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Pope Benedict XVI. (AP) Last update - 18:43 04/04/2008 Pope to visit N.Y. synagogue led by Holocaust survivor By The Associated Press Tags: Jews, U.S., Holocaust, Pope During his first papal trip to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI will visit a synagogue led by a rabbi who survived the Holocaust, U.S. bishops said Thursday. Benedict will make a brief stop April 18 at Manhattan's Park East Synagogue, whose leader, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, lived under Nazi occupation in Budapest and emigrated to the U.S. in 1947. The pontiff, 80, is a native of Germany whose father was anti-Nazi. Benedict was enrolled in the Hitler Youth as a teenager against his will and then was drafted into the German army in the last months of the war. He wrote in his memoirs that he deserted in the war's last days. Advertisement It will be the pope's second visit to a synagogue as pontiff. On his first papal trip abroad in 2005, Benedict visited a synagogue in Cologne, Germany, that had been rebuilt after it was destroyed by the Nazis. "By this personal and informal visit, which is not part of his official program, His Holiness wishes to express his good will toward the local Jewish community as they prepare for Passover," said Monsignor David Malloy, general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Passover begins at sundown on April 19. Separately, the pope has scheduled a meeting with Jewish leaders and representatives of other faiths for April 17 in Washington. Park East Synagogue is a modern Orthodox congregation that was founded in 1888 and is located near the United Nations. Benedict will address the U.N. the morning of April 18. Schneier, 78, has led the synagogue since 1962, while promoting religious freedom and tolerance worldwide. He founded the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, which promotes interfaith tolerance, and received the 2001U.S. Presidential Citizens Medal for service to the nation. The pope has been reaching out to Jews, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who became the first pope to set foot in a synagogue in 1986, when he visited Rome's main synagogue. Some tensions arose recently over a Good Friday prayer Benedict revived from the old Latin rite that had historically been used as an excuse for violence and discrimination against Jews. Benedict revised the prayer to address Jewish fears, but some Jewish leaders worried that the changes did not go far enough. Benedict is visiting the United States for the first time as pontiff from April 15-20, stopping in Washington and New York. He will meet with President George W. Bush at the White House, address the presidents of Roman Catholic colleges and universities and hold Masses at Nationals Park and Yankee Stadium. Related articles: Pope nixes reference to Jews` `blindness` over Jesus in prayer Pope, Orthodox leader to work for Middle East peace ADL urges Pope to suspend Pius sainthood over Holocaust inaction More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Lost giant Endangered sea turtle washes up on Gaza's shore and is eaten. Not worried Nearly half of Israeli Arabs say let Iran develop nukes.   1.   Why informal? Is he afraid formal will give stature to the Jew? 23:27  |  John Paul Cohen 03/04/08   2.   So soon after Pope Benedict XVI authorized the Easter 23:44  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 03/04/08   3.   Great timing! not enough 2 do B4 pesach 01:34  |  Rocky 04/04/08   4.   Responses re: Pope 06:01  |  Michael Haas 04/04/08   5.   Responses re: Pope 06:09  |  Michael Haas 04/04/08   6.   enrolled in the Hitler Youth as a teenager against his will 07:26  |  JW 04/04/08   7.   On Benedict XVI and sustaining hope 07:50  |  Morris Valentine 04/04/08   8.   ask rabbi @ 09:43  |  Di 04/04/08   9.   Is the Pope Christian? 09:46  |  Curious 04/04/08   10.   i guess this slapps Yoffie in the face 10:16  |  BB 04/04/08   11.   HE SHOULD ENCOURAGE JEWS TO CONVERT 11:13  |  indrajaya 04/04/08   12.   # 2 Zinger, # 6 JW 20:19  |  David 04/04/08   13.   WHY DID HE NOT BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY?! 21:18  |  GOD 04/04/08   14.   Why would anyone want to entertain that...... 22:36  |  Deborah 04/04/08   15.   Enough already 22:12  |  whoa nellie 05/04/08

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