Eugene Cardinal Tisserand, Dean of the College of Cardinals, in the Vatican, expressed the hope today that the Ecumenical Council “would do something to demonstrate to Jews the fraternal affection of Catholics.”
The influential prelate made the statement in an interview in the mass circulation weekly, “Via,” in connection with the publication of a book, “Jews, My Brothers,” by Father T. Coulap.
The Cardinal told the interviewer that he had had many contacts with Jews since his childhood and that Jews were numerous among his father’s friends. He added that Jews sent unleavened bread to the family and often came to visit.
The Cardinal also remarked that he had always been interested in Jewish cultural life. “I remember well meeting Eliezer Ben Yehuda, who was the restorer of the Hebrew language as it is now spoken in Israel,” he said. He concluded that “it would be very useful to have more contact with Jews. “
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
