Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., June 05, 2008 Sivan 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:50 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 17:11 04/06/2008 Rabbis launch 'prayer for Europe' at EU ceremony By Reuters Tags: Brussels, Europe Jewish leaders will launch a new prayer for Europe on Wednesday at a ceremony inaugurating Brussels' main Orthodox synagogue as "The Great Synagogue of Europe." European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has been invited as a guest of honor at the political-religious event, organized by the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) and Belgium's Jewish community. "Lord, bless and protect Europe and all the residents of the European Union," says the prayer, penned by the chief rabbi of the French city of Strasbourg, seat of the European Parliament. Advertisement "May Europe live happy and prosperous, may it be great and strong through union and concord ... May Europe remain faithful to its vocation and defend the rule of law and liberty everywhere." Philip Carmel, international relations director of the CER, said Jewish communities across the continent would be encouraged to add the prayer for Europe to similar ones recited every Sabbath for national leaders and for the State of Israel, but that it will not be compulsory. The decision to give the European title to the Brussels synagogue, while it confers no theological hierarchy, was in the tradition of building "great synagogues" in European cities from the late 19th century, Carmel told Reuters. "That symbolized the fact that Jews were full and active citizens of their country. Today's ceremony symbolizes the fact that they are full and active citizens of Europe," he said. It was also a response to Barroso's initiative to engage all religious communities into an interfaith dialogue to promote tolerance and understanding, he said. The Great Synagogue of Europe will be used for conferences, seminars and concerts, as well as for a memorial service in November marking the 70th anniversary of the Kristallnacht attacks on Jewish premises in Nazi Germany. Carmel said the dedication service, which will also be attended by Christian and Muslim religious leaders, will include a memorial prayer for the six million European Jews killed in the Nazi Holocaust during World War Two. Of the estimated 2.5 million Jews living in greater Europe, the largest communities are in Russia, Ukraine and France, which has the biggest community in the EU with about 700,000 people. Related articles: Vatican rejects criticism of new prayer for Jewish conversion Rebel Catholics: Pope caved on prayer to convert Jews Prayer by proxy at the Western Wall 3rd century 'Shema' prayer scroll proves ancient Austrian Jewry Bookmark to del.icio.us   A staunch ally Obama to AIPAC: I'll do everything to prevent Iran from obtaining nukes. Pro-Israel Nazis German group condemns anti-Semitism, says Holocaust 'unjustifiable.'   1.   Doesn´t America deserve such a prayer more? 18:02  |  AliciaYasmeen 04/06/08   2.   #1 18:49  |  WWACD 04/06/08   3.   Europe will need all the prayers it can get... 18:56  |  Danny 04/06/08   4.   AMEN ve AMEN! 19:23  |  Efroim 04/06/08   5.   Prayer for Europe 19:30  |  Garry 04/06/08   6.   WILL L-RD OF THE WORLD WILL LISTEN TO THAT PRAYER? 19:43  |  Yoni Margolis 04/06/08   7.   Nice though but not in America 19:59  |  David 04/06/08   8.   # 1 alicia 20:42  |  Axel 04/06/08   9.   They better pray hard 20:48  |  Luther 04/06/08   10.   # 9 luther 21:00  |  Axel 04/06/08   11.   Yes Luther, being the birthplace of maple syrup is better 21:25  |  Mark B. 04/06/08   12.   Answer to #1 21:28  |  al-kafir al-yahudi 04/06/08   13.   Thank you Rabbi`s for this prayer 21:28  |  Mark B. 04/06/08   14.   #8 AXEL; the question is: does Europe DESERVE it? 21:31  |  AliciaYasmeen 04/06/08   15.   Does Europe DESERVE such a prayer? 21:58  |  AliciaYasmeen 04/06/08   16.   # 14 alicia 22:16  |  Axel 04/06/08   17.   Alicia Yasmeen, as a European I cannot answer that for ourselves 22:22  |  Mark B. 04/06/08   18.   # 14 alicia 22:45  |  Axel 04/06/08   19.   AXEL: Jews DESERVE an APOLOGY first from Europe 23:39  |  AliciaYasmeen 04/06/08   20.   Danny: % wise the are more Muslim in Israel than the EU 23:45  |  European 04/06/08   21.   prayer for Israel 23:57  |  Terence 04/06/08   22.   alicia 00:22  |  Axel 05/06/08   23.   alicia 00:42  |  Axel 05/06/08   24.   and, alicia 00:56  |  Axel 05/06/08   25.   # 3 danny 01:20  |  Axel 05/06/08   26.   Now you all know this saying 01:23  |  O. Pen Gates Israel 05/06/08   27.   to #26 08:39  |  alon frank 05/06/08

Read & React Olmert to AIPAC: We must stop Iran threat by all possible means Responses: 233 Diplomats: Syria won't let IAEA see 3 alleged nuclear sites Responses: 181 Moshe Arens: A truce in Gaza means victory for the terrorists Responses: 92 Palestinian negotiator: Only miracle can bring peace by year's end Responses: 84 Obama to AIPAC: I'll do everything to prevent Iran from obtaining nukes Responses: 197 Rosner's Domain Americans want talks with Iranian leadership (WTR) Obama leads in Lieberman land (WTR) McCain has been hammering at Obama Guest: Why educate child as Jew when he is not Jewish? Poll: What political option is better for Israel? More Headlines 10:06 Olmert: We're close to ending Iran's nuclear program 10:07 Obama to AIPAC: Jerusalem will remain Israel's undivided capital 03:28 Rosner's Domain / It's Obama's good intentions for Israel that AIPAC fears 09:34 U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh 10:08 Al Qaida No. 2 slams Egypt for sealing border to Palestinians 10:20 Rights group petition building of new homes in Ofra settlement 10:47 Secular Israelis wary of impact of non-Jewish olim 02:13 Top Kadima players stymie move to hold primaries 04:01 Hebron settlers seek to join leftists' petition 08:26 Bnei Brak teens accused of raping younger sisters 04:14 New plan to offer tax breaks to Western immigrants 04:36 Religious texts to become available online for free 05:16 Thai worker awarded thousands for unlawful arrest Previous Editions Select Day 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Istudy Learn Hebrew in 3 months The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and You - together making history Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved