Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 3—The Georgia Bulletin, October 11,1979
A Polish Jew Meets A Polish Catholic
BY ABRAHAM H. FOXMAN
(Associate National Director
Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith)
It was a day in July. From the hills of Jerusalem, I was
driven to Ben Gurion Airport, bound for Rome. It was a
trip I had made before but never in such a curious
emotional state.
My mind focused not on Rome, the modern European
capital I knew, but the imperial city of Titus. The plane I
boarded became a time capsule taking me back to witness
the Hebrew captives being led in chains by the triumphant
Roman Legions, the precious vessels of the Temple
profaned in the hands of the conqueror.
Was this a pilgrimage to weep over bitter history? To
redeem my ancient brethren? Vivid as the images were, I
realized that I was concerned not with the ancient
martyrs, but the haunting ghosts of my own generation.
Jerusalem to Rome, from my Eternal City to “theirs.”
No, not “mine” and “theirs.” BOTH cities played a role in
the lives and history of Jews and Judaism and in that
sense, BOTH are part of me. Jerusalem gave Jews life and
spirit and glory; Rome taught Jews to survive, despite
slavery and persecution, so that we might return to
freedom.
But I am a survivor in a literal as well as a spiritual
sense. I am a survivor of the Holocaust, saved as an infant
by a devout Polish Catholic woman who changed my
name, claimed I was her child, and had me baptised. For
the first few' years of my life, 1 did not know I was a Jew,
that my real parents were in concentration camps and that
. most of my family had been killed by the Nazis.
Now I was to participate in a private audience with the
Pope granted to a small delegation of Americans, Jews and
Polish Catholics. I was to meet the personification of the
Christian world, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, like me,
of Polish birth. I thought of the role played by the
Catholic Church in the persecution of my people, I
thought of the silence and indifference of most of the
Catholic world to Hitler’s “final solution.” I thought of
the manifold indifference to the anguished cries for help
from the Jews sealed behind the walls of the Warsaw
Ghetto, of the complicity of segments of the Polish
population to the “accomplishments” of Treblinka and
Auschwitz.
ANTICIPATION
Why, then, this sense of anticipation, this inner desire
to meet a Polish Pope? Was it because I had survived the
Holocaust while a million and a half other Jewish children
perished?
My survival was a miracle, but the instrument of that
miracle was Bronislawa Kurpi, the Polish Catholic woman
who risked her life to save a human being. To me, this
Pope I was to visit represented not the history of the
;Catho!ic Church, but the embodiment of my own survival.
I was going to meet another Pole, a Catholic priest who
;had also risked persona! safety by opposing the evils of
Nazism in his native parish. I looked forward to expressing
my gratitude for that part of Christianity which had
motivated Bronislawa Kurpi to act as she did.
But my emotions were mixed and tempered by the
WEARY PILGRIM - After an activity-filled
day that included events in three cities, Pope
John Paul II fights fatigue as he listens to a
concert by the Chicago Symphony at Holy Name
Cathedral.
SAVE 40%
We make the finest quality
mattresses and we sell di
rectly to you.
YOU DON’T PAY FOR
* National advertising
* Costly Freight
• Warehouse Charges
• Salesmen’s Commissions
VISIT OUR SHOWROOM
AT
THE It El) DIM. CO.
OF ATLANTA
3660 Oakcliff Rd.Doraville
stop in today or:
PHONE 448-6900
Add-a-Bead Chains and
Beads • Italian 14K Chain
for men and women • 14K
Charms and Charm holders
« Diamond Earrings
and Pendants
Custom work and repairs
done on the premises.
Mon.-Fri. t0a.m.-6 p.m.
