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Europe's chief rabbis thank Berlusconi for Israel support
The rabbis thanked Mr. Berlusconi for his continued and vigorous support for the State of Israel and his stance against anti-Semitism and Islamic fundamentalism. Led by Rome Chief Rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, and comprising chief rabbis from east and west Europe as well as senior Italian Jewish leaders, the delegation also asked the Prime Minister for his support in sponsoring legislation to protect Jewish cemeteries across the continent. The meeting with Prime Minister Berlusconi took place at the end of a three-day meeting of the standing committee of the Conference of European Rabbis, the body which federates Jewish religious leaders in over 40 European states and includes all Europe's chief rabbis and senior rabbinical judges. During their deliberations in Rome, the standing committee also met with the former President of the European Commission and Italy's leader of the opposition, Dr. Romano Prodi and with Ambassador Michael Weninger, senior advisor on religious affairs to European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso. The rabbis also expressed their strong backing for the Chief Rabbi of Moscow Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt who has been denied a visa by the government of the Russian Federation on the stated grounds that he is "a security risk" to the Russian state. Addressing the standing committee, CER President and Chief Rabbi of France, Rabbi Joseph Sitruk called on all Europe's rabbis to make representations to Russian authorities in order that Rabbi Goldschmidt be allowed to return to his family and community in Moscow at the earliest opportunity. The standing committee members also heard a presentation from Rabbi Elyokim Schlesinger from the Committee for the Preservation of Cemeteries in Europe detailing campaigns to protect some 20,000 Jewish burial sites across the continent. Rabbi Sitruk and the standing committee pledged their firm support "for the outstanding and dedicated work of Rabbi Schlesinger" and offered to assist the Committee by making representations to governments and municipalities in order that Jewish bones should remain untouched and accorded the necessary respect. ENDS |
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