Summary of Symposium: Jerusalem – City between Poles: a Christian Perspective

The first panel, included speeches by Dr. Amnon Ramon of the Jerusalem Institute, Dr. David Satranof the Department or Comparative Religion at the Hebrew University, Ms. Hanna Bendcowsky of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish Christian Relations and Bernard Mussinghoff of the Jerusalem Office of the German Association of the Holy Land. The speakers discussed their acquaintance with Daniel and their cooperation with him. They emphasized his special role as mediator between the two religions. His main accomplishment was creating mutual trust and full cooperation between the heads of Christian groups. The panel included a presentation and clips from a television interview. 

 

The second Panel, titled “Jerusalem: city between poles, from a Christian perspective”, included speeches by Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel and Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations, Archbishop Aristarchos Peristaris of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archbishop Aris Shirvanian of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Father Dr. David Neuhaus, Vicariate for the Hebrew-Speaking Catholics, the Latin Patriarchate.

 

The speakers discussed the support they received from Daniel regarding matters and conflicts that arose between Christian groups and Israeli governmental bodies and between Christian groups amongst themselves. Archbishop Shirvanian spoke about Daniel’s assistance with involving the authorities after several incidents of Jews provoking Christian Monks in the old city. The speakers emphasized the personal close ties that were formed with Daniel, and how they advanced cooperation and eased some of the hardships for Christians in Jerusalem and Israel. Daniel’s time spent at the Ministry of Religious Services was described as a “golden age” for the relations between Christian groups and the Israeli authorities. His firm belief in interreligious conciliation, based on mutual respect, led to several groups of Christians and Jews engaging in dialogue with each other.