WYD Panama: Jewish synagogue hosting WYD group
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| Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik (r) speaking to Sean-Patrick Lovett. |
The synagogue of Panama City is hosting a group of WYD
pilgrims. Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik of the synagogue spoke to Seàn-Patrick Lovett
of Vatican News about the warm relations between his community and Catholics.
By Robin Gomes
The Catholic Church’s World Youth Day is unfolding in Panama
City around Pope Francis, with thousands of young people from around the world
participating in various events.
One of the numerous venues where young people are gathering
is the Jewish synagogue of Panama City, which speaks volumes about
the close friendship between Jews and Christians in the Central American
nation.
To find more about this “strong and vibrant collaboration”
between the two communities, Seán-Patrick Lovett spoke to the Jewish Rabbi of
Panama City, Gustavo Kraselnik, whose synagogue is hosting a group
of 50 young participants in the WYD.
Rabbi Kraselnik said that this friendship is not surprising
as it comes to them naturally, not just with Catholics but with all religions.
Panama being a small country, they know each other well.
The rabbi pointed out that Jewish-Catholic relations have
greatly improved since Vatican II. In the last 15 to 20 years, Jews and
Catholics in Panama began to visit, meet and talk to each other more
frequently, to build a relationship based on respect and joining hands in good
works.
Rabbi Kraselnik said that in their neighbourhood, Jews
talked with the parish of St. Lucas Parish to host a group of WYD participants
in their synagogue.
The rabbi said that relations between religious communities
depend on how much hope religious leaders bring in their ecumenical or
inter-faith dialogue, especially in moments of crisis and tension such as the
period of dictatorship in Panama. This, he said, benefits society.
With Panama a mosaic of diversity, Rabbi Kraselnik said
inter-religious friendship is only natural.
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