August 9, 2007

NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, welcomed Tuesday the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in New York. The Chief Rabbi has been visiting the United States and had expressed the desire to meet the Archbishop. Mr. John Catsimatides a member of the Archdiocesan Council and an Archon facilitated the meeting.

During their cordial and friendly meeting, the Chief Rabbi and the Archbishop discussed issues of common interest relative to international affairs and topics pertaining to Orthodox Christian and Jewish relations. Among the issues addressed in their conversation, Archbishop Demetrios stressed the importance of the Government of Israel to recognize the legal status of His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. His Eminence underscored the point that even though Israel is officially a secular state, religious personages such as the Chief Rabbi can have a positive influence. The Chief Rabbi raised concerns about religious freedom and mutual respect, and his own ideas about a UN-style religious forum where constructive interfaith work can occur. The Archbishop emphasized the leadership of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the concern of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

In their exchange, the Archbishop related a tale about the famous Rabbi Akiba (Akiva) ben Joseph who lived between 50-135 A.D. and Chief Rabbi Metzger expanded on the same story. Both the Greek Orthodox and Jewish representatives in the room were moved by the dialogue between the Archbishop and the Chief Rabbi.

Since becoming Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Metzger has been active in reaching out to various groups of people, both Jews and non-Jews. He is the youngest Chief Rabbi in Israel's history and has authored ten books, two of which were awarded prizes by the President of Israel.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America