8 Sat. to a m.-4:30 p.m.
k Robin Gordon
0(404) 233 5056 233-5057
Peachtree-Piedmont
Shopping Center
3330 Piedmont Rd. N.E.
Atlanta, Ga. 30305
FOOTBALL SPECIAL
GA. TECH
vs
AUBURN
Hot 20th
round trip
bus to Grant F,
open bar
it am
bus leaves
ield
$4°°
NOON
a*
K<* >
DAMADA
IY INN n
2960 N.E. ACCESS ROAD
ATLANTA, GA. 30341
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL
451-5231
knowledge that after the “liberation,” my adoptive
mother refused to return me to my parents and to
Judaism and forced them to litigate the question of
custody. I was pained by the thought that possibly
hundreds of Jewish children, perhaps thousands, who had
been saved by Christians would never know that they
were Jews. I wondered if they were part of the throngs of
devout Catholics who had lined the streets of Poland to
catch a glimpse of the Pope I was going to meet.
FORMAL PURPOSE
The audience had formal purpose - to honor Janusz
Korczak, a brilliant Polish-Jewish educator and physician,
a pioneer in the field of child welfare. Althought he might
have survived, he had chosen to perish in the Treblinka gas
chambers rather than abandon the orphans in his charge.
To honor his memory and his ideals, the Anti-Defamation
League, on whose staff I have served for fourteen years,
and representatives of the Polish-American community
had cooperatively established the Janusz Korczak Prize,
an award to be made annually to the author of a
children’s book exemplifying Dr. Korczak’s principles.
We arrived in Rome. The next day, the Malta Guards
saluted us as we entered the gates of The Vatican. We
were led through magnificent rooms, full of religious art
and artifacts, to an antechamber which looked out on St.
Peter’s Square. From there, we were escorted into the
Pope’s library where, standing at the door, he greeted us
warmly and individually. He then proceeded to an
elevated chair in the center of the library, our delegation
flanking him on either side.
The purpose of our visit was explained. Gifts were
presented, including a print of an ADL film, “Avenue of
the Just,” about gentiles who had risked their lives to save
Jews; a leather-bound copy of “A Promise To Keep,” a
new book about the history of anti-Semitism in America,
and “Image Before My Eyes,” the story of a Polish Jewish
family which perished during the Holocaust.
I stepped forward.
“Your Holiness,” I said, “I was born in Baranowicze,
Poland; I am a survivor of the Holocaust. I am alive today
because of the compassion and humanity of a Polish
Catholic woman who risked her life to save me from the
Nazis. I want to again express my thanks to her through
you. I ask that you bless her soul.”
THEY ALL GATHER. . .’
The Pontiff leaned forward on his chair.
I continued. “I have just come from Jerusalem, the
reestablished capital of the State of Israel and world
Jewry. I bring you as a gift a soon-to-be issued Israeli
Pilgrims Medal expressing the concept of ‘Yerushalayim Ir
Hakodesh,’ JerusaJem the Holy City, and ‘Yisroel Eretz
Hakodesh,’ Israel the Holy Land.”
The medallion has a 16th century map, in which
Jerusalem appears at the center of three continents, and a
verse from Isaiah: “They all gather and come to you.”
He stood, his arms outstretched. “Thank you, it is a
beautiful medallion,” he said. “Thank you for your very
moving words. Thank you for what you have said, for you
are bearing testimony to human kindness.”
Speaking slowly and deliberately, he told us he was
pleased that Polish American Catholics and American
Jews had joined forces in a project to pay tribute to
Janusz Korczak.
“It is important in our age,” he said, “to find symbols
of human kindness, human dignity and human rights -
and you have chosen well.” He blessed us for our efforts.
He chatted informally as a photographer recorded the
meeting. “We are delighted with your courage and your
forthright statements on human rights,” a member of our
delegation told him. “Don’t thank me yet,” he said, “1
have only begun.”
As we prepared to leave, we expressed our appreciation
for his visit to the Warsaw Ghetto and to Auschwitz and
for his statements there. He shook hands with me,
squeezing my hand in his. “Thank you for your precious
words,” he said softly.
It had lasted 40 minutes - 40 moving, touching
minutes with a spiritual leader who exudes sincerity, trust
and understanding. 1 reflected on the audience and on
some of his past statements and actions. Would this be the
Pope to finally recognize Israel and establish relations
with Jerusalem, its capital? Again I have a sense of
anticipation.
From Jerusalem to Rome. A memorable encounter
between a Polish-born survivor of the Holocaust and the
first Polish-born Pope, Jasnusz Pawal II.
