Chief to meet with Pope on eve of Yom Kippur
The Chief Rabbi is set to meet the Pope in Britain on the eve of Yom Kippur, although preparations for the holiest day of the Jewish calendar will prevent him and other parliamentarians from attending a major Westminster speech later that day.
Lord Sacks will be among communal figures joining representatives from other religions for an interfaith gathering with the pontiff at St Mary's University College in Twickenham on 17 September, the second day of Pope Benedict XVI's four-day visit.
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He said: "I'm glad that during this short visit he has been able to hold this event. It's good that he will be meeting members of the community. It will strengthen the bond between the Jewish and Catholic communities."
Sir Sigmund pointed out that, although the last Pope did meet members of the Jewish community during his visit here in 1982, there was no interfaith event on that occasion.
Dr Edward Kessler, director of the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths,
said: "I am confident the Pope will be acknowledging the special relationship with Judaism." On the same day as the interfaith gathering, just hours before the start of Kol Nidre, the Pope is to address "representatives of British society" at an historic event to be held at Westminster Hall.
Lord Sacks, however, will be among those unable to attend. A statement from his office said: "The timing of his address to both Houses of Parliament, on the eve of Yom Kippur, will prevent the Chief Rabbi and Jewish MPs and peers from attending.
"The Chief Rabbi understands the tight scheduling and does not regard this as a slight on the community."
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