopia does not mean it is something that will not be achieved just the opposite and in our prayers we uphold the concept that any thing said by the mouth of the prophets came to less, or sooner or later be performed. Somehow, some little thing done, though we still have far to go.
- The desert is big still ...
Di Segni: Yes, but the desert can be an ideal situation.
[Translated from Italian by Carmen Álvarez]
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