CHICAGO SERENADE -- On arrival at
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Pope
John Paul II seems pleased at his musical
reception. Violin-playing members of the Suzuki
Academy of the Performing Arts, ranging in age
from 4 to 16, welcomed the pope with music.
Pope Asked To Expand Women’s Church Role
WASHINGTON (NC) -
Only three days after he
had reaffirmed the church
teaching which bars
women from the
priesthood, Pope John
Paul II listened quietly
before an audience of
thousands to a woman
urging him to expand
women’s roles in the
church.
The moment came as
the pope joined almost
7,000 nuns for a morning
prayer service Oct. 7 at the
National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception.
Speaking just before
Pope John Paul delivered
his message from the same
podium, Mercy Sister
Theresa Kane, president of
the Leadership Conference
of Women Religious
(LCWR), said:
‘‘As I share this
privileged moment with
your holiness, 1 urge you
to be mindful of the
intense suffering and pain
which is part of the life of
many women in the
United States. I call on
you to listen with
compassion and to hear
the call of women who
represent naif of
humankind.
“As women we have
heard the powerful
messages of our church
addressing the dignity and
reverence for all persons.
As women we have
pondered these words. Our
contemplation leads us to
state that the church in its
struggle to be faithful to
its call for reverence and
dignity for all persons
must respond by providing
the possibility of women
as persons being included
in all ministries of our
church.
“I urge you, your
holiness, to be open to and
to respond to the voices
coming from the women
of this country who are
Vicky’s
Taylor Shop
The Quality That
Comes From 17
Years of Tailoring
Experience
• alterations
for men and women
• custom design to
fit your needs
Tel. 262 1188
Located at Jos. A. Bank
Clothiers, 3384 Peachtree
Road, N. E. f Across from
Lenox Square.
UNITY NATURAL FOODS
_ l Produce
lillk Specialists
^ IDS*
GA. APPLES
WITH
THIS AD
2915 Peachtree Rd.
3 STOCKS SOUTH OF SEARS
261-0110 "tSt'iK
enrr junk food withdrawal manual
I IV La Kb also ask about our free recipes
UMuunuuaOuUUuaUiiUi
Give your children a morning they will never forget. 1 1 /2 hours with
John Lawhorn at the Music Works. A free 1V2 hour lesson for children
8-11 - Number limited. Sept. 29 - 1 0:30 A M. - 1 2 Noon.
For more information and free brochure phone or write: 892-3194
18th & Spring St. (Old Spring St. School)
WORK/
THIS WEEK'S SPECIALS!!!!
• Soy 3 (outMt. g«t fhe 4th
lr«. plot a frw Stoctote.
TOTAL VALUE
•15.90
at list price
Grandmaster I
TWO C-9C'i in
Stockette
•4.31
Grandmaster II
TWO C-90's in
Stockette
•4.76
• Boy 2 Grondmotfet I or II C 90”i ond one ol
th»m will b» hod price plot o lr«e Stock
TOTAL VALUE
*14.90
at list price
SlMHAi SAVINGS ON AUMAMPS Of AUOtO A VMMOTAP1
SPECIAL ON FUJI VIDEO TAPE
WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG: THE TAPE WAREHOUSE
BLDG 2 A
PH.458-1679
MON SAT 9 30-6 00
DEKALB PEACHTREE AIRPORT
CHAMBlEE, GA 30341
Ithe tape
WAREHOUSE
desirous of serving in and
through the church as
fully participating
members.”
Her remarks were met
with enthusiastic applause
from some nuns and stony
silence from others. Sister
Kane, who is administrator
general of the Religious
Sisters of Mercy of the
Union in Potomac, Md.,
walked to where the pope
was seated when she
completed her talk. As the
pontiff stood, she knelt
before him and he placed
his hand on her head in
blessing.
In Philadelphia on Oct.
4, Pope John Paul had
reaffirmed in a speech that
an all-male priesthood is in
keeping with the church’s
understanding of the will
of God.
