Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places: Pope Francis Confers Catholic Knighthood on Orthodox Rabbi

Photo: Andrea Mohin/The New York Times

Rabbi Arthur Schneier, whose Park East Synagogue in Manhattan was the site of a visit by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, was named a papal knight of St. Sylvester, the oldest Catholic order of knighthood on Monday.

The 85-year-old Orthodox rabbi, a Holocaust survivor, has led his synagogue since 1962.

As James Barron reported the The New York Times,

Rabbi Schneier has been a presence at conferences in world trouble spots to promote tolerance and resolve ethnic and religious conflicts. He founded the interfaith Appeal of Conscience Foundation in 1965.

“You know this award to our beloved Rabbi Schneier comes from Pope Francis,” Cardinal Dolan said before pinning a Knight’s Cross on the rabbi. “It’s Pope Francis’s very touching, very tender way of confirming him in the good works that he’s done on behalf of religious freedom, international peace and justice.”

A crowd of dignitaries looked on. Among them were former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger; former Mayor David N. Dinkins; United States Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, a Democrat of New York; and Raymond W. Kelly, the former police commissioner.

Several religious leaders and officials also attended the ceremony, including Archbishop Demetrios, the spiritual leader of Greek Orthodox Christians of America; Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Armenian Church of America; Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid of the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood; Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, the executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis; Abraham H. Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League; and Rabbi Michael Miller, the executive vice president and chief executive of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. Rabbi Schneier’s son, Rabbi Marc Schneier, also attended.

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