While Pope John Paul
spoke to the nuns on the
role of Mary and their
vocations, about 50
women wearing blue
armbands stood silently in
the church. The armbands
symbolized their
discontent with the
limited role of women in
the church.
Role of Nuns
Without acknowledging
the protest, Pope John
Paul in his speech
emphasized the traditional
role of nuns in the church.
Preceding his prepared
text, the pope had
delivered remarks on
Marv, who said yes to
God.
The pope, whose 1979
letter to the world’s priests
was dated Holy Thursday,
referred to Mary’s absence
at the Last Supper, when
the priesthood was
established. “This woman,
this Mary of the Gospels,
who is not mentioned as
being at the Last Supper,
comes back again at the
foot of the cross, in order
to consummate her
contribution to salvation
history.”
He said that by her
courageous act, she
prefigured and anticipated
the courage of all women
through the ages who
concur in bringing forth
Christ in every generation.
“At Pentecost, the
virgin mother once again
comes forward to exercise
her role in union with the
apostles, with and in and
over the church,” he said.
The pope noted that
Mary is honored as
spiritual mother of all
people and queen of
apostles “without herself
being inserted into the
hierarchical constitution
of the church.”
“And yet this woman
made all hierarchy
possible, because she gave
to the world the shepherd
and bishop of our souls,”
he said before going on to
his prepared text to the
nuns.
Put Jesus First
“Dear Sisters in Christ:
Jesus must always be first
in your lives. His person
must be at the center of
your activities -- the
activities of every day. No
other person and no
activity can take
precedence over him. For
your whole life has been
consecrated to him,” the
pope told the women.
‘‘Christ remains
primary in your life only
when he enjoys the first
piace in your mind and
heart,’’ the pope
continued.
He urged the nuns to
unite themselves
continuously with Christ
in prayer and to center
their lives in the Eucharist.
“Your service in the
church is then an
extension of Christ to
whom you have dedicated
your life. For it is not
yourself that you put
forward, but Christ Jesus
as Lord,” Pope John Paul
said. “Your life must be
characterized by a
complete availability: a
readiness to serve as the
needs of the church
require, a readiness to give
public witness to the
Christ whom you love.”
Before the pope
entered the shrine he met
with students from the
Catholic University of
America who had kept an
all-night vigil of prayer.
“I thank you most
cordially . . . for such a
beautiful gift . . .Wel
coming me with offerings
of prayers shows you
understand what is most
important in your lives,”
he said.
Students chanted
“John Paul II. We love.
you” and the pope
chanted in return “I love
you.”
Finally, after talking to
the students, praying for
them and blessing them,
he said, “Now with your
permission - I enter,” and
went into the shrine where
the thousands of sisters,
many in religious garb,
waited for him.
O) IVEY’S
Nr OPTICIANS
Accuracy Comfort Appearance
Prescriptions Filled
Complete Eyeglass Service
969 Cherokee Road Smyrna, Georgia Charles E. Ivey
Phone 434-7112 optician
1111
Ignatius House
6700 Riverside Dr. N.W.
Atlanta. Ga. 30328
Retreats Directed
by Jesuit priests
(404) 255-0503
From everyday pressures a retreat offers time to advance in more tranquil
living. Week-end Friday evening to Sunday noon - retreats are “open -
single women, men, and couples are welcomed for prayerful thinking and
consultation. By reservation, please.
Still open up-coming dates: 19-21 October -H; 2-4 November,
Charismatic; 16-18 November - H; 30 November - 2 December - S.
Symbols S and H denote director: Fr. John Schroder, S. J.; Fr. Harry Heiter,
S.J.
Christ said: Come with me to a quiet place and rest awhile.
Two People Will Win A Round Trip To Germany At The
OKTOBERFEST
October 13th At The
'Rhein Garten
German Uillafje
RESTAURANT
1880 Johnson Road (Off Briarcliff Rd. across from Sage Hill Shopping Center)
881-0166
For The Best In German Entertainment
The RHINELANDERS
featuring
Betty The Well-Known Bavarian Yodeler
VJe have authentic German Food specialites. Make your reservations early.
Plenty of parking & reasonable prices. Small admission